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West Frankfort loses to Massac County in OT
January 14, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Previews and Rescheduled Games 1/13/17
January 13, 2017 By Leave a Comment
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.
Franklin County Boys Basketball Preveiw 1/10/17
January 10, 2017 By Leave a Comment
by Steve Dunford-
There are three games on tap involving four county schools tonight, two in the Black Diamond and one in the River-To-River Ohio division. There will be full coverage of West Frankfort-Murphysboro (if it is not coming a flood at game time) and Goreville-Sesser-Valier from the blackcatsnewtork.com feed. Any information that I could receive from Christopher and Z-R, I would appreciate it.
ZEIGLER-ROYALTON (1-8)(0-3) at CHRISTOPHER (9-4)(2-0)
The two football co-op partners and the two schools that are three miles apart meet up for a Black Diamond Conference game at “The Cave” tonight. Friday night the Tornadoes gave Vienna all they wanted in a 57-42 loss. Christopher pulled away from the foul line late in a 59-48 win against Hamilton County.
Kaeleb Pedigo and Brendan Whiting can both shoot the lights out. Steven Anderson is just a good all around athlete. It helps Z-R with
an inside presence that Austin Bollinger.
It is going to be very tough for several teams to have an answer for the three prong attack of Pedigo, Jared Curry and Bradley Young. One of three will give Z-R problems. I am going with Christopher by 15.
MURPHYSBORO (9-3)(2-0) vs WEST FRANKFORT(6-6) (2-3)
West Frankfort crossed over to the Mississippi Division and picked up a 54-39 victory over Sparta on Saturday night. Murphysboro beat SIRR Ohio conference foe Harrisburg 56-41 Friday night.
Muprysboro coach Daryl Murphy expects a “Deliberate style of offense in the form of (Former West Frankfort and McLeansboro Coach David) Lee.”
Here is what West Frankfort Coach Kevin Toney had to say about tonight’s game, “I’m really looking forward to playing Murphysboro at home. We have great fans that support us on the road who have seen us win a few recently, but we’d like to get another win at The Max…especially before the Mid-Winter.”
“I really can see a fair amount of improvement in our players and the folks who have seen us throughout season can see that improvement, too. I hope we can continue that improvement.”
The Redbirds can hang with anyone in the SIRR Ohio this year. They hung around with Herrin until deep in the game on Friday night. I think Gatson, Gibbs, Martshon, and the rest of that Red Devil bunch that will come up from Jackson County will be too much for the Redbirds. I am going with Murpysboro by 10.
SESSER-VALIER (6-8)(2-2) at GOREVILLE (9-3)(2-0)
Normally the Devils biggest plus is their bench. The last several times I have watched the Blackcats, they have went nine deep.
I have been playing how these teams matchup in my mind. The combination of Tyler Winchester/Preston Launius are two hybrids both are 3/4’s with Winchester slipping in the back court a lot. You might as well call Brant Glidwell a three. I have to give the edge to Glidwell there.
Jamie Lance and Mavis Helton can beat and bang each other to death on the inside. Both are very physical and this old post player likes to see them play down low. The Devils will have to worry about Tanner Dunn as they do not have that second post player that is pretty physical. Seth Boles could see a lot of minutes to counteract.
I have to give the edge to Goreville in the back court too. Braden Webb has been on an unreal tear. Lukas Gunter is in the top five 1A point guards in the South, but Webb and Seth Ramsey of Gallatin County is in a league of their own. I can see coach Todd Tripp employing that 1-3-1 trap to take the 22 footer away from Charlie Farmer.
I am not dissing the Red Devils by no means. They can play with anyone of the northern part of the 1A Regional-Sectional complex in Southern Illinois. Goreville is clicking on all eight cylinders. I am going with the Blackcats by 8. In all honesty, I believe Christopher is in some real trouble going down there Friday night.
Sesser-Valier blows out Trico
January 8, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Steve Dunford
CAMPBELL HILL- For the second time this week, a Franklin County school went over to play the Pioneers and went home with a big win.
On Tuesday night Christopher were 73-43 victors. The Devils went over there and won by the exact same score .
The Pioneers were picked to be a middle of the pack team in the BDC West at the first of the year, but they are really struggling. This is what Trico coach Andrew Wilson sent me about their team:
“Right now my biggest concern as a coach is our motivation. We have to do a lot of soul searching and find something every day that ignites that competitive fire within. We just don’t play with a passion that is needed to win ball games.”
“They are very capable of having that passion and fire but I have only seen flashes of it here and there from each player. I am still confident in this team and believe in our potential to be a good ball team is there, but we have to find a way to overcome this lack of competitiveness in order to tap into that potential.”
Charles Farmer led Sesser-Valier with 16 last night. Tyler Winchester had 15 and Jamie Lance added 13. The Devils showed their depth last night putting 10 in the scoring column.
Jared Myerhoff had 11 for the Pioneers. Gavin Thies added 10.
Sesser-Valier (6-8)(2-2) travels to Goreville on Tuesday night. The Blackcats handed Vienna their first conference loss last night. Trico (4-11)(0-4) plays next Saturday night in DuQuoin.
BOX SCORE:
SESSER-VALIER (73) Farmer 8 0 4-5 20; Winchester 4 1 4-6 15; Lance 5 1 0-2 13; L. Gunter 4 0 1-2 9; Launius 2 0 0-0 4; Baxter 2 0 0-0 4; J. Gunter 0 1 0-0 3; Page 0 0 3-4 3; Boles 1 0 0-1 2; Bassp 1 0 0-0 2
TRICO (43) Myerhoff 5 0 1-1 11; Theis 0 2 4-8 10; Compton 3 0 3-4 9; Voght 2 0 1-2 5; Myers 0 0 2-4 2; Volkman 1 0 0-0 2; Heiman 0 0 2-2 2;
SCORE BY QUARTERS;
SESSER-VALIER (6-8)(2-2) 15 32 15 11 – 73
TRICO (4-11)(0-4) 2 11 12 12 – 43
West Frankfort back to .500 – Picks up big road win at Sparta
January 8, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Herrin pulls away for win over West Frankfort
January 7, 2017 By Leave a Comment
HS Boys Basketball Preview-1/6/17
January 6, 2017 By Leave a Comment
by Steve Dunford
Every team in the county is in action tonight except Sesser-Valier, which they travel to Trico tomorrow night. I am sure the faithful from Pitchfork Nation will be a little sad making the trip over there as they took over an establishment in Willisville that is closed now.
I will have West Frankfort coverage from either the Southern Illinoisan or westfrankfortsports.com. I am going to Thompsonville tonight. I am also going to write something on the Christopher game. I am watching the video stream from FoxesFans.net in the archives sometime tomorrow. The other two games I will squeeze enough out to get a story out of.
Since the surprise icon comes up, you will have to look at my ugly mug for the pic for a while. Wherever you go tonight, sit back and enjoy a night of good high school basketball. There are some dandies on tap.
HERRIN (8-3)(0-1) at WEST FRANKFORT (5-5)(0-2)
Both teams have been off since the Eldorado Holiday Tournament and went 3-1. The Redbirds took the consolation bracket by beating conference foe Massac County 46-33. The Tigers ended up losing the championship to the hosts, 57-47. It is noteworthy after winning the EHT that the Eagles cracked the class 2A AP poll at #10 in the state.
Here is what WF coach Kevin Toney had to say about this evening’s contest, “I think Herrin is a very talented and deep team. Their inside players of the Downen twins and DJ Spell are athletic and very skilled. Add to that, the perimeter shooting of Nessler and Bush, make them a formidable group.
Hartline and Ringel handle the ball well, too. If by chance, someone isn’t performing well for them, they have Holloway, McCormick, and others coming off the bench. All that being said, I like our players’ attitudes and their work ethic. Winning some games at the EHT also gives us some added confidence.”
Here is what Herrin coach Mike Mooneyham had to say about tonight, “Herrin is looking forward to getting back to regular season action. We had a good Eldorado Tournament but came up a little short. The atmosphere was great and I can’t fault their effort.but we just didn’t finish it off when we had the chances.”
“I a chance to watch West Frankfort three times during the tournament and they are improving each game. Winning the consolation championship, must have their confidence at a high level.”
“Of course Allen and Glodich have to be a focal point, but we will not overlook what Thrash and Sturgill do for this team. Coach Toney does a great job and will have them ready. The Herrin Tigers will be ready as well.”
Going into the EHT, I would have said that Herrin would beat the Redbirds by 15 points. I am picking the Tigers to come out on top in a five point win.
HAMILTON COUNTY (3-9) at CHRISTOPHER(8-4)
If Tom Wheeler does not go to Massac to do the game with Jim Muir, I am naming tonight the Wheels Classic.
The Bearcats blew out Trico Tuesday night. The Foxes won on a buzzer beater by Oakley Dial 55-52 over GEC opponent Carrier Mills.
The three prong attack of Kaeleb Pedigo, Jared Curry and Bradley Young will cause the Foxes some match-up problems. If the Foxes play a zone, to stop Young and Curry’s dribble drive penetration Pedigo and Gabe Schimpf will shoot the lights out. Pratt has played well beyond his years as a freshman. I am curious who will guard Dial, my money is on Curry.
The Foxes are a veteran bunch along with Dial, Austin Potter, the Rapps (which gives them some size inside) Jake Whipple, and Matt Rubenacker seems like they have been in High School for seven or eight years now. Kyle VanAbba had a good tournament at Eldorado.
This is a pesky team that plays like the “McLeansboro Foxes.” (Not a typo). HamCo will give the Bearcats a good game. They have lost three barn burners in a row. I am going Chirstopher by eight.
HARDIN CO. (3-8)(2-2) at THOMPSONVILLE (1-3)(3-7)
Thompsonville had their best game in a while in a 47-44 loss at Galatia Tuesday night. Hardin County casts the Demons out at win less Dongola last night 81-25. Hardin County Coach Rodney lane says that is not a good measuring stick to see where they are at. The game before that they lost to Vienna 61-44 in which four or five Cougars fouled out. Coach Lane said they are going “to get off the bus and play” after their 75 mile trip coming from Elizabethtown.
“Thompsonville Coach Pete Gordon had this to say about tonight’s contest, “We just need to play to our potential relax and play. We have been so tight, and need to have fun. If we do that we will play well, and when we play well, we can compete with anyone.”I see the Cougars coming out in a zone, which the Tigers have struggled with. Hardin County has a very good back court in Cameron Shaw and 1,000 point scorer in his career, Tyler Winters.
Thompsonville’s back court of Cory Wilce, Tyson Kessler, and Jared Payne is a pretty good one too.
The biggest key is the battle down low tonight between Craig Hudson and Anthoney Darge. Hudson is much more physical and Darge has developed into quite the shot blocker.
Freshman Corbin Fitch plays like a house a fire and Reed Raubach can come in off the bench and help bust the zone. 
Both teams have a lot back from last year and battled. The Cougars came out on top in both but by one at E-town and in OT in the GEC tournament.
Hardin is about five points better on paper than the Tigers, but I smell an upset tonight. The Cougars record is deceiving because they played a brutal schedule.
I am looking forward to going to my Alma Mater and seeing a good ball game.
BENTON (12-1)(3-0) at MASSAC COUNTY (1-1)(4-4)
Benton lost a heart breaker to Pinckneyville in the Duster Thomas Hoops classic 59-53 in the championship game of the tourney. As mentioned earlier, WF beat the Patriots by 15 in at Eldorado in both teams last outing.
This is what Benton Coach Ron Winemiller had to say about tonights outing, “It is a very tough place to go play. The number one reason it is a tough place to play is that the Patriots are always good and well coached. Roundtree can really catch and shoot and is as capableof having a huge game as any guard we have played this year.”
“Thompson will create us some match up problems with his size and athleticism. There other guys do a great job of filling their rolls and making it difficult to help into the post because they can catch and shoot. It will be another tough road trip on a Friday night in the River.”
Massac has some holes because Noah Farmer and J.T Webber elected not to play because they signed letters of intents to play baseball for SIU. Joe Hosman has been saying that he loves these kids but the team is not very deep. He says he will play more zone this year than he has ever played in his coaching career. I have heard Coach Hosman sing the blues before and win 20. He is a class act that I love talking to.
In my notes, I had Isaiah Thompson giving the Rangers some problems. Parker Williams has played very well down low. I look for Timmy Henson or Austin Wills to do a very good job on Darius Roundtree.
I think Derek Oxford will have a good night. Whether Coach Winemiller throws in Hamilton Page, Gehrig Winn, Blaine Pankey, or Cade Thomas into the mix, the depth of the Rangers will hurt Massac.
I am going with the Rangers by 12 tonight.
VIENNA (10-3)(3-0) at ZEIGLER-ROYALTON (0-2)(1-7)
The Eagles beat the Tornadoes 64-40 at home on their last time out.
This is what Vienna Coach Cory Waters had to say about tonight’s game. “Last time we played ZR it was on Homecoming night and we had a lot of energy. We need to make sure we bring that same energy and work on being more disciplined on defense. They have some kids that can score and we need to make sure they don’t get in a rhythm.”Zeigler-Royalton coach Matt Morgan gave me the following comments about tonight, “Vienna is an extremely deep team that brings a lot of athleticism to the game at every position. They guard extremely well and use their athleticism on the offensive end to attack. It will be key for us to contain their dribble drive and force them to take contested shots. The key for us offensively will be moving the ball and valuing possessions. When we limit our turnovers we usually have good results.”
extremely well and use their athleticism on the offensive end to attack. It will be key for us to contain their dribble drive and force them to take contested shots. The key for us offensively will be moving the ball and valuing possessions. When we limit our turnovers we usually have good results.”The Eagles have a good back court in Brandon Casey in Lucas Strickland. So does Z-R in Steven Anderson and Brendan Whiting. Vienna beat Sesser-Valier by 13 Tuesday night. I see them making a run for the BDC west title. I am going with the Eagles by 15 but the Tornadoes will show up ready to play and play hard.
Morgan Griffith explodes for 61….sets West Frankfort all time scoring record
January 6, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Griffith drives the lane in Tuesday night’s OT win over Gallatin County (westfrankfortsports.com photo)
Griffith has a career high 46 points in OT win against Gallatin Co.
January 4, 2017 By Leave a Comment
The FCHS Lady Redbirds Morgan Griffith has the look of determination as she drives to the basket against Gallatin Co.’s Hailey Chubb. Griffith scored a career high 46 points and Chubb scored 38 in West Frankfort’s 92-87 overtime victory Tuesday. (westfrankfortsports.com photo)
