ABV Jack’s new ranklings: Devils, Bearcats ranked, Tigers, Redbirds honorable mention

Jack Bullock knows the pule on 1A and 2A Boys Basketball for Springfield south more than anyone.  There are a lot of polls floating around and I think they are a little off.

One thing that Jack mentioned is Jared Curry of Christopher will be back Friday night against Goreville.  The Bearcats have survived the storm since he has been injured.  Several have stepped up including Gage Hawkins in his absence.

Please click for his latest rankings form A Baseline View

http://abaselineview.com/abvrankings.html

 

 

 

Saluki Men’s Basketball plays at Bradley on Tuesday

By Tom Weber

CARBONDALE, IL — The Southern Illinois men’s basketball team returns to action Tuesday night when it plays at Bradley in a game televised live on ESPN3 at 7 p.m. Bradley holds a 47-45 edge in the all-time series. However, SIU has dominated the series since 2002 by a 24-12 margin, including an 8-8 mark at Carver Arena. The Salukis have won four of the last five meetings between the schools and the average margin of victory in the four wins was +16.0 points. Head coach Barry Hinson is 16-12 lifetime against the Braves, including 5-5 during his tenure at SIU.

Armon Fletcher coming off career night
Armon Fletcher (6-5, 207, Jr.)  had a career night at Valparaiso on Jan. 6 with 32 points and 14 rebounds. He became the first Saluki player to score 30+ points since Anthony Beane had 31 versus Drake on Feb. 13, 2016. The Salukis switched to a four-guard lineup on Dec. 13 versus Jackson State, moving Fletcher to the “hybrid-four” and inserting guard Aaron Cook into starting lineup in place of forward Jonathan Wiley. Since the change, Fletcher has averaged 15.8 points, 5.9 rebounds and shot 50 percent from the field.

Dawg Bites
•In his last five games, Armon Fletcher is 19-of-22 (.864) from the free throw line.
•SIU is shooting .349 from 3-point this year. If that holds up, it will be the team’s best percentage since the 2010 team converted .362.
•The Salukis are 22-14 during Tyler Smithpeters‘ career when he has made two or more 3-pointers in a game, including 5-2 this season.
•If Smithpeters reaches double figures in scoring at Bradley, it will mark the first time in his career he’s reached double figures in three-straight games.
Austin Weiher played a season-high eight minutes at Valparaiso.
Barry Hinson (258) needs four wins to pass Gregg Marshall (261) for fourth all-time among MVC coaches.
•The Salukis have been out-rebounded in five of their last six games and by an average of -5.3 in that span.
•SIU has gone 99-consecutive games with at least one 3-point field goal and 1,007-consecutive games with at least one free throw (dating back to 1986).

The magic number is 70
The Salukis are 10-0 when they hold an opponent under 70 points and 0-7 when an opponent scores 70 or more.

Sean Lloyd Jr. emerges as leader
Sean Lloyd Jr. (6-5, 210, Jr.) has emerged as the team leader. At 33.4 minutes per game, he averages five more minutes than any teammate. He typically guards the opponent’s top scorer. Lloyd is the nephew of two-time MVC player-of-the-year Lewis Lloyd, who played two seasons at Drake (1980-81) and seven years in the NBA. Another uncle, Daryl Lloyd, also played at Drake and led the team in scoring in 1985 with 17.9 points per game.

Kavion Pippen leads team in field goal percentage, blocked shots
Juco transfer C Kavion Pippen (6-10, 240, Jr.) leads the team in field goal percentage (.539) and blocked shots (29). Pippen has scored in double figures in all but five games this season. The nephew of NBA legend Scottie Pippen was named MVC Newcomer of the Week on Nov. 12 and again on Dec. 4. He had a career-high 24-point outing versus Jackson State.

Marcus Bartley for three
After missing the first six games of the season with a broken wrist, Saint Louis transfer G Marcus Bartley (6-5, 193, Jr.) has emerged as a 3-point shooting threat, converting 17-of-43 (.395). He made four treys to key SIU’s win at Northern Iowa. Bartley also has 38 assists and 22 turnovers.

Salukis among Top 100 in two defensive categories
The Salukis rank No. 81 in scoring defense (68.0) and No. 87 in 3-point field goal percentage defense (.325) among the nation’s 351 Division I teams.

Injury Report
Thik Bol (knee), Eric McGill (left hand) and Jonathan Wiley (knee) are out for the season. Here is a list of games missed by Saluki players this season due to injury…
Thik Bol    17 games
Marcus Bartley    7 games
Eric McGill    7 games
Jonathan Wiley    2 games
Armon Fletcher    1 game
Rudy Stradnieks    1 game

Redbirds drop a road SIRR win to the Herrin Tigers

HERRIN –  Kyle Hammers, Keagan Thrash, and Bradlee Croslin had 14 points each on the night at the Redbirds last night as they fall to the Herrin Tigers 68-59.  Here are some links to stories written about last night’s game.

Here are a couple links about last night’s game.

BUCKY DENT FROM THE SOUTHERN ILLINOISAN 

http://thesouthern.com/sports/high-school/basketball/boys/boys-basketball-herrin-downs-west-frankfort-for-th-straight-win/article_bbe2f73b-3060-58c2-bdb4-27ff9e65dd31.html

DAVE BROY FROM WEST FRANKFORT SPORTS 

http://westfrankfortsports.com/fchs-redbirds-varsity-jv-bball-teams-lose-at-herrin-p901-165.htm

Rangers edge Patriots

Benton improves to 13-2, 4-0 in SIRR Ohio, with 59-56 victory

BENTON – For head coach Ron Winemiller and his 2017-18 Benton Rangers, the beginning of the season has been one of the surprises in southern Illinois boy’s basketball.

After graduating most of what turned out to be a record-breaking 31-3 squad from a year ago which produced the first ever SIRR Ohio Division championship in the programs’ history, this squads’ expectations weren’t nearly as high heading into this campaign months later.

Please click on the link for the full story from Jack Bullock of A Baseline View.

http://abaselineview.com/abvmassacbenton.html

Rangerettes defeat Massac 39-36 in Ohio Division match up

By Jim Muir

The Benton Rangerettes picked up a big victory Thursday night, knocking off Massac County 39-36 in a SIRR Ohio Division match up.

The Rangerettes jumped out to a 17-8 first quarter lead and extended the lead to 11 at halftime, leading 26-15. Benton Coach Andy Sloan said he felt his team missed an opportunity to put Massac away in the first half.

“We played with a lot of energy early and got the lead,” Sloan said. “I really felt like we could have extended the lead even more in the second quarter but made some poor decisions with the ball and we had too many turnovers.”

The Lady Patriots outscored the Rangerettes 21-13 over the final two quarters but Benton held on for the important conference win.

“We were in foul trouble and that was a big issue for us in the second half,” Sloan said. “Carlton (Zoe) and Wallace (Madyson) sat most of the third quarter with four fouls. We gave up the lead late but came back and got it right back. That’s a credit to our kids. We fought hard the entire game.”

Sloan said his team “did just enough to get the win.”

“But, we will take them any way we can get them,” said Sloan. “We were only 11-27 from the free throw line so if we hit our free ones it wouldn’t have been as close. But, credit our kids for not giving up.”

The Rangerettes were led in scoring by freshman Addisyn Miller who tallied 17 points, the lone Benton player in double figures. Wallace, despite sitting out much of the second half in foul trouble, scored eight points. Rounding out the scoring Katy Johnson scored four points, Ember Milby and Macie Cockrum had three points each and Eb Casey and Zoe Carlton each scored two points.

The win improved the young Benton team to 6-10 overall and 2-3 in Ohio Division play. Benton is back in action on January 9 when they travel to Herrin for an Ohio Division match up and then travel to Du Quoin on January 11.

 

WEST FRANKFORT GIRL’S MID-WINTER CLASSIC TOURNAMENT 2018

Saturday, January 13

3:30 Sesser-Valier-Waltonville  vs. Herrin

5:00 Pinckneyville vs. West Frankfort

Tuesday, January 16

5:30 Herrin vs. Pinckneyville

7:00 West Frankfort vs. Sesser-Valier-Waltonville

Thursday, January 18

5:30 Pinckneyville vs. Sesser-Valier-Waltonville

7:00 Herrin vs. West Frankfort

Tie Breakers

1st tie breaker is the head-to-head play within your division 2nd tie breaker is each team’s free throw percentage.

The 30-point mercy rule will be in effect during the fourth quarter.

Rangerettes drop Ohio Division match up at Murphysboro

By Jim Muir

The Benton Rangerettes fell behind early and battled back but came up short in a 50-36 loss to Murphysboro in Tuesday night action.

The Rangerettes fell behind by double digits at the end of the first quarter, trailing the Lady Red Devils 18-6 after one in the SIRR Ohio Division match up. Murphysboro outscored Benton 15-9 in the second quarter to open up a 33-15 halftime lead.

Benton Coach Andy Sloan said turnovers continue to hurt his young team.

“We just had too many costly turnovers between the middle of the first quarter to the middle of the second quarter,” said Sloan. “We were down by 22 at one time and battled back and got it to 10 but couldn’t get any closer.”

Sloan said he was disappointed in his team’s defensive effort.

“We didn’t guard very well as a unit and we gave up far too many second and third opportunities to Murphysboro,” Sloan said. “The result is disappointing because I thought we were prepared and had a good game plan. We let their athleticism take over early and I think that’s what cost us the game.”

Madyson Wallace led Benton in scoring with 15 and drew praise from her coach. Wallace, a sophomore, did not play last year and is competing at the varsity level for the first time.

“I thought she (Wallace) had a good game,” Sloan said. “She is getting better each game.”

Rounding out the scoring for Benton, Addisyn Miller and Zoe Carlton each had six points, Eb Casey had five points and Kelsey Wilcox had four points.

The Rangerettes are back in action on Thursday, January 4 when they host Massac County and then hit the road for a pair of road games next week, facing Herrin on January 9 and Du Quoin on January 11.

Steve’s Ramblings: One of the greatest, hidden rivalries in Southern Illinois

By Steve Dunford 

THOMPSONVILLE –  When you hear of rivalries in Southern Illinois, you think of teams such as Pinckneyville-DuQouin, Herrin-Marion, Carbondale-Murphysboro.  Here in Franklin County, Benton-West Frankfort tops the list.  Then probably Christopher/Sesser-Valier.

The hidden rivalry unless you have experienced it is Thompsonville-Galatia.  I will refer to we as Thompsonville.  I can not help it.

Jack Bullock was there covering the game.  I told him I would link his story to the website, and I was going to sit back, sit on the Thompsonville side, and be a fan last night.

The only reason WEBQ was not there, because there is a weak cell phone signal coming out of the steel structure gym.  The Harrisburg station always would broadcast the game, if there was not a conflict with the Bulldogs.  A lot of times it was on the FM Frequency that was Rock 100 (Which now is owned by River Radio and is Z-100 now.)

When both teams were in the Conrad Allen Holiday Tournament when Mike Mitchell was voice of the Benton Rangers, he would broadcast from Wayne City on Q-106 if there was not a schedule confict.

This is a rivalry where the record books are thrown out.  During the days the Tigers were independents, or in the Mid South they still had a home and home against each other every year.  The teams have eleven miles of State highway 34 separating them.

Since Thompsonville joined the GEC about ten years ago, it means much more is on the line since it was a conference game last night.  It would take me a while to explain the quirky setup of the Greater Egyptian Conference, but when they face each other in February at Galatia, it will not count in the conference standings.

Some still disagree with the move the Tigers and NCOE made to go to the GEC.  It did not cause the now defunct Mid-South Conference to crumble.  I will tell you my side of the story from a T’ville perspective form a one-on-one basis.

I will say this, along with Galatia, the rivalry between Crab Orchard and Thompsonville has been heated over the years.  It is ten miles to Galatia, and 15 miles to Crab Orchard and Carrier Mills.  Along with less travel, this alumnus loves having the two top rivals in the same conference.

In the Mid South days, the closest conference school was Webber Township if you took back roads, and if you took all highways, Waltonville, which is about 30 miles.  The long trips to Pope County and Hardin County are negated by the long haul to Grayville.

On a night when the temperature was six degrees at tip-off, there was a full house.  If it was not so cold, there would have been standing room only.  Because of the close proximity of the schools, the game is played on a Tuesday night.

I usually sit behind the scorers table.  I did not hold court as much as I usually do, because I was into the game so much.  As I was sitting on the front row at the center line, official David Hill, Sr., told me to behave myself.  I think I only barked one time at the officials.

Between the third and fourth quarter he told me that I am getting to old for this.  I have quit for years, but I am back at it again.

The two coaches that are opposing each other were Rod Wallace, who is on his second tour at Galatia is coaching because the love of the game.

Before the game, I don’t talk to coaches unless I am spoken to.  I will give them a handshake that is it.  If they want to talk, I will talk.  Since I was a fan, I was going to talk to him after the game.  There was a little grand-daughter that was holding his hand.  Being a “paw-paw” is a lot more important than talking to me.

As a coach, I think I would work the officials like he does.  I think I even barked to “T” him up.

On the other bench,  have Pete Gordon, who is seeing the rebuilding process through.  He is starting to reap the benefits now.  The Tigers only had one conference win last year.  They are in the thick of things in the GEC, with a 3-1 record in the conference and 8-6 overall.

There were some times last night things got a little chippy.  Even though Galatia has a 5-10 record, they are a good ball club.  They gave Christopher all they wanted in the Bearcats vs. Bearcats, first round game of the Sesser-Valier Holiday tournament. They played in the very tough Vienna Classic to start the year.

At the game last night, I began to reflect on some of the old tales that was told about the rivalry that happened way before my time.

Tales get stretched over time in cafes, barber shops, and years ago “fillin stations.” Some of the real old timers used to say there was a special train that used to run when the two met in basketball.  They would say there would be the teams waiting at the depot when they would exit the train, ready to fist fight.

I know the rivalry at one time was to the point the two did not schedule games against each other.  Some claimed the IHSA stepped in.  My gut feeling it was self imposed.  I think the IHSA at the time had too many schools to worry about, than two district schools in the Southeastern part of the state, in the one class system days.

There was a fist fight that took place on the stage between Doug Creel and a member of the Galatia coaching staff while playing at Galatia.   It was at halftime.  They went down to our locker room mouthing off to one of our players.   Creel chased him up the steps.  There was a skirmish on the stage.   There was no blows between blue and red thrown.

Someone pulled the curtain, I am not narking on who, but I got the blame for it.  The Galatia Cheerleaders were doing their pom pom routine.  Both bleachers emptied, just to watch the show.

Earlier that year there was a Galatia ban placed on us by Coach Creel.  We lost by one on a last second shot from the back divided half line in the old Thompsonville gym that was waved off.

We got over it pretty quick after we got dressed.  There was a convoy of cars that went and ate pizza at Bondo’a with a lot of the Galatia players.   We all passed the bus on the way down there.

I was holding court being entertaining to some “mixed company” of Tigers and Bearcats, around the front table that seats about 15.  (For those who have been there)  There was some good nature teasing and some heated pong games that took place.

We were enemies for 32 minutes.  During that time, we hated each others guts from the tip to the horn.  As soon as we changed into street clothes we were buddies.

The next Monday at practice we were banned from going to Galatia unless we were with our parents.   It was not a very fun practice to say the least. We were told how the Beers’ boys were laughing at us.  (They were jokingly.)

Last night I witnessed the same.  When that ball was tipped up, on the court or end the stands, there were enemies across from each other.  After the game, there were people crossing the way, as friends, carrying on a conversation.

There are families that are intertwined.   There was a lady last night, well into her 80’s that lived in Thompsonville most of her life, had a great-grandson playing for Galatia.  She was all over the referees and “getting into the rivalry.”  I can think of four or five similar cases last night.

At half-time there was a “Parting of the Red Sea” moment.  The Galatia-Thompsonville Lady Cats (standing for Bearcats and Tigers)  had a varsity only contest at Galatia.  At halftime, ones who were team mates when they left Galatia, were sitting in opposite bleachers rooting their respective teams on.

Today I was thinking how many coaches over the year got their start at Galatia or Thompsonville.  In fact Congressman Glenn Poshard. coached at both schools in his younger days.

Long time coach Ed Belva, who spent the majority of his career at Waltonville, started at Galatia.  Long time coach and administrator at Sesser-Valier, Nick Laur started there.

Along with Creel, current Southeastern Illinois College coach Mark Motsinger, got his start at Thompsonville. Gallatin County Coach Doug Miller started his coaching career at T’ville.  Russ Hobbs, who has coached at the junior high level for around 40 years at Christopher. was the head coach of the Tigers at the start of his coaching

When these two schools hook up, over time they traditionally split with each other, with the home team coming out on top.  There is something that will happen until the Lord comes back, each team will leave the gym blaming the loss on the referees.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mid Winter Classic Pairings released

BOYS WEST FRANKFORT MID-WINTER CLASSIC TOURNAMENT 2018

POOL A:  ANNA-JONESBORO, CHRISTOPHER, WEST FRANKFORT, ELDORADO

POOL B:  CARTERVILLE, CAIRO, HERRIN, MARION

Saturday, January 13 6:30 Cairo vs. Marion

Monday, January 15

5:30 Carterville vs. Herrin

7:00 Eldorado vs. Anna-Jonesboro

8:30 West Frankfort vs. Christopher

Tuesday, January 16

8:30 Christopher vs. Eldorado

Wednesday, January 17

5:30 Herrin vs. Cairo

7:00 West Frankfort vs. Anna-Jonesboro

8:30 Carterville vs. Marion

Thursday, January 18

18 8:30 Cairo vs. Carterville

Friday, January 19

5:30 Anna-Jonesboro vs. Christopher

7:00 West Frankfort vs. Eldorado

8:30 Herrin vs. Marion

Saturday, January 20 Finals

3:30 4th Place Teams from Each Pool Play for 7th & 8th Place Overall

5:00 3rd Place Teams from Each Pool Play for 5th & 6th Place Overall

6:30 2nd Place Teams from Each Pool Play for 3rd & 4th Place Overall

8:00 1st Place Teams from Each Pool Play for 1st & 2nd Place Overall

Tie Breakers 1st tie breaker is the head-to-head play within your division 2nd tie breaker is each team’s free throw percentage.

The 30-point mercy rule will be in effect during the fourth quarter.

Tigers continue winning ways

Darge comes up “large” with double-double; Thompsonville tops Galatia

Thanks to Jack Bullock for letting me link this.  I was able to sit back and watch two long time rivals get together last night.

Here is a link to the story from “ABV Jack.”

http://abaselineview.com/abvgalatiathompsonville.html

 

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