Benton, West Frankfort, Illinois News | Franklin County News
Newspaper covering Franklin County, Illinois
STAFF REPORT
In a regular season, non-tournament game Friday night, the Chester Yellowjackets knocked off the Christopher Bearcats 61-51.
The second quarter proved to be the difference as the Yellowjackets had a 20-11 advantage in the stanza. That coupled with a 2-point advantage ( 17-15 after one quarter ) proved to be enough for the win.
STAFF REPORT
The Okawville Rockets continue to open eyes this week, during the Benton Invitational Tournament. The success of the Rockets may come as a surprise to some. But the fact that they were led by potential All-State candidate Jeremy Weeke should not catch anyone by surprise. Weeke turned in a double-double Friday night leading his team to a convincing 49-37 win over the host Benton Rangers.
Still, Ron Winemiller’s Rangers battled back at one point in the second half to be down by just a half dozen. However, Weeke gave them little chance to get closer. He scored 20 points in the game and pulled down 23 rebounds for a dominating performance at both ends of Rich Herrin Gymnasium.
Okawville took the home crowd out of the game early. after one quarter the Rockets led 15-4. Of the 15 points scored, Weeke had 7 of them, and 8 rebounds. That set the tone individually, and for the game, in Okawville’s favor. Benton trailed 30-18 at half. The Rangers made up a half dozen of theose points in the third quarter. However, the Rockets caught a second wind to cruise to the victory.
Benton was led in scoring by Nathaniel Higgins and 13 points, Sheeks and Ward added 10 apiece.
The BIT continues with both an afternoon and evening session in today’s final day of action.
The West Frankfort Redbirds and Carterville Lions faced off Friday night for a spot in the MidWinter Classic title game.
By BRUCE A. FASOL
Christian Dunning shoots from the lane in the second quarter.
Carterville Lions Coach Scott Burzynski admitted after the game that teams that shoot 33 percent from the field rarely win games.
He also admitted that when his team did, they were fortunate enough to still win. However, the head coach did quickly credit his players for making the plays at the end of the game to have a chance to win. Carterville parlayed a Lucas Hunter corner shot to a win over the West Frankfort Redbirds 47-45.
The win propelled the Lions to Saturday night’s title game against Goreville. Both the Lions and Blackcats won their respective pools. The two teams played earlier with Goreville winning.
Carterville’s Lucas Hunter takes the game-winning shot from the corner.
The fourth quarter saw both teams turn in big plays, one after the other. Carterville started their run early when they were down by seven points. Matt Galik and Blake Watson drained 3-point shots in the fourth quarter’s first four minutes. Galik’s trey pulled the Lions to within two points with 3:20 left in the game. At that time,the score 41-39.
Sophomore Braxston Koehl was the Redbirds’ scoring leader Wednesday night at the Midwinter Classic tournament.
By BRUCE A. FASOL
Former Hall of Fame basketball coach David Lee would tell his teams, “just win trips down the floor and the rest will take care of itself.” Coach Dan Dewerff may have given his team much the same advice Wednesday night.
The Redbirds held a short lead at two of the three quarter breaks going into the final frame. At times, the Redbirds cruised and held as much as a 13-point lead in the second half. However, a Joel Boulds three point shot was enough to send the Eagles into an overtime period at Max Morris gym.
It is then that the timely message of “winning trips” began to pay off. In the overtime, the Redbirds held Eldorado to three points total.
Tyler Deaton scored all three of those points. Meanwhile the Redbirds cobbled together some offense of their own, basically from the free-throw line. The only field goal scored was a Braxston Koehl bucket, and ensuing free throw. What did not show up in the box score was the fact that the Redbirds controlled the rebounding boards, limitting Eldorado to single shots in the extra period.
In the extra period, the Redbirds were 8 of 11 from the foul line as they wrapped up the victory.
With the win, the Redbirds are now 2-0 in pool play in the tournament. Saturday’s match-ups are determined by pool play and the Redbirds could move to the title game with a win Friday night. Friday’s 9 p.m. game is a match-up with Carterville. The winner will play for the championship against the winner of the other pool.
The Redbirds were led by sophomore Braxston Koehl with 17, and senior Trenton Easley with 14. Eldorado was led by Joel Boulds’ 15 points.
By BRUCE A. FASOL
Four tight quarters of basketball was decided late as the Benton Rangers held off the Eldorado Eagles, Tuesday night. The non-conference game went the way of Rangers 74-71 at Duff-Kingston Gym.
Benton held a slight 31-27 lead at the half. They matched points with the Eagles through out the third and fourt quarters, barely besting the home team.
It took all of the game high 24 points from Cole Forby and the 15 from Nathaniel Higginson for the Rangers to score the close win.
Benton is now 6-10 for the year, and Eldorado 8-10 for the season.
By BRUCE A. FASOL
The West Frankfort Redbirds boys varsity basketball team is back in action for a Tuesday non-conference match-up. Hamilton County comes to West Frankfort for a match-up of two teams who have struggled this year.
The Redbirds are on a three-game losing streak. However, it must be noted, that two of the losses have come against the regions top team in Harrisburg.
One of the losses came during the second round of the Holiday Tournament, and the other loss to the Bulldogs came last Friday. Sandwiched in was a narrow loss to Union County, Kentucky, also in the EHT.
The junior varsity game begins at 6:15 pm at Max Morris Gym. The varsity contest starts about 7:45pm. The broadcast of the game can be heard on the school’s web site at www.wfschools.org
It is the first meeting of the year between the Foxes and the ‘Birds.
STAFF REPORT
Fans at the Christopher / Zeigler-Royalton basketball game Friday should have felt right at home sitting together.
After all, in football and some other sports, the two schools co-op to field a team made up of athletes from both schools. In high school basketball, they divide back into geographic rivals. Friday night, fans and parents sat together again – just on separate gymnasium sides as the two teams squared off.
Both teams came into the game with a modest amount of momentum. Christopher had won 5 of their past 7 games. Zeigler-Royalton was on a 3-game win streak themselves.
Early on, Eric Stallman’s Bearcats decided to go inside against the Tornadoes. In the first quarter, Christopher received 8 of their 16 points inside the paint. ZR would score 8 points total for that quarter. And, just three minutes into the second quarter the Bearcats achieved their first double digit lead. They never looked back easily outscoring the Tornadoes in each second half quarter as well.
Echoing that early inside attack, big men Kevin Mercks, and R.J. Kuh paced the home team with 16 points apiece. Adding depth and balance, Towers broke double digits as well with 11. Matt Morgan’s ZR squad was paced by Weddle’s 11 points.
With the win, the Bearcats move to 9-3 overall, and back to .500 in the conference with a 2-2 mark in the Black Diamond West.
With the loss, Zeigler-Royalton drops to 13-5 overall, and the same 2-2 even water mark in the BDW.
By BRUCE A. FASOL
The second meeting of the Harrisburg Bulldogs and the West Frankfort Redbirds was quite similar to the first meeting between the two clubs. The first meeting came in the second round of the Eldorado Holiday Tournament. That game was won by Harrisburg 72-41.
Game One began with the Redbirds aggressively attacking the Bulldog defense, and holding a first quarter lead. But, Harrisburg came storming back to put the game out of reach by halftime.
Friday night, Dan Dewerff’s team stayed with the same battle plan. Early, that plan worked. At the high point of the first quarter the ‘Birds held a 10-4 lead over their visitors. But, following a time out, and lecture by Harrisburg Coach Randy Smithpeters, the Bulldogs refocused, regrouped and went on a 12-0 run to end the quarter with a 16-14 lead.
Much of the first half momentum for the area’s best team came from a stifling full-court defense. The Redbirds wilted under the press, with frequent turnovers and mistakes.
At the half, the game was not in doubt as Harrisburg led 46-25 having doubled up their opponent’s second quarter scoring 30-15.
That second quarter pull-away for the Bulldogs was punctuated with three 3-point shots from Ryne Roper who had 11 in that frame alone. By third quarter’s conclusion, Harrisburg was cruising 63-41.
Going into the final quarter, Harrisburg had cleared their bench leading 63-41 . The end result was another lopsided Bulldog win of 76-54.
