MCLEANSBORO — The Murphysboro Red Devils used a stifling defense and clutch free throw shooting to beat Mt. Carmel 45-35 and earn a trip to the Hamilton County 2A Sectional championship game.
Golden Aces’ force in the middle Kaleb Applebey scored 17 points against the much smaller Red Devils, but Murphysboro held everybody else to 18.
The game was close throughout. It was tied 9-9 after one. Murphysboro led 20-16 at the half, and maintained that four point lead through three quarters. Then up two in the fourth, Dezmond Clark drained a three-pointer and Friday night’s hero, Calvon Clemons tallied a conventional three-point play to put the Red Devils up eight.
Murphysboro was clutch from the free throw line hitting 13-16, including 11-13 in the fourth quarter. Clark was nearly responsible for all of the fourth quarter production, as he went 10-12 from the line on his way to a game high 19 points.
Clemons added 13 for the Red Devils, who advance to play Nashville Friday night at 7:00 for a sectional championship.