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- West Frankfort’s Trenton Easley tries to stop a drive by Nick Marlo.
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- Nic Korolenko takes a one-handed shot from the free-throw line.
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- The Redbirds Nic Korolenko dives to keep the ball in play during the fourth quarter of Friday’s game.
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- West Frankfort Coach Dan Dewerff’s team fell to 0-2 on the year.
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- Sesser-Valier’s Derek Hood, left, and Justin Kulich try to stop a basket by West Frankfort’s Nic Korolenko.
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- Justin Kulich scores for the Red Devils.
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- Redbird Zack Fort scrambles for the ball.
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- The Red Devils’ Derek Hood attempts a steal from Redbird Drew Maller.
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- Redbird Trenton Easley gets past Red Devil Nick Marlo.
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- Red Devil Tyler Baxter scores two for Sesser-Valier.
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- Red Devil Derek Hood pulls down a pass intended for Redbird Braxton Koehl.
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- West Frankfort’s Zack Fort and Sesser-Valier’s Tyler Baxter battle for the ball.
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- Braxton Koehl drives toward the Redbirds’ basket with Derek Hood on defense.
By BRUCE A. FASOL
The West Frankfort Redbirds lost their second game of the season Friday night 43-40. Playing a second straight road game this week, the ‘Birds played at Black Diamond conference opponent Sesser-Valier’s gym.
The game began slowly offensively. Both teams had leads in the opening quarter. At the end of the frame. the Redbirds held a slim one point lead, 9-8. At the half, the same margin favored the visitors, 29-28. A series of shots in the paint, a square up jump shot and more allowed the Redbirds to build as much as a none point third quarter lead. At the end of the third quarter, the Red Devils hit a key three point shot at the buzzer. Jacob Vanway fired his shot as time expired to cut the defcit to 29-28 . That seemed to give the home team momentum that they lacked all quarter.
In the fourth quarter, the two teams spend the first four minutes trading mistakes, fouls and occasionally points. After Sesser-Valier caught and passed the Redbirds, Nic Korolenko regained the lead for West Frankfort with a three point play when he out muscled the Red Devils for a rebound basket, and converted a free throw off the ensuing foul, at the 4:01 mark of the game. N.
Nick Marlo answered with a bucket to give the Red Devils a 39-38 . The two teams traded buckets until the final seconds. Sesser-Valier inbounded the ball with :21 seconds remaining, with the game decided when Derek Hood beat the Redbird defense for a lay in with :12 remaining. A free throw gave them te final margin of victory, 43-40. The balance of the game wasn’t however, officially decided until Christian Dunning’s full court shot bounced tantalizingly off the rim.
With the win, Sesser-Valier goes to 2-0 for the season. With the loss, Dan Dewerff’s team falls to 0-2 for the year. The Redbirds were led in scoring by Christian Dunning who had 13 points, and 10 rebounds.
Sesser-Valier won the junior varsity game 49-42.
