BENTON — The Mt. Vernon Lady Rams used a hot-shooting first half to jump out to a commanding lead and cruised from there to beat Alton Marquette 62-42 in the championship game of the Benton Christmas Classic.

The Lady Rams led 19-7 after one quarter and never let the Explorers get closer than 11 the rest of the way.

Mt. Vernon buried 11 three-pointers on the night, with eight coming in the first half. Kennady Hayes led the Lady Rams’ assault hitting six of those three-pointers and finishing with a game high 24 points.

Hayes, Claire Heinzman, and Ashlyn Childers combined for 37 of Mt. Vernon’s 38 first half points as the Lady Rams built an 18-point lead by halftime.

Here are the rest of the scores from the final day of the Benton Christmas Classic.
Herrin 60, West Frankfort 28 (13th Place Semi #1)
Pinckneyville 48, Salem 41 (13th Place Semi #2)
Hamilton Co. 48, Marion 44 (3OT) (Cons Semi #1)
Harrisburg 57, Carterville 35 (Cons Semi #2)
Du Quoin 40, 26 (5th Place Semi #1)
Christopher 53, Vienna 39 (5th Place Semi #2)
Mt. Vernon 62, Carterville 58 (Semi #1)
Alton Marquette 31, Benton 23 (Semi #2)
Pinckneyville 42, Herrin 30 (13th Place)
Hamilton Co. 37, Harrisburg 36 (Consol Championship)
Du Quoin 47, Christopher 22 (5th Place)
Carterville 44, Benton 40 (3rd Place)
Mt. Vernon 62, Alton Marquette 42 (Championship)