Girls Prep Basketbal: Lady Indians No Match for Herrin

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Playing for the first time since Dec. 22, Du Quoin High School's girls basketball team ran head first into a buzzsaw Monday night against Herrrin.

The Lady Tigers-fresh off a holiday tournament championship last week-won for the 12th straight time in a 70-24 pasting of Du Quoin.

Now 8-5, the Lady Indians host Anna-Jonesboro Tuesday night.

Herrin's record is 16-2.

With Du Quoin's tallest player, 6'0 freshman Rebekah Maddox sidelined by illness, the much taller Lady Tigers dominated play on the inside.

"They killed us on the boards," Lady Indians coach Shawn File admitted. "It seemed like they got every offensive rebound and not having Maddox hurt us inside. We just have to do a better job of defending."

Herrin was in control from the opening tip, turning a 19-7 first quarter lead into a 40-10 margin by intermission. The Lady Tigers doubled Du Quoin in rebounding (48-24) and forced 23 turnovers.

"We are still just trying to learn and make adjustments," File said of his nearly all-underclass line-up. "This loss is going to make us, we hope, a better team."

Jessica Hirsch had 14 points for Du Quoin. Herrin had 20 points from Austyn Ridings and 17 more by freshman Abby Horn.

In Monday's preliminary game, Du Quoin (4-4) held Herrin to just three second half points and posted a 32-25 victory.

Cassidy Rice and Nicole Jackson each had eight points for the young Lady Tribe with Heather Cavins adding seven points and Magen Edwards six. Curry Emling (four) and Ashley Ward (two) completed the scoring. Edwards led in rebounds with seven and Jackson turned in eight steals.

"I was very proud of our effort and how hard we played on defense," Lady Indians coach Jason James said. "This was by far our best effort of the year."

Herrin 70, Du Quoin 24

Du Quoin 7 3 10 4-24

Herrin 19 21 14 16-70

Du Quoin: Gates 3, Anders 2, Edwards 2, Hirsch 14, Smith 1, Johnson 1, Cavins 1.