Redbirds dominate Hamilton County

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.

Redbirds to host Hamilton County

By BRUCE A. FASOL

The West Frankfort Redbirds boys varsity basketball team is back in action for a Tuesday non-conference match-up. Hamilton County comes to West Frankfort for a match-up of two teams who have struggled this year.

The Redbirds are on a three-game losing streak. However, it must be noted, that two of the losses have come against the regions top team in Harrisburg.

One of the losses came during the second round of the Holiday Tournament, and the other loss to the Bulldogs came last Friday. Sandwiched in was a narrow loss to Union County, Kentucky, also in the EHT.

The junior varsity game begins at 6:15 pm at Max Morris Gym. The varsity contest starts about 7:45pm. The broadcast of the game can be heard on the school’s web site at www.wfschools.org

It is the first meeting of the year between the Foxes and the ‘Birds.

Benton, West Frankfort, Illinois News | Franklin County News