Darren Kinnard/River Radio Sports Central
DU QUOIN — The Harrisburg Lady Bulldogs rode defensive stops and strong free throw shooting down the stretch to beat West Frankfort 55-44 for the Du Quoin 2A Regional championship.
After Hannah Rorer buried a three-pointer early in the third quarter, Harrisburg held a 35-19 lead only to watch West Frankfort rally.
Led by an assortment of buckets from Evyn Lemmon, the Lady Redbirds outscored the Lady Bulldogs 18-6 to pull within 41-37 early in the fourth quarter. Harrisburg promptly answered with seven straight, with the biggest basket coming on Koral Hathaway’s banked three-pointer to push the lead back seven.
Hathaway led three Lady Bulldogs in double figures with 16. Jamisen Green added 12 and Kinzleigh Smothers 11 for Harrisburg, who was 9-12 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter.
The Lady Bulldogs advance to the Wesclin Sectional where they will face the state’s top-ranked team, Breese Central, Tuesday night at 6:00 in the first semifinal. Vienna will face Nashville in the second semifinal. The winners will meet Thurday night for the sectional championship.
