Steve Dunford-

First of all here are the games that are rescheduled-

•  WF-Massac County girls/boys DH is still on as scheduled
• Christopher at Goreville there will not be a freshman game, and the JV game is pushed up to a 6:00 tip.
• Z-R at Sesser-Valier will be tomorrow afternoon, with a 2:30 tip for the JV game.
• Carrier Mills at Thompsonville has been pushed back to tomorrow night at 6:00 pm.
• Murphysboro at Benton has been rescheduled for Wednesday February 8th at 6:15. I will start on a full listing around 4 pm on the website
• Freshmen tournament game at Pinckneyville has been moved up an hour. Game will start at 10. Van leaves at 9:00 a.m
•  Benton freshman game vs Harrisburg on tomorrow has been cancelled.
• Class L Junior High Girls Championship between Benton and DuQuoin at BMS scheduled for tonight has been moved to Tuesday night.

There will be short and sweet previews.  Thank you to everyone who provided school closings and game information.

CHRISTOPHER (10-4)(9-5) at GOREVILLE (3-0)(9-5)

There is a Battle Royal down at Johnson County tonight.  The teams are more than familiar with each other playing eight times in two years.  Christopher won four times against them last year.

No introductions should be given.  The Bearcats have Bradley Young, Kaelab Pedigo, and Jared Curry.  in the other side of the fence you have Braden Webb and Brant Glidwell.

This week there were some scores that lit things up.  Gabe Schimpf had 18 against Z-R.  Mavis Helton and Peyton Massey had a big game against Sesser-Valier.  You better not foul Cool Hand Luke Bryce Pratt if the Bearcats get the lead.

A lot of points will be put up on that awesome scoreboard they have down there.  It is going to come down to the benches.  Goreville Coach Todd Tripp has played Cole Tosh, Blaine Dunning , Peyton Massey, and Morgan Bishop a lot.  The first two off the bench for Christopher coach Eric Stallman has played limited minutes. guard Zach Snell and post player Cole Sanders.

I am going with Goreville by five.  I am keeping a close eye on this one.

WEST FRANKFORT (6-7)(0-4) vs MASSAC COUNTY(4-6)(1-2)

This is the second meeting between these two teams.  The Redbirds beat the Patriots 46-33 in the Consolation Championship of the Eldorado Holiday tournament.

Austin Glodich had his way against Massac the first game.  Noah Allen kept Darius Roundtree in check.

I would love to see the battle on the bench between Kevin Toney and Joe Hosman tonight.

The Patriots will make some adjustments.  Massac County is a burial ground.  The Redbirds will come out of Metropolis tonight with a one point win.

HAMILTON COUNTY  (4-11)(1-4) at JOHNSTON CITY (0-4) (6-10)

When I wrote the story on their game Friday night against Chirstopher, it had over 2,000 views.  Several were from McLeansboro.  With access to video on Foxes Fans.net, I can give them some very good coverage.

Oakley Dial has been dominant.  He was WSIL’s player of the week.  Jake Whipple has been playing well.  Coach Varner has played nine or ten deep.

The Indians have some good athletes.  They live and die by the three.  They do not get their big man, SIU football bound, Max Edwards involved a lot.

The Foxes have played with a lot of good teams.  They gave Harrisburg all they wanted in the BIT.  They have been oh so close several times, but can not get over the hump.  I am going with Hamco by one in a barn burner tonight.

by Steve Dunford

Just like last night, the three games in the evening session of the Sesser-Valier holiday tournament involve Franklin County Schools.

Just to catch you up on action from today; West Frankfort beat Hamilton County 50-46 this morning at the Eldorado Holiday Tournament.  They play Union County KY in the Consolation Semi- Finals at 4:45

The Benton Rangers beat Trenton-Weslin this morning 62-30 at the Duster Thomas Hoops Classic in Pinckneyville.  They take on the Olney Tigers at 8:30 tonight in the auxiliary gym.

Sesser-Valier High School- Southern Illinoisan file photo

Johnston City blew out Zeigler-Royalton this afternoon 74-37 at Sesser Valier.  Brendan Whiting led the Tornadoes with 20.  Steven Anderson added eight.

You are caught up on everything from everywhere else, now here is the previews of tonight’s games from Sesser-Valier

CHRISTOPHER (4-4) vs CHESTER (8-2)

Last night the Bearcats knocked off a decent New Athens team 65-35.  Kaelab Pedigo exploded again with 27 with six threes.  Bradely Young was involved in the offense more as he had 18.  Jared Curry added nine.

Chester pulled out a 77-76 Overtime win against Century.

The keys to the game for the Bearcats

• Pedigo is going to have to be hot from the outside, you can throw Curry in there as well.
• They are going to have to continue getting Bradley Young involved in the offense.
• They are going to have to keep even with Chester on the boards.
• Stay out of Foul Trouble

This is a game the lack of depth of the Bearcats might hurt them.  The physicality of Weir down in the post will give Christopher some issues.  Savion Smith burned the Bearcats up at Randolph County last season, and the slashing and dribble drive penetration will give them problems tonight.

I am going with the Yellow Jackets by four.  I just have a gut feeling Christopher will be in deep foul trouble in this one.

THOMPSONVILLE (3-5) vs GALATIA (3-6)  

This is the first of three for sure and possibly five match-ups between these to teams.

With Thompsonville playing a little McLeansboro ball last night, as well as Steeleville playing cat and mouse last night trying to bring T’ville out of their zone, the first half looked like a football score at halftime last night.

Here are the keys to the game for T’ville tonight

• They are going to have to keep it in the 50’s
• They have to get more involved in the offense other than Payne, Kessler and Fitch, who led with 15 on the night
• They have to keep out of foul trouble as well
• I believe if you get the ball into Athoney Darge, you can get Galatia in foul trouble.

After a good start, the Tigers stunk it up the last two times out,

SI Dollar Saver Photo

coming into the tournament.   From keeping my ear to the ground the Bearcats looked awful last night

The fourth quarter the Tigers put up against a quality opponent in Steeleville, is just what this young ball club needed.

You can throw the record books out when these two get together.  I am going with the Tigers by five.

SESSER-VALIER (3-6) vs STEELEVILLE (7-3)

It sounds like the Red Devils were firing on all eight cylinders coming in to the tourney after playing a brutal schedule.

In the 77-31 win over Galatia, it was a very balanced attack for the Devils, as Charlie Farmer had 15 points on the night with Tyler Winchester, Preston Launius, and Jamie Lance adding 10 on the night.  Twelve scored for S-V on the night.

The keys for the Devils tonight are the following:

• Keep playing the way you have at late
• Keep the balanced attack
• Keep Gross from exploding.  There are three our four Devils that could do a good job on him.

Both teams will play a lot of players.  This is a game that will be decided in the last thirty seconds tonight.  I am giving Sesser-Valier the edge being at home.  They will pull it out tonight by a point.