TIP-OFF CLASSIC ROUND THREE: Du Quoin's the Lone Unbeaten

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ Taking full advantage of a 31-4 run to end the first half, Du Quoin High School's Boys Basketball team rolled to its second victory of the young season Friday night.

The Indians, 2-0, dispatched Cairo 77-61 as third round play concluded at the 11th Annual Du Quoin Tip-Off Classic.

Saturday, Du Quoin needs wins over Benton (12:30 p.m.) and Waltonville (8:15 p.m.) to successfully defend its tournament title.

Waltonville, an 83-74 overtime winner versus Benton in Friday's opening game, is 2-1. Benton fell to 1-1.

Against Cairo (1-1), Du Quoin broke things open with 17 unanswered points, turning a 19-12 lead into a 47-16 halftime margin.

"For having now just seven very limited practice sessions that's about as a complete game-in all aspects-a team can play," Indians coach Mike Crews said. "We defended well and I thought our ball movement was outstanding. "

Du Quoin's lead reached double digits (23-12) on Jamor Reed's two foul shots early in the quarter. Fifteen straight points-seven by junior Matt Gossett-pushed Du Quoin in front 38-12 before the Pilots answerered on two foul tosses by Marquis Lemmon.

A long three-pointer from J.C. Davis, two Cody Rose hoops and Marcus Clarry's driving shot capped the run. During the flurry, the trio of Rose, Clarry and Reed combined for seven streals.

All totalled, nine different Indians scored during the 31-point frame.

"For a stretch there, I felt like we got a glimpse of what this team is capable of. We had a whole gang of people play awfully well."

A.J. Hill sank a three-pointer for the biggest Tribe advantage, 57-22, before Cairo caught fire. The margin was down to 25 as the third quarter ended, but Cairo could get no closer than 19 until the final buzzer sounded.

Gossett finished with 16 points, six rebounds and four steals. Dalton Morgan was unstoppable in the paint, finishing with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Clarry and Rose each had nine points. Hill was the third Indian to reach double figures, ending with 10 points.

Du Quoin had six players score at least six points each and put 11 different players in the scorebook.

Rose (seven steals), Reed (five assists) and Seth Flint (seven rebounds) all enjoyed great floor games.

Lee Wright (15 points) led Cairo. 6-foot-7 center Arthur Williams and Rodney Woodson each netted eight points.

The Indians, who didn't finish Friday's game until after 10 o'clock, will play its final three games of the tournament in a stretch of under 24 hours.

" We've got very little time to savor this one," Crews said. "There are two very tough games ahead on Saturday."

Du Quoin 77, Cairo 61

Cairo 10 6 19 26-61

Du Quoin 16 31 13 17-77

Cairo (1-2): Lemmom 1 2-2 5, Hill 0 0-0 0, D. Thomas 1 0-0 3, Johnson 1 1-6 3, Williams 4 0-1 8, W. Thomas 3 0-2 6, Wright 6 3-8 15, Brown 0 0-0 0, I. Thomas 5 0-0 11, Howard 1 0-0 2, Woodson 3 0-0 8. Totals 25 (4) 7-19 61.

Du Quoin (2-0): Flint 2 2-2 6, Youngman 0 2-2 2, Davis 1 0-0 3, Hill 4 1-2 10, Clarry 3 2-3 9, Reed 1 2-2 4, Morgan 6 2-6 14, D. Rose 1 0-0 2, Tyner 0 0-0 0, Schneider 1 0-0 2, C. Rose 2 5-8 9, Gossett 6 2-2 16. Totals 27 (5) 18-27 77.

3-pointers: Cairo 4 (Lemmon, D. Thomas, Woodson 2), Du Quoin 5 (Gossett 2, Davis, Clarry, Hill). Rebounds: Cairo 29, Du Quoin 41 (Morgan 9). Turnovers: Cairo 22, Du Quoin 17.

Waltonville Outlasts Benton

With starter Tim Corn sitting on the bench, after being diagnosed with mononucleosis, the Benton Rangers figured to have an uphill battle against Waltonville at the Du Quoin Tournament Friday night,

But, for almost four quarters, the Rangers had the upper hand until Joseph Lewis drained a 3-pointer at the end of regulation to send the game into overtime. Waltonville took over from that point, outscoring Benton 13-4 to win 83-74.

The loss was frustrating for the Rangers, who saw players dropping like flies with foul trouble.

In the third period alone, starters Trevor Myers, Cody Smith and Zach LaBuwi were saddled with three fouls - Myers with four.

Still, Benton took a lead in the fourth quarter with all three remaining on the court.

LaBuwi picked up his fourth foul in the fourth period, but was still effective on offense and hitting the boards.

The senior finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds - four points and three boards coming before he fouled out.

Myers was tough down the stretch, too.

He scored 11 points in the fourth - including 9 of 12 from the line - to keep Benton ahead for much of the quarter.

The Rangers led 47-46 as the fourth quarter began, but two quick buckets from Skyler Witges gave the Spartans a 50-47 lead. Benton, though, went on a 6-2 run to re-take the lead.

The run was keyed by the play of sophomores Kyer Smith and Caleb Suver.

Ky. Smith was fouled and hit 1 of 2 at the line to cut Waltonville's lead to 52-51. Suver skied for the rebound and was fouled on his shot, hitting both tosses for the Ranger lead.

Ky. Smith scored on the next trip to give Benton a 55-52 cushion.

It led 57-52 on two Myers freebies.

Anther free throw from Myers and a strong post-up move by LaBuwi had the Rangers ahead 60-56, but LaBuwi was whistled for his fifth foul at the 1:50 mark.

Gavin Bassett answered with two free throws for a 60-58 game.

Myers went to the line and hit two more, but Waltonville pulled within a point when Bassett rebounded Brock Wheatley's miss at the line and scored to pull the Spartans within 62-61. Myers would follow with a hoop and Suver added another pair at the line for a 66-62 Benton lead.

A rebound basket by Wheatley with 39 ticks was answered by two more Myers free throws, but Witges hit a 3-pointer with 26.8 seconds left for a 68-67 Benton lead.

Austin Lynch, who was an impact player in the game, then rebounded a miss by Lewis and went to the floor after the ball was stripped from him. He recovered for a jump ball giving possession to Benton. Myers was fouled with 8.9 ticks left and hit both tosses.

Lewis, though, hit a 3-pointer as time was running out to tie the game, 70-70, and force overtime.

The overtime period was all Spartans - especially reserve Luke Stanhouse. Stanhouse scored all seven of his points, giving Waltonville leads of 72-70, 74-70 and 77-70 with a three-point play at the 1:01 mark.

Myers led all scorers with 27 points, LaBuwi joining him in double digits with 13. Cody Smith just missed twin figures with nine.

Witges led Waltonville with 25, Bassett scoring 16, Lewis adding 14 and Wheatley 13.

Benton 17 14 16 23 4-74

Waltonville 22 10 14 24 13-83

Benton (1-1): C. Smith 3-7 0-0 9, Suver 0-1 5-6 5, Myers 6-21 12-15 27, Stevens 2-2 0-3 4, LaBuwi 6-7 1-2 13, Ky. Smith 2-4 3-6 7, Lynch 2-2 3-4 7, Stewart 1-4 0-0 2. Totals 22-48 24-36 74.

Waltonville (2-1): Lamke 1-5 3-4 6, Wheatley 2-3 9-14 13, Witges 8-14 6-7 25, Bassett 6-13 4-6 16, Lewis 4-13 2-4 14, Stanhouse 2-2 3-3 7, Ford 1-1 0-1 2. Totals 24-51 27-39 83.

3-pointers: Benton 6 (C. Smith 3, Myers 3), W'ville 8 (Lewis 4, Witges 3, Lamke). Rebounds: Benton 28 (LaBuwi 11), W'ville 26 (Bassett 7). Turnovers: Benton 12, W'ville 9.