High School Basketball Preview 12/9/16

Steve Dunford Franklin County Hoops and Gridiron

Five out of the six teams in the county will be in action tonight, four will have conference games.  The games will be previewed below.  I have the county schools going 1-4 tonight.  I might be the most hated man in the county right now after you read this.  Around 10 P.M. I hope I am the biggest liar in the county.  It does not get any better than HS basketball on a cold winter’s night around Southern Illinois.

Benton (5-1) at Herrin (4-1)

This is the conference opener for both SIRR Ohio division teams tonight.  Benton is coming off a 5-0 Goreville Tournament championship.  Herrin is coming off of a strong 4-1 showing at the Pyramid Plus on Thanksgiving week.

Herrin has basically the same core coming back from last year in

Ranger All Tournament team recipients from the Goreville Invitational, left Austin Wills, middle Timmy Henson (MVP) right Derek Oxford

Nessler, Spell, and the Downen twins.  Benton has the same core as well too.

Rust might be a factor for the Tigers tonight, not playing in two weeks.  The Goreville Game on Saturday night of the tournament was the only real test the Rangers has had.

I say the Rangers will come out of Memorial gym tonight at the skin of their teeth.  I am going with the Rangers by three in a barn burner.

Harrisburg (1-2) at West Frankfort (1-1)  

Harrisburg is coming off of a 1-2 week at the Ernie Bozarth Classic in Murphysboro.  The Redbirds were defeated at Eldorado last Tuesday night by twelve points, in which the Eagles seemed to dominate.  Tonight, both teams open SIRR Ohio play.

Blake Drue might be out for the season for the Bulldogs, but Coach Randy Smithpeters has a lot of role players that are back from last year.  At the top of the list is 6’ 3” junior Isaiah Saulsbury.

This is one of those games that you don’t really know what to expect.  What I do not see is the Redbirds having an answer to shut down Salusbury.  I am going with Harrisburg by five.  I hope that when I make the walk home from Max Morris gym, I will be wrong, talking about a Redbird victory.

Chester (5-1)(0-1) at Sesser-Valier (1-4)(0-0) 

Earlier in the week I would have said Yellow Jackets by 20.  The questions I have, Is Vienna that good, Did Chester overlook them, or do they miss Dylan Schwartz that bad?

Chester losing Wednesday night still has me shaking my head.  The Devils might have got blown out at Okawville Tuesday night, but was far from being embarrassed up there.

I am going Chester by 10.  This is one of those match-ups that peaks my curiosity and I am looking forward to seeing how it turns out.

Zeigler-Royalton (1-3)(0-0) at Vienna (5-1)(1-0) 

As I said earlier, I am still shaking my head about the Eagles making the long road trip and beating Chester Wednesday night.

I am afraid it is going to be a long night for the Tornadoes down at the Eagles Nest.  If Z-R gets hot from the outside, and Vienna overlooks them, the Tornadoes might be able to stay around or spring the upset.

I have to go with Vienna by 20.

Thompsonville (3-3) at Webber Township (4-1)

This is a rematch in the opening round of the Christopher Thanksgiving Tournament where Webber defeated T’ville 62-56.

I am just going to say this.  If Tigers play tonight like they did Tuesday night down at Carrier Mills, the Trojans will blow them out.  If they have showings like they did when they have played NCOE this year, it might be a good ball game; and Thompsonville might leave Bluford with a win tonight.

I have to go with the law of averages.  I have to go with Webber by eight, especially at home.