BASKETBALL: After rough first day, Indians salvage two wins at DTHC

PINCKNEYVILLE, IL - After starting the 2012 Duster Thomas Hoops Classic 0-2 on Friday, Du Quoin was staring 0-3 in the face down nine to Benton on Saturday morning when they began a comeback to force overtime and win 52-47. The Indians then knocked off Steeleville later that day as Austin Mansker's free throw with 4 seconds to play broke a 56-56 tie after the Du Quoin guard beat his man off the dribble before getting hacked.

"Never say die," said Indians coach Gabe Sveda after the 58-56 victory over the Warriors. "We were down at halftime in every game in this tournament. It's gutsy to keep on battling, to keep on fighting. It's really tough when you have to come back and play with no practice time, limited preparation."

"Usually we have a game, we get to come back and look at the film, break things down and see what we can work on. All we can do here is talk about it. The kids responded, I was proud of them."

Mansker torched the Warriors for 23 points including three triples from beyond the three-point arc.

"Austin Mansker did an outstanding job for us out there, he really gets into their guards and aggravates them," Sveda said. "That's what he's got to do, he's pesky, he'll get a steal and take it down to the other end and finish. He's a big spark for us."

Brenden Fred added 18 points against Steeleville and tied Mansker for the team lead in points scored for the tournament with 45.

"Brenden Fred, he was a warrior out there," said Sveda. "He's got a cut over his eye, he's been sick, but he's not going to complain he's going to keep going out there."

Daulton Beltz (8 points), Daulton Donoghue (4) and Deeja Cole (3) also scored for DHS in the victory over Steeleville. Fred led the Indians in rebounding with 8.

Fred (17 points) and Mansker (13) also led Du Quoin in the Benton game while Cole (9), Beltz (9), Spencer Cook (3) and Austin Mapps (1) pitched in as well.

"I thought Deeja Cole had an outstanding tournament," Sveda said, "he was a big difference maker for us in a lot of games. Kids like him just keep on fighting, kept his head up, stayed positive. The shots didn't always fall for him but he kept on playing good, hard defense."

The two losses on Friday left the Indians playing all four of their DTHC contests in the Auxilary Gymnasium at Pinckneyville High School. Their win over Steeleville gave them ninth place in the tournament which was in the first year of a 12-team format.

Du Quoin (5-6) hosts Pinckneyville and Massac County this coming weekend.

-Montini 55, Du Quoin 34

Lombard Montini Catholic got 16 points from All-Tournament Teamer Simmie Cobbs to lead the Broncos past Du Quoin 55-34 in the first game for both teams at the Hoops Classic.

Beltz had 15 points in a losing effort for the Indians. Cook added 6, Fred 4, Cole 3, and Donoghue, Mansker and A.J. Smith each had 2.

-Lawrenceville 50, Du Quoin 44

In a battle of Indians, Lawrenceville held off Du Quoin 50-44 on Friday night to send DHS into the loser's bracket at the DTHC.

Cole led Du Quoin with 12 points, Mansker had 9, Beltz 8, Fred 6, Mapps 4, Cook and John Erwin 2, and Donoghue 1.

Austin Dorney led three Lawrenceville players in double figures with 15 points.