2 REGIONALS County Journal | FEBRUARY 20, 2020 COUNTY JOURNAL | FEBRUARY 20, 2020 Basketball REGIONALS 3 Okawville, Marissa-Coulterville rematch looms By Dan Zobel (2) Okawville Marissa-Coulterville could get its shot at revenge. Monday, February 24 Last season, the Meteors lost, by CLASS 1A one point, in a regional champion- 6 p.m. ship game on their home fl oor to Okawville. (13) Zeigler-Royalton Wednesday Stee leville Regional The Rockets won that game in February 26 the closing seconds. (7) Steeleville 6 p.m. This year, those two teams are on a collision course for the cham- ionship game of the Steeleville Re- Monday, February 24 gional. 7:30 p.m. Okawville and Marissa-Coulter- ville enter as the top two seeded (9) New Athens Friday teams in the regional. February 28 The Meteors are 21-5 and have (3) Marissa-Coulterville 7 p.m. won 14 games in a row. The last game they lost was December 28 to highly rated Goreville in the semi- Tuesday, February 25 fi nals of the Sesser-Valier Holiday 7:30 p.m. Tournament. Okawville sits at 17-8 and has (11) Elverado Wednesday won fi ve of its last six games. February 26 Of the eight Rocket losses, seven 7:30 p.m. are against 2A and 3A schools. (6) Christopher Okawville is 8-1 against 1A comp- etition, the only loss coming to Tuesday, February 25 Woodlawn December 5. The Rock- 7:30 p.m. ets topped Woodlawn January 17. Marissa-Coulterville, mean- (10) Waltonville while, is 17-3 against 1A opponents and has played only six games against higher-classed teams, go- Gilley (5.6 ppg, 4.9 rpg) and Kade king (10.6 ppg, 3 apg) and Mason It is no given that Marissa-Coul- ing 4-2 against 2A. Portz (4.6 ppg, 4 apg). Meyer (8 ppg, 5.8 rpg) are the top terville and Okawville will ad- The Meteors, who are tied atop Portz is the team’s point guard players. vance to the title game, however, the Kaskaskia and top defender. He was injured They also have gotten key con- because each team will have to Division with Steeleville at 10-1, to start the season, but the Meteors tributions from Jacksen Harre (6.8 win twice to get there. are led by Logan Jones (18 ppg, 4 are 16-3 with him in the lineup. ppg, 3.2 apg), Caleb Unverfehrt (4.9 Regional host Steeleville will rpg) and Sebastion Ivory-Greer When Marissa-Coulterville is ppg) and Tyler Parsley (3.4 ppg). pose a threat. The Warriors are (16.8 ppg, 5 rpg, 3 spg, 2.8 apg). rolling, it starts on the defense Okawville has won fi ve con- 16-13, but 10-1 in Cahokia Confer- Jones recently went over 1,000 end, and the team is able to use its secutive regional titles and three ence Kaskaskia Division play. points for his career. defense to create offensive oppor- straight sectional championships. Steeleville split with Marissa- The Meteors also get contribu- tunities. The Rockets were state champ- Coulterville, beating the Meteors tions from the likes of Blake Stein- For Okawville, Jackson Heckert ions in 2018 and placed second in wagner (8.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg), Austin (12.5 ppg, 7.4 rpg), Lucas Freder- 2017. Continued on Page 4 4 Basketball REGIONALS County Journal | FEBRUARY 20, 2020

Okawville, Marissa-Coulterville rematch...From Page 3______55-51 in early December before four of its last seven games. The points for his career this season. over a team with a winning re- falling 59-44 at Marissa February losses in that stretch were against Grant Gordon averages nine cord. 4. Marissa-Coulterville, Okawville, points per game and Kyle Garver “This season has been hard The Warriors also played Steeleville and 2A Red Bud. eight. fought,” said Zeigler-Royalton Okawville in December, losing 46- Steeleville and New Athens will Waltonville is 12-13 for the season coach Jimmy Stevens. “The guys 34. They do have a big win over play one more time, February 21, to and 4-2 in the Midland Trail Con- had to learn a new system when Cobden in December. close out the regular season. ference. I came in and unfortunately I The Warriors have struggled in The Yellow Jackets have two go- The Spartans have won three wasn’t hired before summer, so their three tournaments, going 1-3 to scorers in Joe Range (17.9 ppg, of their last four games, although they caame into the season with at the Murphysboro/Trico tourn- 5.6 rpg) and Dylan Boone (12.3 ppg). they are 7-8 since the start of Janu- no background on what I wanted ament and the Duster Thomas Range also leads the team in a- ary. to run. I anticipated them getting Hoops Classic in Pinckneyville and ssists and steals, and Boone is the Waltonville started the season by a grasp on what we were doing getting swept in four games at the team’s top threat from behind the winning five of its first six games, around holiday tournament time. Sparta Invitational. 3-point arc, averaging two 3-point- the loss in that span coming by one Unfortunately, that is when we Since the Sparta tournament, ers per game. point to New Athens. started to get by the injury bug.” Steeleville is 7-2 with its only loss- Other key performers are Noah Waltonville has lost twice to Maris- Z-R is dealing the loss of its point es coming to Marissa-Coulterville Lintker (5.8 ppg), Gannon Birkner sa-Coulterville and once apiece to guard, who is recovering from and 2A Trico. (5.3 ppg), Ryan Juenger (4.4 ppg) Christopher and Okawville. a high ankle sprain. The team’s Steeleville has played 12 games and Owen Whitworth (4.2 ppg). Marissa-Coulterville’s first-round starting shooting guard is also against higher-classed teams. The Christopher is favored to meet opponent is Elverado. The Falcons dealing with a broken hand. Warriors are just 3-8 against 2A Marissa-Coulterville in the semifi- are 19-11 overall and 6-2 in the The Tornadoes are led in scoring competition and lost to 3A Water- nals. The Bearcats are 18-10 over- South Egyptian Conference. and rebounding by Gannon Dollins loo. all, 5-5 in the BDC West. They are winners of five games (15.8 ppg, 8.5 rpg). Landen Bate (7.5 Austin Hagel paces Steele-ville Christopher squares off with in a row and six of their last seven. ppg) and Rick Chekevdia (5 ppg, in scoring at 17 points per game, Waltonville in the first round. The The one loss during that time was 4.4 rpg) have also contributed. while Zach Mevert is second with Bearcats beat the Spartans Janu- by 10 points at Meridian, which Predictions 11 and Jordan Wilson third at sev- ary 3. sits above them in the conference The four quarterfinal match- en. A Christopher win and Marissa- standings. ups play out as expected, with The Warriors have been playing Coulterville win would set up a Elverado lost by 25 points to Okawville and Steeleville advanc- for most of the second half without semifinal game between the Mete- Marissa-Coulterville December 3 ing for one semifinal game and forward Chase Newby, who is out ors and Bearcats. and fell by 31 points to Steeleville Marissa-Coulterville and Christo- with a concussion. The Meteors defeated Christo- December 28. pher squaring off in the other. For Steeleville to make any noise, pher 59-52 December 30 in the The Falcons were defeated by 16 In the semifinals, playing on it will first have to get past New third-place game of the Sesser-Va- points at Cobden, a team Steeleville their home floor, the Warriors push Athens for a shot at Okawville in lier Holiday Tournament. beat January 7. Okawville into the fourth quarter, the semifinals. One thing that is different about The final team in the regional is but the Rockets pull out the victory New Athens is 12-14, 5-5 in the these Bearcats is that they are Zeigler-Royalton. in the end. Cahokia Conference Kaskaskia without one of their players, Gabe The Tornadoes are just 7-20, in- In the other matchup, Marissa- Division, and has been around the Motsinger, who was suspended for cluding 1-9 in the BDC West. They Coulterville jumps out to a quick .500 mark all season. the rest of the season by the school recently snapped an eight-game start against Christopher, and de- New Athens has never been after an incident during a January losing streak with a victory at Ga- feat the Bearcats. more than two games above or 10 game against Hamilton County. latia. In the championship game, below .500. The team last had a Christopher won that game but is Zeigler-Royalton has two-time Marissa-Coulterville gains the up- winning record in early January 6-7 since then. losses against both Elverado and per hand early in the fourth quar- when it was 8-7. The Bearcats are led in scor- Waltonville and once against Chris- ter and holds the Rockets at bay, The Yellow Jackets are in the ing by Bryce Pratt at 14 points per topher. giving the Meteors their first re- midst of a rough patch, having lost game. Pratt also went over 1,000 The Tornadoes do not have a win gional title since 1983. COMPLETE COLLISION REPAIR CENTER

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768 State Rte. 13 MARISSA 618.295.3721 BROWSE OUR COMPLETE INVENTORY AT RIESSFORDSALES.COM COUNTY JOURNAL | FEBRUARY 20, 2020 Basketball REGIONALS 7 Nashville is the favorite to win the Red Bud Regional By Dan Zobel What kind of encore does Nash- (1) Nashville ville have after placing second at CLASS 2A state last season? The Hornets’ state tournament run in 2019 ended with a 50-36 Tuesday Red Bud Regional loss to Chicago Orr in the champi- February 25 onship game. Nashville has won regional titles (7) Columbia 7 p.m. in each of the last four seasons and six of the last seven. The Hornets Monday, February 24 placed second at state also in 2014. 6 p.m. The program’s only state title came in 1978. (8) Trenton (Wesclin) Friday This year, Nashville relies on a February 28 lock-down defense that has kept the Hornets in every game they 7 p.m. have played. Of their six losses, four have come by just two points (4) Freeburg and one by three points. The other defeat was by eight points to 3A Carbondale. Wednesday The Hornets have tournament titles at the Mascoutah-Wesclin February 26 Tournament and Nashville Invita- (5) Belleville (Althoff) 7 p.m. tional. They placed second at the Mater Dei Tournament, losing to Mater Dei in the title game. Monday, February 24 Nashville rebounded to defeat 7:30 p.m. Mater Dei in the championship of the NIT. (12) Red Bud The other Hornet losses are to top 2A teams Pinckneyville, Fair- averaged 16.5 points and 10 re- dropped to 10-8 January 23 after a They have met just one other time fi eld and Benton and to 3A Marion. bounds per game last year in the loss to Murphysboro, but they are this season, back on December 6 Nashville beat SIRR Mississippi state semifi nals and fi nals. 7-3 since. at the Mascoutah-Wesclin Tourna- foe Pinckneyville 57-38 January Nashville will play Columbia or Jackson Holmes leads the team ment. Columbia won that game 54- 10 before falling in overtime to the Trenton-Wesclin in the semifi nals. in scoring and rebounding with 37. Panthers February 15 by a 44-42 The Hornets have defeated Wesclin 17.8 points and 7.8 rebounds per Wesclin sits at 14-14 after losing score. twice and Columbia once. contest. He has game highs of 37 its last two games, including a six- The Hornet defense has allowed Columbia is 17-11, 5-3 in the Ca- and 38 points this season, the lat- point loss to Freeburg. The Warri- just 33.2 points per game, which is hokia Conference Mississippi Divi- ter a career high. ors are 5-4 in the Cahokia Confer- similar to the 31.5 points they al- sion. The Eagles also get contributions ence Mississippi Division. lowed last season. “So far this season, we have had from Jacob O’Connor (8.2 ppg, 5.1 The Warriors have not lost more On offense, Nashville will turn ups and downs but have showed rpg), Jonah James (7.6 ppg), Sam than two games in a row all sea- to Carson Parker, Terry Pelczysn- signs of late that we are improv- Horner (6.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg) and Nic son, but they have not won more ki and Tristen Hercules to lead ing each day,” said Columbia coach Horner (5.7 ppg, 3.7 apg). than three in a row either. the way, with other contributions Brooks Demijan. “We have a mix Columbia has showed the abil- Wesclin allows 45 points per game from the likes of Jaxon Goforth, of juniors and seniors who we rely ity to score the ball, averaging 50 but scores just 43.3. Camden Ritzel and Isaac Turner. on and have been getting good pro- points per game, but the Eagles are The team has no player averag- Parker is the team’s leading duction from our bench also.” also allowing 50 points per game. ing 10 points per game, but Grant scorer and knows what it is like The Eagles are winners of fi ve of Columbia and Wesclin played to perform on a big stage, having their last six games. Their record each other February 18 at Wesclin. Continued on Page 8 2 locations for all your needs! 618-965-9615 618-234-5001 STEELEVILLE, IL FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, IL

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Fridley checks in right below at in the . 60 3-pointers. 9.9. The Crusaders have played a pre- Other contributors After Fridley, Wesclin has a dominantly 3A schedule, holding a include Jay-den Birk- balanced attack with Cameron 6-6 record in those games with the ner (6.9 ppg), Bryce Brandmeyer (8.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg), rest of its competition against 2A Amman (4 ppg), Max Cole Macke (7.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg), Luke and 4A teams. Diewald (3.5 ppg) and Serrano (6.9 ppg, 4.7 rpg) and Alex Not long ago, Althoff was on top Wyatt Cowell (2.76 ppg). Elsing (4.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg). of the basketball world, earning a Kueker is the team’s Fridley and Macke have each 3A state title in 2016 after placing leading rebounder, with made nearly 50 3-pointers. second in 3A in 2015. Birkner topping the team On the other side of the bracket, They are without a regional title in assists. Freeburg comes in as the favorite. since the state title run. Predictions Free- The Midgets are 21-8 overall and Among the players to know for This regional is Nashville’s to burg will lead the Cahokia Conference Mis- the Crusaders are Daulton Burg- lose. also be chal- sissippi Division with a 6-3 mark. ner, Jack Bruening, Mack Harris, Columbia and Althoff will both lenged, as Althoff will give the Freeburg has fi nished 3-1 in William Ache and Ty Beasley. take care of business to win in the Midgets everything they can take. each of its tournaments, placing Red Bud has had an up and down quarterfi nals to set up semifi nal Freeburg survives to meet Nash- third at the Carlyle Kaskaskian type of season. matchups, Nashville vs. Columbia ville for the title. Tournament and the Columbia- The Musketeers, who are 10-18 and Freeburg vs. Althoff. Freeburg has the ability to de- Freeburg Holiday Tournament overall and 5-5 in the Cahokia Con- Columbia will not be an easy feat Nashville, but the Hornets’ ex- and second at the Sparta Mid-Win- ference Kaskaskia Division, have out for Nashville, but the Hornet perience will shine through in this ter Classic. already improved on last year’s defense will be too good, and they one, giving them another regional The Midgets own two-time vic- win total and are just 3-5 in games will advance. title. tories over both Wesclin and Red decided by fi ve points or less. Bud and one over Columbia. Red Bud is also just 2-5 in its last They have won three of their seven games. last four games, including a The only two victories for Red 12-point victory over 1A stalwart Bud in that span are over winless Okawville. Lebanon. “We have had a great season “We are better than last year, but so far,” said Freeburg coach Matt some of our play over the past two Laur. “We added a couple of re- weeks has been disappointing,” ally tough opponents this year, as said Red Bud coach C.J. Cruser. Gladson Dental well.” “We have not been able to match The adversaries Laur is refer- the intensity of our opponents late- ring two are 4A Edwardsville ly. We have taken some lopsided ® and 3A Centralia. Freeburg lost losses recently, and that is some- Invisalign • Root Canals to both, although the defeat to Ed- thing I thought we were past; but wardsville was by just two points. it has come back of late.” The Midgets have three play- Red Bud was 5-5 after a big 66- Zoom Whitening • General Dentistry ers averaging over 10 points per 60 overtime victory over Cobden game, led by Luke Ervie at 15.3. December 28 at the Sesser-Valier Ervie recently became the pro- Holiday Tournament. gram’s leading scorer and has The Musketeers then lost by two 1,658 career points. points to Sesser-Valier in the fi fth- Colin Brueggemann (12 ppg, 8.6 place game of that tournament and rpg) gives the Midgets a force in- are 5-12 since the start of January. side, and Jacob Blomenkamp (11.2 The Musketeers boast a one- ppg) is also a factor. Ervie, who point victory over Wesclin Janu- also averages just under fi ve re- ary 7. Red Bud has lost twice to bounds per game, and Blomen- Freeburg, though the most recent Jason Gladson, D.M.D. kamp have each made over 30 loss January 24 was by just nine 3-pointers. points. Serving Nashville And Other Surrounding Areas! Other contributors include Grif- Red Bud has two main players fi n Range (6.1 ppg) and Austin it relies on to score the basketball, 618-327-4422 Lickenbrock (4.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg). Carter Wiegard (12.8 ppg) and 17900 Exchange Ave Freeburg will play the winner Alex Kueker (11.7 ppg). Both have of Belleville Althoff and Red Bud. the ability to shoot from the per- www.dentalcenterofnashville.com Althoff holds an 8-16 record, 3-4 imeter, with Wiegard making over COUNTY JOURNAL | FEBRUARY 20, 2020 Basketball REGIONALS 9

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By Dan Zobel The Murphysboro Regional has (2) Pinckneyville one of the most anticipated po- CLASS 2A tential championship matchups across the state. Pinckneyville and host Mur- Tuesday Murphysboro Regional physboro enter the regional as the February 25 favorites to reach that title game. (9) Sparta 7 p.m. If they do, it could be electric, but there are four other teams vying to not let that happen. Monday, February 24 Sparta and Trico will square 6 p.m. off in the fi rst quarterfi nal game, with the winner advancing to (10) Trico Friday meet Pinckneyville in the semifi - February 28 nals. 7 p.m. Sparta holds a 13-14 record to date, including 3-6 in the vaunted SIRR Mississippi. (3) Murphysboro The Bulldogs started their sea- son 3-7 before winning three straight games at the Sesser-Va- Wednesday lier Holiday Tournament to claim February 26 consolation. Since then, Sparta is 7-7, includ- (6) Chester 7 p.m. ing 5-4 in its last nine games. Three of those wins came at the Monday, February 24 Sparta Mid-Winter Classic, where 7:30 p.m. the Bulldogs placed third with a win over 3A Waterloo. Following the tournament, Spar- (11) Du Quoin ta lost by just nine points to Pinck- neyville before getting blown out along the way. Our consistency is dyne Cometto (8.4 ppg, 6.3 rpg) con- won four of their last fi ve games, by Nashville, the top two teams in improving each night, and we are tribute, as well. the loss in that span coming to the conference. fi nding ways to fi nish off games in Sparta split with Du Quoin this Chester. The Bulldogs then had a mistep the second half.” season, the loss by four points in Injuries have hit Trico hard, against Steeleville February 8, los- Carlos Keen is the team’s go-to overtime in early January. Spar- with the Pioneers losing key ing 62-51, but they bounced back scorer at 17.6 points per game. This ta has lost twice to Pinckneyville guard Seth Levan to a season-end- last weekend with conference season, he went over 1,000 points but has not faced Murphysboro or ing injury in late December. Lead- wins over Du Quoin and Carter- for his career. Keen possesses the Chester. ing scorer and rebounder Wilson ville. skills to take over stretches of The Bulldogs also split with Tri- Lodge has been sidelined since “I feel like we are peaking at games with his ability to get into co, most recently beating the Pio- late January with an injury but is the right time,” said Sparta coach the rim and fi nish at the hoop in neers 62-43 at the Mid-Winter Clas- expected back for regionals. Jonathan Norton. “We have played traffi c. sic. “I think we are better than what some of our best basketball over Tony Williams (11.2 ppg), Kerry Trico is 12-14 overall and 3-6 in the past month with a few hiccups Harris (8.4 ppg, 7.4 rpg) and Bra- the BDC West. The Pioneers have Continued on Page 12 TRICO HAS THE WINNING SPIRIT Serving The Area’s Crushed Stone Needs For Over 30 Years KINKAID STONE CO. 4287 Kinkaid Stone Road | Ava | 763-4796 12 Basketball REGIONALS COUNTY JOURNAL | FEBRUARY 20, 2020 Pinckneyville, Murphy on track...From Page 11___ our record shows,” said Trico The Panthers are coming off a The Yellow Jackets are coach Dan King. “The injury bug signature 44-42 overtime victory 10-5 since the start of has really slowed our winning to- at home over Nashville. Other big January, with their tal, but we have gotten other play- wins for the Panthers have come losses coming to ers more playing time to help out. against Fairfi eld and Benton and Pinckneyville, Car- We will be getting Lodge back for two time over Woodlawn. terville, Cobden, regionals, so hopefully we can put In terms of regional opponents, Goreville and Car- it together and have some success Pinckneyville has defeated Sparta bondale. moving forward.” and Du Quoin twice and Chester They won their Lodge is averaging 14.3 points once. own Chester Invi- and eight rebounds per game. Per their usual, the Panthers tational Tourna- Other contributors include Lo- will bring a relentless defense ment for the second gan Cleland (8.2 ppg, 4 rpg, 2.2 combined with a potentially explo- year in a row. apg), Kaden Wilson (7.8 ppg, 4.5 sive offense. Chester’s schedule rpg), Isaac Kranawetter (5.4 ppg) They are led on offense by Daw- makes it postseason and Jesse Smith (3.4 ppg). Hunter son Yates, who recently moved into ready. The Yellow Jack- Baker (1.8 ppg) is one player who second all time in the program in ets lost by just 11 points has seen an uptick in playing time scoring and has topped 1,500 ca- to state ranked Nashville and production of late. Cleland and reer points. in the middle of December. Wilson have each made around 30 For the season, he is averag- Chester also lost by fi ve points 3-pointers. ing 15.6 points and 4.7 assists per to Murphysboro at the Murphys- Trico started the season with a game. He is second on the team boro/Trico Tournament at the be- team in points with 16.8 and re- 3-1 mark at the Trico/Murphysboro with 44 3-pointers. ginning of December. bounds at 8.8 per game. Tournament, losing to Murphys- Yates, Grant Tanner and Devin The Yellow Jackets own wins, DeOndre Martin is next in line boro in the championship game. Kitchen were each part of the 2018 once over Sparta and twice over in scoring at 12.8 per game. Other The Pioneers have lost twice to team’s fourth-place run. Yates av- Trico. contributors include Jared Lan- Chester but have recorded wins eraged 14 points per game in the Chester is led by Ian Reith, who deros (8.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg), Matt Ko- over Du Quoin and Red Bud and two games at state. went over 1,000 points in his ca- own a split against Sparta. Second on the team in scoring reer this season. Reith paces the Continued on Page 13 The winner will face Pinckney- this season is Dre Scott at 11.6 per ville, which has been ranked by contest. He leads the team with 4.1 the AP in the top fi ve of the state rebounds per game. for much of the season. Other contributors include Good Luck To All The Panthers are 26-3 overall Kitchen (10.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 3.3 apg), The Teams! with an 8-1 mark in the SIRR Mis- Hunter Riggins (8 ppg), Tanner sissippi. Their three losses are to (6.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg) and Ben Restoff 1A defending champion Chicago (3.8 ppg). Kitchen has made 47 Orr by four points in double over- 3-pointers and Hunter Riggins 33. time December 14, a 57-38 loss at ri- On the other side of the bracket, val Nashville January 10 and a 60- Chester will play Du Quoin, with 51 defeat to Bloomington Central the winner facing Murphysboro in Catholic February 7 at the O’Fallon the semifi nals. Shootout. Despite graduating a strong OWNERS Pinckneyville is aiming for its senior class, Chester has enjoyed Tim & Tracy Wildermuth Fully Licensed and Insured sixth consecutive regional title and a strong season with an 18-10 re- Serving Perry & Randolph Counties is just two years removed from a cord, including an 8-2 mark in the fourth-place fi nish at state. BDC West. 618-758-1104

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Mark Byrd, Owner 101 Minton Drive • PO Box 118 Bobby • Michael Percy, 62272 email: [email protected] Ava | 426-3522 COUNTY JOURNAL | FEBRUARY 20, 2020 Basketball REGIONALS 13 Pinckneyville, Murphy on track...From Page 12______rando (4.8 ppg), Jordan Hughes (4.3 Kadin Mays (8.2 ppg, 4.3 apg, 2.1 scoring by Calvon Clemmons (14 Sparta continues its solid stretch ppg) and Chett Andrews (3.6 ppg). spg) and Wade Roberson (7.4 ppg, ppg), Jaquan Jackson (12 ppg) and in the second half of the season to Du Quoin, on the other hand, has 3.4 rpg) are next in line for Du Dez Clark (9 ppg). Jamar McZeke defeat Trico in the quarterfi nals. struggled to the tune of an 8-19 re- Quoin. Dasani Edward (3.2 ppg) (8.6 rpg) is the team’s leading re- Chester has little trouble with Du cord, 1-8 in the SIRR Mississippi. and Jacob Green (2.3 ppg) also con- bounder and Jamier Frazier (6 Quoin in the other quarterfi nal. The Indians are losers of their tribute. rpg) is next after him. In the semifi nals, Sparta will last seven games. They are 3-12 Murphysboro has found its Murphysboro is in search of challenge Pinckneyville for a half, since the start of January. groove of late, winning fi ve games its fi rst regional title since 2011, but the Panthers will eventually “We have been struggling as of in a row, and is 22-6 overall. The when the Red Devils fi nished sec- pull away over the fi nal two quar- late, especially on the defensive Red Devils are 7-2 in the SIRR Ohio ond at state. ters to advance to the title game. end,” said Du Quoin coach Jason and lead the conference. The only two losses for Mur- In the other matchup, Chester and James. “We will have to really im- “We have had a good year,” said physboro since the start of Janu- Murphysboro will go down to the prove over the next week to do any Murphysboro coach Daryl Murphy. ary came in the span of a few days closing minutes, but Murphysboro, damage in the regional.” “It’s been up and down offensive- when the Red Devils lost to Love- playing on its home court, will fi nd Du Quoin has allowed over 50 ly at times, but defensively we’ve joy January 28 by fi ve points and enough points to escape. points in eight of its last nine games. been solid.” to Massac County January 31 by In the championship, Pinckney- Braeden Pursell, who eclipsed Murphysboro won the Murphys- six points. Their only conference ville and Murphysboro will get into the 1,000-point mark in his ca- boro/Trico Tournament and the losses have come at the hands of an up and down high scoring bat- reer this season, is averaging 14.9 Sparta Mid-Winter Classic. Massac County. tle that the Panthers will emerge points and 5.6 rebounds per game. The Red Devils are topped in Predictions victorious from. WHO WILL RISE?

Good Luck To All Teams!

A VOICE FOR

11J5TOH STAHTE NREP REHSENOTATWIVE RAEPURBLIDCAN Vote for John Howard. As a farm owner/operator, school employee, and lifelong resident of Southern Illinois, he is ready to represent the values of rural and small town Illinoisans and stand up against big city policies and PACs that cripple economic and population growth in the lower half of the state. Paid for by committee to elect John Howard COUNTY JOURNAL | 14 Basketball REGIONALS FEBRUARY 20, 2020

NO. NAME HGT. YR. NO. NAME HGT. YR NO. NAME HGT. YR. 10 Ben Restoff 6’1” 11 21 Trey Moll 6’2” 10 30 Vaden Szczepanski 6’0” 10 11 Duke Riggins 5’11” 10 22 Noah Carter 5’10” 12 34 Preston Dagner 6’4” 11 12 Dawson Yates 6’2” 12 23 Dre Scott 6’4” 11 35 Matthew Dunmyer 6’3” 10 14 Brenden Ritter 5’8” 11 24 Hunter Riggins 6’0” 12 40 Devin Kitchen 6’1” 11 20 Grant Tanner 6’4” 12 25 Nile Adcock 6’2” 10 Community means everything.

Bill Kemme, Agent That’s why I’m proud to be here to help life go right ™ – and 302 S Main Street Pinckneyville, IL 62274 to support our Panthers. Bus: 618-357-5351 getbillnow.com If there’s anything you need, call me. Mon-Fri 8:30-5 Saturday 9-12 After hours by appointment

1601483 State Farm, Bloomington, IL COUNTY JOURNAL | FEBRUARY 20, 2020 Basketball REGIONALS 15

TWO LARGE UNLIMITED TOPPING $ PIZZAS 25 Chester • 618-826-7017 Greg D. Thompson 618-357-2124 Pinckneyville • 618-357-8080 [email protected] CLOSED Monday • Tues. - Thurs. 11am-9pm Fri. & Sat. 11am-10pm • Sun. 11am-9pm 309 S. First St. • Pinckneyville, IL 62274 16 Basketball REGIONALS COUNTY JOURNAL | FEBRUARY 20, 2020

NO. NAME HGT. YR. NO. NAME HGT. YR NO. NAME HGT. YR. 2 Isaac Kranawetter 5’9” 12 20 Peyton Lovel 5’11” 11 25 Daniel Vogt 6’0” 11 10 Hunter Baker 5’11” 10 21 Nikki Lissimore 5’11” 12 30 Logan Cleland 6’2” 10 13 Ross Coleman 5’9” 11 22 Seth Levan 5’9” 12 44 Wilson Lodge 6’3” 10 15 Kaden Wilson 5’10” 11 23 Jesse Smith 6’1” 12 52 Garret Thies 5’11” 12

Let’s Go Trico!

Serving Southern Illinois since 1979 Jaime Lodge, President Campbell Hill 618-426-3779 & Associates, Inc. 618.426.3325 COUNTY JOURNAL | FEBRUARY 20, 2020 Basketball REGIONALS 17 18 Basketball REGIONALS COUNTY JOURNAL | FEBRUARY 20, 2020

NO. NAME HGT. YR. NO. NAME HGT. YR NO. NAME HGT. YR. 2 Dauntay Merideth 5’9” 10 11 Tony Williams 5’10” 12 32 Bradyne Cometto 6’6” 12 4 Eric Renner 5’10” 11 12 Jayden Ethington 5’11” 11 42 Dayton Baue 6’3” 12 5 Cameron HIcks 6’0” 12 23 Miles Parks 6’0” 12 50 Colin Sheldon 6’2” 10 10 Carlos Keen 6’0” 12 30 Kerry Harris 6’4” 12 Decoratii Stamped

Harms Excavating & Landscaping, Inc. JEREMY HARMS, OWNER 443-2900 OR 201-7890 712 Industrial Drive • Sparta COUNTY JOURNAL | FEBRUARY 20, 2020 Basketball REGIONALS 19 - IHSA State Tournament Dates - Carver Arena • Peoria Civic Center Class 1A/2A - Friday, March 13 - Saturday, March 14 Class 3A/4A - Friday, March 20 - Saturday, March 21 Over 500 Fabrics and 21 Leathers To CUSTOM Choose From Shipped To The UPHOLSTERY Store In 21 Days!

Made In America 20 Basketball REGIONALS COUNTY JOURNAL | FEBRUARY 20, 2020

NO. NAME HGT. YR. NO. NAME HGT. YR NO. NAME HGT. YR. 0 Matt Korando 6’1” 11 5 Jordan Hughes 6’0” 11 22 Nathan Heffernan 6’0” 11 2 Deondre Martin 6’3” 12 12 Aiden Jany 6’3” 10 32 Ian Reith 6’6” 12 3 Jared Landeros 6’1” 10 13 Eli Hughes 6’0” 11 40 Chett Andrews 6’3” 12 4 Cooper Eggemeyer 6’1” 10 15 Ethan Stumpe 6’0” 10 44 Trace Fricke 6’3” 9

1300 SWANWICK STREET • CHESTER 618-826-5061 COUNTY JOURNAL | FEBRUARY 20, 2020 Basketball REGIONALS 21 - Three Point Showdown - Carver Arena • Peoria Civic Center Thursday, March 12 - Class 1A/2A Prelims Friday, March 13 - Class 1A/2A Finals

Good Luck Matt R. McCoy Yellow Jackets! 618-826-4418 [email protected] 985 State Street • Chester, IL 62233 22 Basketball REGIONALS COUNTY JOURNAL | FEBRUARY 20, 2020

NO. NAME HGT. YR. NO. NAME HGT. YR NO. NAME HGT. YR. 10 Aren Abell 6’0” 12 15 Terry Rogers 5’10” 10 24 Demontay Harris 6’0” 11 11 Dezmond Clark 5’11” 12 20 Gavin Kuba 5’9” 11 25 Calvon Clemons 5’7” 12 12 Jamarr McZeke 6’2” 12 21 Vince Shields 6’3” 12 43 Jameirr Frazier 6’0” 12 14 JaQuan Jackson 5’7” 11 22 Cornelius Davis 5’10” 11 45 Kenneth Hale 6’3” 11 23 Saviere Myers 5’8” 12

1732 Finney Road • Murphysoro • 800-606-1505 Mon.-Fri. 8am-4pm • eeca.coop COUNTY JOURNAL | FEBRUARY 20, 2020 Basketball REGIONALS 23 We Help Power America

The coal mined in Southern Illinois has helped power the nation for more than a century. For the past 20-plus years, Knight Hawk Coal has been proud to be a part of that heritage. County Journal | FEBRUARY 20, 2020 24 Basketball REGIONALS