Redbird senior Trenton Easley goes up for a shot under heavy guard.
By BRUCE A. FASOL
Playing four strong quarters of varsity basketball, the West Frankfort Redbirds soundly defeated the Hamilton County Foxes Tuesday night, 59-43.
Gage Williams blocks a shot.
The Redbirds scored the first 4 points of the game. Then, they saw HamCo score the next four. The Redbirds then regained the momentum putting up 13 unanswered points to end the quarter with a 17-4 advantage. The game would only get slightly closer than that with the home team holding a double digit lead for most of the contest. The game was also not close when the halftime horn sounded with the ‘Birds up 24-10 as they received an ovation from the home crowd on their way to the locker room.
In the second half, the Foxes made a few runs to cut the lead under double digits. The last time Hamilton County saw a single number disadvantage was when Levi Lueke hit a short jumper with 6:27 left in the game to cut the Redbird lead to 40-32. The Birds scored the next 8 points of the game. In the second half run, Gage Williams electrified the crowd when he cruised in for a one-handed dunk.
The game was a very physical game with West Frankfort going to the free throw line 29 times, and Hamilton County 18 times. The hard play drew ire from both sides of the gym, with one Fox fan receiving an early exit.
Scoring for West Frankfort included: Trenton Easley with 21 points, Williams and Koehl with 15, Dunning 8, and Sisk 2. Easley had both West Frankfort 3-pont shots,and both proved instrumental in halting Hamco rallies.
Both teams are now 4-9 for the season. The Redbirds get back to Ohio Division action Friday night, at Murphysboro.
