GIRLS BASKETBALL: Lady Warriors win Regional Championship

For just the second time in Lady Warriors history, Du Quoin Middle School has won a Class L Regional Championship in girls basketball and will advance to the State Tournament beginning this weekend at Rend Lake College in Ina, Ill.

The Lady Warriors knocked off Murphysboro 38-31 in Tuesday night's Regional final at Mt. Vernon with a balanced scoring attack that was led by Morgan Bullar's eleven points.

"We truly have a group of girls that are a team and play that way," said DMS coach Debbie Ritter. "There is no superstar and the scoring tonight shows that. They all do their parts and do them well."

Murphysboro got the advantage early, leading 10-7 after one quarter, but the Lady Warriors outscored them 11-5 in the second quarter to enter the half clinging to an 18-15 lead.

But it was the third quarter where DMS took control and put the game away, moving ahead by ten heading into the fourth.

"The first half started out pretty rough," Ritter said. "We got in some foul trouble and had some turnovers that really hurt our momentum. After the half the girls calmed down and started playing their game."

Ashlynn Jackson added nine points for Du Quoin, Chloe Hill had eight, Katie Smith six, Olivia Whitley and Maddison Dorsey two apiece.

DMS will take on Centralia in the 9:30 a.m. game at Rend Lake College this Saturday in the State Quarterfinals. The winner moves on to Tuesday's semifinal against either Harrisburg or Fulton (O'Fallon). Carterville, Hamilton County, Highland and Olney round out the State Tournament field.

"It was definitely an exciting night," said Ritter. "This is only the second regional championship in Lady Warrior history, so we are all super excited. I look forward to playing Centrailia on Saturday at Rend Lake."