By BRUCE A. FASOL
Have the West Frankfort Redbirds improved any this year? The answer is “yes”. Friday night the ‘Birds held a 9 point lead on the road, and could not hold it. Tuesday night their lead ballooned to 17 points, but again the opponents made a run at the Redbirds. This time, Dan Dewerff’s team stayed focused, and rebuilt their lead enroute to a 81-71 decision in Eldorado.
Playing some of their best basketball of the year, the Redbirds built on a lead after one quarter and went into the locker room with a 35-25 advantage.
Eldorado came out in quarter three a much more disciplined ball club That allowed them to cut into the Redbird lead. A pair of three point shots in the third and fourth quarter by Richard Graceffa actually made it a three-point game in the final frame.
However, the Redbirds stayed poised. They ran a series of plays that ended in lay-ups, and trips to the free throw line. Nic Korolenko himself earned two old-fashioned three point plays with a bucket and a free throw twice down the stretch. The last triple trip down the court came with 2:38 remaining.
It was the incredible free throw clinic that Redbirds put on that iced the game for the visitors. In the fourth quarter alone, the Redbirds were of 16 of 19 from the charity line . Trent Easley sealed the win with a 15 of 16 performance in the game. In the fourth quarter alone, Easley hit all 12 free throws he attempted. Sophomore Braxton Koehl got his jumper to fall with consistency, and was an impressive 7 for 10 from the line, too.
The Redbird defense helped cause three key turnovers late in the game that kept Eldorado at arms length in the end. The turnovers came within a minute of each other beginning at the 2:01 mark of the fourth quarter.
West Frankfort was led in scoring with the 20 points of Braxton Koehl, 17 for Trenton Easley, 17 for Nic Korolenko, 8 for Gage Williams, 6 for Zack Fort, 4 Evan Keller, 3 for Drew Maller. Starter Christian Dunning was injured in the first half minute of the ballgame. His physical condition is being evaluated.
The junior varsity lost to Eldorado 54-28 and remain winless.
With the win, the Redbirds are 1-3 for the season. The ‘Birds are home Friday when they host Massac County in the Ohio Division opener for both teams. The JV game begins at 6 p.m.
