GIRLS BASKETBALL: Foul trouble limits DMS in loss to Chester

Chester's Mariah Dunn made 7-of-8 free throws in the final 3:11 of the game and the visiting Junior Jackets escaped with a 55-48 victory over the Lady Warriors at Du Quoin Middle School.

DMS led after each of the first three quarters, but foul trouble led to their two top scorers in the game seeing limited floor time in the second half.

Chloe Prather burned Chester for a dozen first half points and Bailey Harsy had 9 before the break, but Prather fouled out in the fourth quarter having scored just 2 points after halftime and Harsy, playing with four fouls late in the game, managed just 3 points in the final 14 minutes.

A driving layup by DMS's Chloe Hess with 5:08 remaining in the game put the Lady Warriors on top 42-38. Chester's Hayven Donnell answered with a stick-back bucket and a three-pointer to give the Jackets the lead with 4:11 left on the clock.

Du Quoin's Braylee Watson converted a conventional three-point lay moments later, but that would be the Lady Warriors' last lead of the night.

Destiny Williams, who led Chester with a game-high 21 points, scored to tie it up before Dunn began her impressive run at the free throw line. Dunn, who finished with 18 points, also put back a rebound for two with just over a minute left to put DMS down by three at 50-47.

The Lady Warriors had several opportunities in the closing moments of the game, but couldn't get a shot to fall.

Prather led Du Quoin with 14 points, Harsy had 12, Watson 9, Delaynie Dearmond 6, Hess 5 and Chloe Bird finished with 2.

Du Quoin won the seventh grade contest, 37-8. Dearmond led the Lady Warriors with 16 points, Maddie Robison added 7, Alyiah Waters 6, and Maya Russell, Aubrey Barwick and Emma Fischer each scored 2.

DMS (9-9) hosts Pinckneyville (District #50) on Thursday night, then travels to Sparta on Monday. They'll play Sparta again on Tuesday in Du Quoin for round one of their Class L Regional tournament.