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BASKETBALL: 10-0 start sparks blowout win for DHS at Tip-Off

Posted November 29, 2011 10:00 pm

Doug Daniels

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[A 10-0 run to start the game set the tone for Du Quoin's first varsity basketball contest of the 2011-12 season as the Indians pulled away from Waltonville to win 52-28 behind a game-high 17 points from Cayle Diggins.

John Galik joined Diggins in double figures with 10 points on day one of the 14th Annual Du Quoin Tip-Off Classic in a game where DHS outshot their opponent from the floor 43% (16-of-37) to 28% (8-of-29).

"Overall I'm pretty happy with our effort tonight," said second-year head coach for the Indians, Gabe Sveda. "They did a good job, played team basketball, they shared the ball real well, it's going to be a fun year for them. I told them in the locker room we have a lot of work to do."

The Indians jumped ahead early with sound defense and six first quarter points from Diggins. The senior added a pair of three-pointers early in the second, putting Du Quoin way out in front 19-4.

The lead got as big as 24-4 in the first sixteen minutes, but the Spartans fought back with a quick 7-2 burst to close out the last two minutes of the half, cutting the deficit to 26-11.

"That zone kind of shook us up a little bit," Sveda admitted. "You don't work as much on zone offense the first three weeks of the season like you do your man offense. We work on it each day a little bit, of course, but we saw zone for probably 95% of the game tonight."

"That's ok, we've got to work on that kind of game too, we'll probably see that zone Wednesday night against Cairo."

Waltonville continued to hang around in the third quarter getting as close as 31-20, but a lay-up by Brandon Williams and another three from Diggins steered the momentum back the Indians' way for good.

Du Quoin (1-0) out-rebounded Waltonville (0-1) 27-17 while both teams struggled to hold onto the ball, committing a combined 33 turnovers (DHS 16, WHS 17).

Also scoring for the Indians were Austin Mapps (5 points), Brenden Fred (5), Dillon Beltz (4), Jon Boss (4), Daulton Donoghue (3), Daulton Beltz (2) and Williams (2).

In the first game of the evening, Vandalia knocked off Cairo 80-60.

The Tip-Off Classic continues on Wednesday night with Waltonville taking on Benton at 6:30 p.m. and Du Quoin facing Cairo at 8:00 p.m.

"(Cairo is) very athletic, they do a pretty good job getting the ball to the basket, they've got a couple guys that can knock down shots for them," Sveda said.

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