Bearcats – Devils IV

Steve Dunford – franklincounty-news.com

The Christopher Bearcats and the Sesser-Valier Red Devils tangle for the fourth time this season.  Christopher has the series advantage over S-V 2-1.

In the first meeting Christopher won at Sesser 59-56.  The second meeting was a 66-52 win for the Bearcats.  The third was an 85-81 thrilling overtime win for the Devils at Christopher.

Tonight they meet in Williamson County for the championship of the Crab Orchard Class 1A Regional.  The winner will face either Cairo (14-12) or Gallatin County (18-8) at the Norris City-Omaha Enfield sectional on Tuesday.

All game times are at 7:00 p.m.

Either Christopher Coach Eric Stallman or Shane Garner will have any aces up their sleeve for this one.  Both teams will play man to man.  Both teams will push the ball.  It is going to come down to who has the hot hand and who executes.

There are two Jefferson County teams matching up at the Wayne City Class 1A Regional tonight  as Webber Township (17-11) faces Woodwlan (14-14) to have the right to travel to Norris City on Wednesday.

The winner of Woodlawn-Webber will face either Meridian (12-14) or Goreville (21-9) who face each other at the Cobden Class 1A regional.

There is not a clear cut favorite coming into anyone of these games tonight.  Class 1A is just that evenly balanced this year.  Whoever steps on the floor a week from Tuesday at the SIU arena out of the eight teams above, will be battle tested.

In Class 2A the IHSA decided to dissect the state east and west by 1-57.  I will attempt to break down the Pinckneyville and West Frankfort sectionals next week.  It is difficult with teams you are unfamiliar with that are deep into the 217 feeding in.

Pinckneyville (28-2) and DuQuoin (14-13) meet in the Championship of the Trico for Perry County bragging rights and to play in the Pinckneyville sectional.

Nashville (18-12)  will travel to Carlinville, to face Piasa SW.  Forty miles south of Springfield is a long way to travel for a regional championship game.

Eldorado (27-3) will face their Saline County rival Harrisburg (11-16) for the chance to play at the West Frankfort Sectional Tuesday night against the winner of the Newton regional.

Mt. Carmel (23-4) and Edwards Co (20-6) face off and play for the Flora regional championship tonight.  The winner will take on who comes out of the Pana regional in which T-Town is playing for the championship.

I will try to keep you informed the best of my ability about who is still on the road to Peoria.