Russell Conwell/Student Correspondent
Darren Kinnard
Section618.com

WEST FRANKFORT — It was regional championship night across the state. At the West Frankfort 2A Regional, it was the Carterville Lions and Murphysboro Red Devils facing off for the title. This was the first time these two teams had met in the postseason since the 2013-14 season, when the Lions won the Anna-Jonesboro Regional. This time it was the Red Devils who came out regional champs, with a 46-36 win.

Both teams came out firing, but late in the quarter, Murphysboro made some big defensive stops to take the lead. Red Devils’ big man AJ Walker had one of those–a big block which led to two free throws at the other end. Karmelo Abernathy added a steal late in the quarter, helping the Red Devils finish the first with a 13-8 lead.

The teams traded baskets, which helped Murphysboro keep that five-point lead going into the half, 23-18.

The back and forth continued early in the third. After Carterville pulled within 26-23, Murphysboro scored the final 8 out of the 10 points in the quarter, giving the Red Devils a 34-25 lead heading to the fourth.

The Red Devils’ defense delivered a couple of huge stops late after the Lions had closed back within 39-36. Murphysboro scored the final seven points to win the title by ten.

Calvon Clemons led the Red Devils with 15 points. Abernathy added 12, and Walker finished with a double-double, pulling down 14 rebounds to go with 11 points. A couple of Walker’s rebounds led directly to layups for Clemons. The Lions’ leading scorer was Caden Hawkins, who finished with 13 points.

The Red Devils advance to the Carterville Sectional, where they will face the Nashville Hornets (25-4) Wednesday at 7:00 PM.

The Lions finished their season with a record of 20-12.

Notes: West Frankfort’s Eli Tyson, Benton’s Luke Melvin, and Murphysboro’s Carmello Davis and Tyreek Feggins all move onto the Carterville Sectional in the 3-point Shootout.