BOYS BASKETBALL: Warriors avenge loss to Sparta
They nearly gave it away at the end, but Du Quoin Middle School managed to hang on for a 51-46 win at Sparta on Monday night, and have now avenged both of their losses from earlier in the season in back to back games.
After leading by as many as 15 points in the first half, the Warriors allowed the Cardinals to creep back into the game late, but won despite fouling a Sparta three-point shooter twice in the final 10.5 seconds of a 4-point game.
"We got rattled in the third and fourth quarters," said DMS head coach Aaron Wright. "They started being a little physical with us, and we didn't respond, we didn't match it. We played a little timid, a little scared, and it showed. I called a timeout and said guys, we've got to respond, we've got to close this game out. I told them 'don't foul,' and they're going out trying to block shots. I know it looks good when it happens, but when it doesn't, it's devastating for us."
The Warriors started hot, running out to a 22-9 lead after one quarter, but Lomontay Daughtery was saddled with two first-quarter fouls and Sparta drew a bit closer by halftime at 35-24.
DMS still led by 11 with just over three minutes to go in the third quarter, but that's when the Cardinals began to make their big push. Carlos Keen hit a three-pointer for Sparta near the end of the third, then added a steal and fast-break layup early in the fourth. Keen's free throw with 4:23 left in the game cut Du Quoin's lead to one and capped off an 11-0 run for the home team.
But one good run deserves another. The Warriors took their turn moments later, with Daughtery sticking back a rebound to kick-start a 9-0 run for Du Quoin. A three-point play by Braden Pursell highlighted the surge, which put DMS out in front 50-40 with 30 seconds left to play.
"We're working on getting our offense going," Wright said. "We were stressing the two offenses we're good at, and we ran them. Screens, mix-match kind of offenses. We ran them well and we got shots. When we do it and we're disciplined, then we're ok, but sometimes we lose a little focus. I knew coming into this game they weren't very focused, but I'm proud of the effort, they closed it out."
Sparta didn't quit, though, with Keen hitting back to back three-pointers and Du Quoin missing the front end of two one-and-one opportunities at the free throw line. With 10.5 seconds to go, Sparta's Deon Clark was fouled on a three-point attempt, but came up empty on all three free throws. A DMS turnover was followed by another foul as Cardinal Tony Williams attempted a three, and he too went 0-for-3 to give Sparta eight consecutive misses at the line to close out the game. The Cardinals made just 7-of-21 free throws on the night.
"I told the kids, as poorly as we played some of the second half, we did close it out and beat the two teams that beat us earlier," said Wright. "That's a building block. We need Sparta to get hot at the end of the year to beat Pinckneyville, that's our prayer to at least share (the conference title)."
Pursell led DMS with 18 points, Daughtery was also in double figures with 14. Dasani Edward had 5 points, Brian Winters, Dajon Johnson and Kadin Mays each finished with 4.
Du Quoin (13-2) hosts Murphysboro on Thursday night.