Carterville Grinds Out Road Win at Du Quoin

The Carterville Lions showed toughness and composure Friday night, picking up a hard-fought 61–58 road win over the Du Quoin Indians. It was a tight, physical game from start to finish, and the Lions proved once again they can win in different ways. With the victory, Carterville improves to 14–1 on the season, while Du Quoin slips to 5–6.

The game was a defensive battle early. Carterville held a slim 14–12 lead after the first quarter, then carried a 24–19 advantage into halftime. Neither team found much rhythm offensively in the first half, but the Lions stayed patient, protected the basketball, and made key stops when needed.

Things opened up after the break. Carterville pushed the lead to 40–35 by the end of the third quarter, but Du Quoin refused to go away. The Indians fed off the home crowd and made a late run, cutting the margin down to one possession in the final minute. The Lions answered with poise at the free-throw line and timely defensive pressure to seal the 61–58 win.

Offensively, balance once again carried the night. Colton Hawkins led the Lions with 19 points, while Maddox Gulley added 17 and Max Lustenberger chipped in 10. Zach Snow finished with 8, and Harper Lustenberger added 7, giving Carterville five players in the scoring column during a pressure-packed road environment.

The road doesn’t get any easier. Carterville now heads into a three-game road stretch next week. It starts Tuesday night at Meridian, followed by a key SIRR Conference – Ohio Division matchup Friday at Massac County, before wrapping up Saturday night at Pinckneyville. At 14–1, the Lions have built momentum—and the next week will test just how strong it really is.