A 39-point performance from the guard combination of Shay Fluker and Imani Berry lead Belleville West to a 51-35 win over Collinsville Thursday in Southwestern Conference action.

Samantha Buettner drives the lane against Belleville West / Photo by Roger Starkey

The pair entered the game averaging a combined 30 points and scored the first 11 for the Lady Maroons. Alliyah St. John briefly interrupted the duo’s scoring when she knocked down a field goal with 3 minutes and 30 seconds remaining. Fluker and Berry then picked up where they had left off, scoring 17 of the team’s 19 first-quarter points.

West’s 6-foot-5 center Jesheon Cooper came in averaging 11.8 points, but was reduced to the role of offensive spectator for most of the first quarter, going scoreless on two free throw attempts. West (4-2 SWC, 11-4) attempted seven first quarter 3-pointers, including their first five shot attempts. Cooper did not have a field goal attempt until the second quarter.

Collinsville (2-6 SWC, 4-10) was equally determined to ignore Cooper. Aubreeney Brady drove the lane throughout the game. Kassidy Smith and Samantha Buettner repeatedly challenged the Lady Maroon’s interior defense.

Unfortunately for the Lady Kahoks, Cooper was often up to the defensive challenge, blocking six shots and altering many others. Collinsville had some success passing the ball out of the high post, a tactic designed to attract Cooper away from the baseline and give Kassidy Smith and Samantha Buettner room to operate, Collinsville Head Coach Lori Billy said. Brady led the Lady Kahoks with 10 points, mostly on drives to the bucket. Buettner added seven points and Smith six.

The strategy for breaking down the West defense had some hiccups. Collinsville committed 12 first-half turnovers. “We were trying to the ball in certain places and we were having a hard time getting it there,” Billy said.

Cooper had one basket in each of the final three quarters to finish with six points. Fluker led Belleville West with 20 points, just ahead of Berry’s 19. “They’re among the top guards in the conference,” Billy said. “They’re quick and they can use both hands equally as well.”

Brady used her own quickness to get into the lane and draw fouls. However, she made only 2 of 5 free throw attempts.

Scoring for the Lady Kahoks were: Brady-10, Thompson-8, Buettner-7, Smith-6, Liljegren-2, Phinney-2.

The Lady Kahoks participate in the Carbondale Invite next week. Check back for game times and opponents.