Panthers blow out Red Devils at BIT

January 19, 2013 By Leave a Comment
STAFF REPORT
With their long win streak of 41 games at the Benton Invitational Tournament snapped earlier in the week, what was left for Pinckneyville to focus on?  More wins, of course is the answer. The Panthers were crisp and focussed Friday night as they dismantled the Sesser-Valier Red Devils 53-29.
In doing so they accomplished a rare feat in that they held their opponents scoreless after one quarter of play. Pinckneyville led 13-0 after one quarter. The second quarter saw the Red Devils erase the zero, but could add only 5 points thru the first 16 minutes of the game. The game itself was effectively over at half time.
Pinckneyville was led in scoring by Dylan Hardin’s 15 points.
Filed Under: High School Sports, Sesser-Valier High School Sports Tagged With: , , ,

Holiday tourneys continue on last day of 2012

December 31, 2012 By Leave a Comment

STAFF REPORT

As the third front bringing snow into the area this holiday week moves in, holiday basketball tournament action – most delayed by the blizzard on Christmas night – resumes for the most part after a Sunday break.

Here’s an updated look on how local teams are faring:

BENTON RANGERS (Boys)

The Rangers finished 11th in a 12-team field at the Duster Thomas Hoops Classic in Pinckneyville. The Jerseyville Panthers took the tourney’s title.

CHRISTOPHER BEARCATS (Boys)

Christopher advanced to the Semi-Finals in the Sesser-Valier Holiday Tournament with wins over Vienna and Waltonville. The Bearcats dropped their semi-final game Saturday to Goreville.


SESSER-VALIER RED DEVILS (Boys)

Sesser-Valier dropped the first game of their hosted tournament to New Athens and entered the consolation bracket. Now, after wins over Elverado and Cobden, the Red Devils face Zeigler-Royalton for the consolation bracket title at 9 a.m. on Monday.

WEST FRANKFORT REDBIRDS (Boys)

At the Eldorado Holiday Tournament, the Redbirds beat the Fairfield Mules on Friday and then were beaten Saturday by the top-seeded Harrisburg Bulldogs. West Frankfort plays Union County, Kentucky, in the consolation bracket of the tourney at 8:30 a.m. on Monday.

ZEIGLER-ROYALTON TORNADOES (Boys)

Zeigler-Royalton lost to Waltonville in the first round of the Sesser-Valier Holiday Tournament. After consolation-bracket wins over Vienna and Century, the Tornadoes face tournament host Sesser-Valier Monday morning at 9 a.m. for the consolation bracket title.

BENTON RANGERETTES (Girls)

The Rangerettes won four of their five match-ups in the Benton Rangerettes Classic, dropping their last game to Goreville, who went unbeaten in the six-team round robin. Rangerettes Cali Carney, Makala Carney and Morgan Corn were named to the all-tournament team.

Filed Under: Benton High School Sports, Christopher High School Sports, Featured, High School Sports, Sesser-Valier High School Sports, West Frankfort High School Sports, Zeigler-Royalton High School Sports Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Redbirds win on the road

December 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment
By BRUCE A. FASOL
Have the West Frankfort Redbirds improved any this year? The answer is “yes”. Friday night the ‘Birds held a 9 point lead on the road, and could not hold it. Tuesday night their lead ballooned to 17 points, but again the opponents made a run at the Redbirds. This time, Dan Dewerff’s team stayed focused, and rebuilt their lead enroute to a 81-71 decision in Eldorado.
Playing some of their best basketball of the year, the Redbirds built on a lead after one quarter and went into the locker room with a 35-25 advantage.
Eldorado came out in quarter three a much more disciplined ball club That allowed them to cut into the Redbird lead. A pair of three point shots in the third and fourth quarter by Richard Graceffa  actually made it a three-point game in the final frame.
However, the Redbirds stayed poised. They ran a series of plays that ended in lay-ups, and trips to the free throw line. Nic Korolenko himself earned two old-fashioned three point plays with a bucket and a free throw twice down the stretch. The last triple trip down the court came with 2:38 remaining.
It was the incredible free throw clinic that Redbirds put on that iced the game for the visitors. In the fourth quarter alone, the Redbirds were of 16 of 19 from the charity line . Trent Easley sealed the win with a 15 of 16 performance in the game. In the fourth quarter alone, Easley hit all 12 free throws he attempted. Sophomore Braxton Koehl got his jumper to fall with consistency, and was an impressive 7 for 10 from the line, too.
The Redbird defense helped cause three key turnovers late in the game that kept Eldorado at arms length in the end. The turnovers came within a minute of each other beginning at the 2:01 mark of the fourth quarter.
West Frankfort was led in scoring with the 20 points of Braxton Koehl, 17 for Trenton Easley, 17 for Nic Korolenko, 8 for Gage Williams, 6 for Zack Fort, 4 Evan Keller, 3 for Drew Maller. Starter Christian Dunning was injured in the first half minute of the ballgame. His physical condition is being evaluated.
The junior varsity lost to Eldorado 54-28 and remain winless.
With the win, the Redbirds are 1-3 for the season. The ‘Birds are home Friday when they host Massac County in the Ohio Division opener for both teams. The JV game begins at 6 p.m.
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