BASKETBALL: Lady Indians finish strong, beat Sparta 42-33

For the third time this season, the Lady Indians held their opponent under 40 points, and for the third time this season, it led to a victory.

Du Quoin used a 21-point fourth quarter to pull away from Sparta in their 42-33 win on Tuesday night, a win that came despite a dismal performance at the free throw line - 15-for-36. The Lady Bulldogs weren't much better at the stripe, making just 13-of-24.

It was still a one-point game with just over a minute to go in the third quarter when the Lady Indians went on an 8-0 run on into the fourth quarter to give themselves a bit of a cushion at 26-17.

"We talked about it at halftime, we thought that a six-point lead was going to be a big lead, because neither team was shooting the ball incredibly well," said DHS head coach Shawn File. "We decided we should focus on the defensive aspect of things, turn up our intensity there. We made a little run, got their big in some foul trouble. When you take out a 6'2 girl that's a huge advantage for us, as it's a huge advantage for them when she's in the ball game."

Sparta got as close as five down before their big - Kera Kiner - fouled out of the game with three and a half minutes remaining. Du Quoin then hit six of their next nine free throws and added a baseline jumper from Sadie Day and a fast-break bucket by Tarynn Mays to open their lead up once more.

"At the end we did a little bit better job of running through the offense, finding the open person," File said. "Sparta didn't look real comfortable within their press, and we were able to throw it over the top and get a couple lay-ups there."

DHS is now a perfect 3-0 when holding their opponent to less than 40 points, and winless at 0-7 when they do not.

"40 is the magic number," File said. "We've really worked at it on the defensive end, and hopefully that's starting to show."

Kate Smith had eleven points to lead the Lady Indians. Mays had eight points, Day seven, Jordyn Bullar and Grace Haney each had six, and Alaina Caldwell and Mackenzie Jackson each had two.

Du Quoin (3-7, 1-2) is at home again on Thursday when they host Anna-Jonesboro (2-6, 0-3).