By ALEX ABATE ~ DAR Sports Writer

The top-seeded Doniphan Dons are heading into the MSHSAA Class 3 District 2 tournament with vivid memories.

The Dons remember all too well losing to Malden in the district final by two points, 67-65.

"That will motivate us because we know what it felt like to lose," Doniphan senior Charles Wilson said. "We are hungry for that district title."

The Dons will benefit from the championship experience of last season, Doniphan coach Jason Andrews said.

"I definitely think it is going to benefit us," Andrews said. "I remember our kids in the locker room after that loss and how heartbroken they were and some of the promises they made. Hopefully that hard work they put in during the offseason and in practice this year will pay off."

Going into the game as the top seed, the Dons will face the Redbirds of East Carter. Looking past their opponent isn't a worry for Charles Wilson.

"You never want to overlook the first round," Charles Wilson said. "It reminds me of my freshman year when we overlooked New Madrid and we lost. Right now we have a group of guys that are ready to play and we look to dominate our district and are not going to overlook anybody."

Andrews is in agreement with his senior.

"We are not going to take anybody for granted because when you do that, you go home early," Andrews said. "We don't want to go home early, we want to play this thing out as long as we can. We are going to start with East Carter and go from there."

The Dons must be focused and dialed in to start the contest, Andrews said.

"I think the main key is that we have to come out really intense and it is almost like a Bloomfield Tournament really intense," Andrews said. "If we come out really intense and we have to play together and if we do those two things right there, I think we will be fine."

Charles Wilson stressed a lockdown on defense.

"The keys for us are to rebound and play defense, get down to it and get stops," Charles Wilson said.

The Dons have just eight players on their roster and will be relying heavily on the Wilson twins as major contributors.

"We have to rely on them a bunch," Andrews said. "They are not going to shoot every shot because we have some other guys that can put it in the hole. When we need a basket, we are going to get it to the right spot and Charles is our answer and we are going to go to him."

Along with the Dons being the top seed, Twin Rivers earned the No. 2 seed while the Malden Green Wave are sitting in the No. 3 spot.

"Those teams are real similar," Andrews said. "I mean, they don't play exactly the same but as far as being competitive, they are real similar and they are playing better."