by Steve Dunford-
There are three games on tap involving four county schools tonight, two in the Black Diamond and one in the River-To-River Ohio division. There will be full coverage of West Frankfort-Murphysboro (if it is not coming a flood at game time) and Goreville-Sesser-Valier from the blackcatsnewtork.com feed. Any information that I could receive from Christopher and Z-R, I would appreciate it.
ZEIGLER-ROYALTON (1-8)(0-3) at CHRISTOPHER (9-4)(2-0)
The two football co-op partners and the two schools that are three miles apart meet up for a Black Diamond Conference game at “The Cave” tonight. Friday night the Tornadoes gave Vienna all they wanted in a 57-42 loss. Christopher pulled away from the foul line late in a 59-48 win against Hamilton County.
Kaeleb Pedigo and Brendan Whiting can both shoot the lights out. Steven Anderson is just a good all around athlete. It helps Z-R with
an inside presence that Austin Bollinger.
It is going to be very tough for several teams to have an answer for the three prong attack of Pedigo, Jared Curry and Bradley Young. One of three will give Z-R problems. I am going with Christopher by 15.
MURPHYSBORO (9-3)(2-0) vs WEST FRANKFORT(6-6) (2-3)
West Frankfort crossed over to the Mississippi Division and picked up a 54-39 victory over Sparta on Saturday night. Murphysboro beat SIRR Ohio conference foe Harrisburg 56-41 Friday night.
Muprysboro coach Daryl Murphy expects a “Deliberate style of offense in the form of (Former West Frankfort and McLeansboro Coach David) Lee.”
Here is what West Frankfort Coach Kevin Toney had to say about tonight’s game, “I’m really looking forward to playing Murphysboro at home. We have great fans that support us on the road who have seen us win a few recently, but we’d like to get another win at The Max…especially before the Mid-Winter.”
“I really can see a fair amount of improvement in our players and
the folks who have seen us throughout season can see that improvement, too. I hope we can continue that improvement.”
The Redbirds can hang with anyone in the SIRR Ohio this year. They hung around with Herrin until deep in the game on Friday night. I think Gatson, Gibbs, Martshon, and the rest of that Red Devil bunch that will come up from Jackson County will be too much for the Redbirds. I am going with Murpysboro by 10.
SESSER-VALIER (6-8)(2-2) at GOREVILLE (9-3)(2-0)
Normally the Devils biggest plus is their bench. The last several times I have watched the Blackcats, they have went nine deep.
I have been playing how these teams matchup in my mind. The combination of Tyler Winchester/Preston Launius are two hybrids both are 3/4’s with Winchester slipping in the back court a lot. You might as well call Brant Glidwell a three. I have to give the edge to Glidwell there.
Jamie Lance and Mavis Helton can beat and bang each other to 
death on the inside. Both are very physical and this old post player likes to see them play down low. The Devils will have to worry about Tanner Dunn as they do not have that second post player that is pretty physical. Seth Boles could see a lot of minutes to counteract.
I have to give the edge to Goreville in the back court too. Braden Webb has been on an unreal tear. Lukas Gunter is in the top five 1A point guards in the South, but Webb and Seth Ramsey of Gallatin County is in a league of their own. I can see coach Todd Tripp employing that 1-3-1 trap to take the 22 footer away from Charlie Farmer.
I am not dissing the Red Devils by no means. They can play with anyone of the northern part of the 1A Regional-Sectional complex in Southern Illinois. Goreville is clicking on all eight cylinders. I am going with the Blackcats by 8. In all honesty, I believe Christopher is in some real trouble going down there Friday night.
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