Sesser-Valier Opens Tonight at DuQuoin Tip-off Classic

Sesser Valier will be Very Deep…Open Tonight at DQ Tipoff

Steve Dunford-Franklin County Hoops and Gridiron

The 2016-17 edition of the Sesser-Valier Red Devils will tip it off the season in Anders Gym as they play at 6:00 P.M. in the DuQuoin Tip-off Classic against the Lovejoy Wildcats.  Lovejoy is a tiny village in the Metro East just north of East St. Louis.  Over the years they have had a we will play anyone mentality playing Mt. Vernon, Centrailia, Cairo, and Meridian.  Sesser plays one of the tougher 1A schedules in Southern Illinois, especially if the IHSA keeps the regional-sectional complexes the same.

The only one that graduated from last years squad was 6’ 5” senior Jake Styve.  Coach Shane Garner has four starters from last year returning.  Lukas Gunter a 5’ 11” junior has the potential to be one of the better point guards in the region.  His running mate in the back court will be 6’ 2” senior sharpshooter  Charles Farmer.  In the post will be three year starter 6” 3” senior Jamie Lance.  Preston Launius a 6 ‘3” junior, started at the three spot for the Devils last season.

Coach Garner has several to choose from to be the fifth starter.  Addison Baxter a 6’ 2” senior can pretty well play all five spots on the floor.  A pair of 6’ 1” juniors, Addison Page and Joshua Gunter, played significant varsity minutes last year.  Page mainly played the post last season. Joshua Gunter is very versatile, lightning fast and I noticed during football season he bulked up a lot.  Clayton Smith a 5’ 10” junior will most likely back up Lukas Gunter at the point and calling signals will not be much of a change.  He was one of the better QB’s in the Black Diamond this fall.

I have the Devils slated to finish fourth in the Black Diamond West this year behind Goreville, Chester, and Christopher.  Their record at years end will be much better than the 10-20 mark they posted last year.  Their strength of schedule, especially playing this week at DuQuoin and in the BIT will help them come late February.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK FOR SESSER-VALIER AT the DuQUOIN TIP-OFF

6:00 p.m.        Tonight –Lovejoy (Broadcast on WMIX 94.1FM or wmixsports.com)

6:00 pm.         Friday, 12/2- Cairo

12:30 p.m       Saturday 12/2 –CarmiWhite County (Broadcast on WRUL 97.3FM or wrul.com)

7:30 p.m.        Saturday  12/3 –DuQuoin  (Broadcast on WDQN 1580am or wdqun1580.com