The Rangers are 1-0 after defeating Hamilton County 62-32 last night in the opening round of the Goreville Invitational Tournament. Parker Williams had 16 points to lead the Rangers. Austin Wills and Derek Oxford added 15. The Rangers face the Hardin County Cougars tonight at 5:30 at Goreville. They were defeated by Johnston City last night 55-42. Here is a link to last night’s story from The Southern.

Rangers Open Play Tonight at the Goreville Tournament

Steve Dunford-Franklin County Hoops and Gridiron

The 2016-17 edition of the Benton Rangers will hit the hardwood tonight at 7:00P.M., against the Hamilton County Foxes at the Goreville Invitational Tournament.  The Rangers return three starters from last year’s 26-4 campaign.  They ended their season in the first round of the Class 3A regional against Carbondale.  With an enrollment of 577 they are one of the smallest 3A schools in the state.  They finished second in the Southern Illinois River to River Ohio division to the Carbondale Terriers.

The conference will be loaded again.  Daryl Murphy reloads every year at Murphysboro.  Herrin had a very good week down at the Pyramid Plus going 4-1.  Harrisburg has been bit by the injury bug.  Blake Drue is out for the season with a knee injury.  Two of Massac County’s best scorers last year JT Weber and Noah Farmer did not go out for Basketball.  Kevin Toney has a deep bench and the Redbirds will be much more competitive this year.

Kruz Hayes, Brendan Ritchason and Chase Owens were seniors last year who were main contributors for the Rangers.  Four year starter Derek Oxford will be back for the Rangers.  He has topped the 1,000 point mark for his career.  Also returning is point guard Timmy Henson.  Between time at Thompsonville and Benton he is a four year starter.  Coach Ron Winemiller says you can see him getting some time at other ends of the floor this year.  Also back is 6’ 1”Austin Wills who averaged 11 points a game for the Rangers.

You can expect 6’ 3” Parker Williams to get the call in the starting lineup tonight.  The fifth starter for the Rangers according to Coach Winemiller,  will most likely be either 5’ 10” junior Gehrig Wynn or 5’ 8” Junior Cade Thomas.  Coming off the bench for Benton will be juniors Hamilton Page and Blaine Pankey. This duo had a very successful season in the Benton backfield.  All the juniors mentioned have been a very anticipated group since they played in junior high.  They went 14-1 at the JV level last year.  Coach Winemiller also mentioned 6’ 5” sophomore Brandon Utz getting some time as the years go on.

In tonight’s opener against Hamilton County, the Foxes are coming off of a 4-21 record and they are coached by Jeremy Varner.  Their best player is four year starter Oakley Dial.  Everyone else for HamCo is back and will be much improved from last year.  I expect the Rangers to win by 20 tonight.  The Foxes will play very hard, but do not have the horses to keep up with the Rangers.

Here is the Schedule for the Rangers the rest of the week from Goreville:

Tuesday 11/29 at 5:30 p.m. against Hardin County

Thursday 12/1 at 8:30 p.m. against Anna Jonesboro

Saturday 12/3 at 2:00 p.m. against Johnston City

Saturday 12/3 at 8:30 p.m. against Goreville

Join Jim Muir and Tom Wheeler for all the Ranger games this season on Q106, or streaming on wqrlradio.com.  Tonight’s match up with Hamilton County will be video streamed on FoxesFans.net.

By Jim Muir

Benton’s Peyton Smith inked his name Thursday to a national letter-of-intent to wrestle at the collegiate level, providing an exclamation point to a record-setting high school wrestling career.

Smith signed to attend Coker College, a Division II private liberal arts college, located in Hartsville, South Carolina. Coker College competes in the tough South Atlantic Conference.

Benton’s Peyton Smith signed a national letter-of-intent on Thursday to continue his wrestling career at Coker College, in Hartsville, South Carolina. Pictured at the signing are (seated) Smith’s parents, Denny and Marya Smith and (back row l-r) Benton assistant wrestling coach Phil McMahon, Benton athletic director Ryan Miller and Benton head wrestling coach Duane Bean.

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Smith, who broke the all-time win record at Benton High School where he compiled a stellar 154-16 record during his four years of varsity wrestling, called the moment “a dream come true.”

“I am very, very excited,” Smith said. “Since I was a little boy I have always dreamed of wrestling at the college level. I worked very hard and it paid off and gave me an opportunity to wrestle beyond high school.”

Smith is a two-time All-State wrestler and a three-time state qualifier. He compiled a 42-5 mark as a junior and finished third in the IHSA Class A state meet in 2015 and went 43-5 his senior year and finished fourth at the Class A state meet in Champaign.

Benton wrestling coach Duane Bean, who was on hand for the signing, said he is certain Smith with continue his wrestling success at the college level.

“Peyton has the mental toughness and the competitive attitude to compete, and compete very well at the next level,” said Bean. “His work ethic is off the charts and he worked very hard to accomplish this goal. We are very proud of him.”