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CARTERVILLE --- After several years pining to get over the hump, the Carterville Lions finally did it Thursday night defeating division rival Nashville 54-42.

The Lions held a firm grasp on the lead throughout, leading by 13 at the end of the first quarter and the Lions led by as many as 16 at one point.

"We did a great job, keeping [Nashville] spread out on the shooters," said Carterville coach Matt Crain. "We rebounded well and we were running the floor tonight.  Our athleticism got to kick in there towards the end and we got some easy lay ups."

SIU commit and Lions-point leader Jeniah Thompson was one of the key scorers for the Lions with 15 points on the evening.

"She did her job," Crain said. "She's going to SIU for a reason."

The win big in several ways but it also moved the Lions to 30 wins on the 2019-2020 season.

"I never thought I'd be able to say that," Crain said.  "[We've] had the bullseye on our back all season long.  Had to beat Nashville three times... To say you're 30-2... told them before the game 'you're champions to me, you're champion people.  Tonight just let it go hang out and see where the chips fall.'"

Crain's pride shone through after the game as he discussed finally making it to the Super-Sectional, especially with the senior group of Thompson, his daughter Abby Crain, and Megan Barton.

"Unbelievable... Proud of them.  That's been their goal to get there.  Put a lot on them when they came in as freshmen, and when Meg came as a sophomore, and they had to carry the scoring load for their younger years... It's been on their shoulders.... They fought to the bitter end."

Next up for the Lions, they play the Wooden Shoes of Teutopolis, a team that the Lions already beat this season in a 44-40 battle on November 23rd.

"We'll have to have our 'A' game," said Crain. "Our conference toughens us up for that.  You had first and second place playing tonight.  Right now, get as prepared as you can get, get up there, roll 'em out, let the chips fall, and see where you end up."

 

Daryl Murphy M

Matt Varney talks with Daryl Murphy ahead of Tuesday's 2A SuperSectional game against Breese Mater Dei at Banterra Center!

 
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Matt Varney speaks with John A. Logan College Basketball coach Kyle Smithpeters ahead of the NJCAA Tournament about their potential opponents, having to wait over a week until playing again, Jay Scrubb, and how COVID-19 is affecting the NJCAA Tournament.

"Everything is, obviously, still on and a-go," says Smithpeters. "They're gonna limit contact amongst the teams and the players from the standpoints of post-game interviews, pregame banquets, things like that."

 
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[caption id="attachment_50225" align="alignnone" width="300"] (Photo Credit: Saluki Athletics, siusalukis.com)[/caption]

Great to hear from Saluki wide receiver Landon Lenoir, the newest member of the SIU 2,000 career receiving-yard club. Landon talks about the Illinois State comeback, catching passes from Nic Baker, and if his big brother Lance (record-setting WIU receiver) is rooting for him this weekend.

 
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