Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter



CAT Tracks for November 28, 2006
CAIRO PILOTS

From the Southern Illinoisan...


Pilots fly high: Cairo leads by as much as 24 in rout of Carterville

by scott mees, the southern

DU QUOIN - Cairo turned up the tempo and used its suffocating full-court pressure to pick up its first win of the season at the Du Quoin Tip-Off Classic.

Charles Johnson and Kenny Tucker tallied 18 points apiece Monday as the Pilots downed Carterville 66-50 in boys prep basketball.

"I have to take my hat off to these kids because they've been working extremely hard," said Cairo coach Dion Real about his team's aggressiveness. "I thought our defensive pressure was pretty tough."

The Pilots (1-1) led 37-22 at the half and went on an 11-2 run to start the third quarter as they opened up a 24-point advantage.

Johnson picked up a steal and fired a pass to Tucker for a layup. Tucker scored again in the paint off of a Carterville turnover as Cairo led 43-22.

Jeserick Pilgrim finished off the Cairo run after being fed under the hoop by Johnson for a 48-24 lead.

"These kids come in the gym every day and are diving all over the floor," Real said of the Pilots' practice sessions that led to the big victory.

The Lions (0-1) didn't back down and ended the third period by scoring the final 11 points. Tony Brown scored seven straight in that span, and the Lions trailed by 13 heading into the fourth quarter.

"Cairo made a couple of runs on us, but I thought we did a good job of answering those runs," said Carterville coach Scott Burzynski. "We could've been blasted by 40, but we competed and got back in it."

Cairo ripped off six consecutive points to start the final period and went on for the win.

Brown led the Lions with a game-high 19 points.

Chad Davis chipped in with eight.

The Pilots started the game fast with a 12-4 edge. Marquis Lemmon found 6-foot-7 forward Russell Mackins for a basket. Moments later, Mackins grabbed a rebound and went back up for two points to finish off the run.

"We just couldn't quite get over that hump," Burzynski said. "I was very pleased with the way our kids competed. I think throughout the year we're going to get better."

Burzynski lost all five starters from last year's team which won 20 games.

In the second quarter, Johnson nailed a 3-pointer to give Cairo a 17-8 lead. Carterville's Brown scored two baskets, and John Gill scored one to pull the Lions within 17-14.

Mackins, hovering around the free-throw line, zipped a pass to Tucker for a layup to start a 9-0 Pilot streak. Tucker scored off a steal, and Mackins found him again for another short basket as Cairo held a 28-16 lead.

Pilgrim added nine points and Mackins notched 10 for Cairo.