03-01-2020
BY JACK BULLOCK
NORRIS CITY - A long time basketball coach once told me something that has stuck in my hard drive when it comes to analyzing the state tournament.

“It is better to be lucky than good. But I find the harder I work, the luckier I get.”

On the other hand I have always looked at sports luck coming “when preparation meets opportunity.”

Last Friday night in the ABV 1A area regional championships, eight teams advanced into the two sectionals that feed into the 1A Carbondale SIU Arena Supersectional.

Some might have had some luck on their side but most assuredly they worked hard to get there.

With the sub-sectionals being seeded as a group, none of the survivors of last week's regional battles were lower than a #2 seed, meaning that the ones who stepped up were expected to do so.

The top-seeds in each of the regionals advanced.

When looking at the teams remaining, all have the things in common that make champions.

They all played schedules that were at times demanding; they all at some point won games when they didn't bring the A-Game and they all got peak performances in the week that really counted.

The months it took to get ready was a roller coaster ride of “peaks and valley's.”

After all of the games, the wins and losses, the teams now have their sights set on a trip to the Big House.

One plaque in the case, two more and a big trophy waiting to be taken home.

Only one of the 1A clubs will make it up north and it will take two wins this week and one more next Tuesday to get the bags packed for a weekend in Peoria.

Most of the teams that remain have the postseason experience that comes with winning in the recent history.

However one hasn't been this far since the The Beatles were four young lads from Liverpool who landed in America to play on The Ed Sullivan Show.

Nevertheless, all have something else in common.

On the brightest stage in the first week of the only tournament that matters, they "stepped it up."

While the others are getting ready for spring sports, these teams get to play on.

Here is a brief look at what to look for this coming week. (continued below)

1A Casey-Westfield Sectional

When you look at this sectional, you will find four teams that have all been impressive during the season.

The ABV 1A Preseason #1, the Moweaqua Central A&M Raiders, are itching to get back to SIU Arena.

The Raiders have played in the last two supersectionals in 1A, losing to Goreville in 2018 and winning last year, 79-69, over Sesser-Valier.

After losing just one starter from last season's third place finish, Coach Rob Smith and his squad have managed "the bull's eye" quite well in 2019-20.

The Raiders head to Casey-Westfield for a Tuesday night matchup with Altamont at 28-3 after winning the 1A Macon Meridian Regional title on Friday night.

Central A&M, for the third consecutive year, ended the season of Nokomis.

The 58-43 win was never really close as the Raiders jumped out to an early lead and cruised home.

The loss by the Redskins ended the storied career of Nokomis mentor Steve Kimbro, who announced his retirement earlier this school year.

Central A&M has weapons all over the floor, led by a veteran group of seniors.

Six-foot-four senior guard Conner Heaton, 6-foot-6 senior forward Griffin Andricks and 5-foot-11 senior guard Jacob Paradee.

That trio combined for 49 of the 58 points scored in the regional title game triumph.

Andricks nailed down four 3-pointers in scoring 22 points while Paradee added two 3-pointers and 19 points.

Heaton added eight in the win while another senior, 6-foot-3 senior Brycen Burgener chipped in seven points.

Heaton is also a member of the 2,000 point club having surpassed that mark in January.

All four of those kids played prominent roles in the 32-3 squad that finished third at Peoria a year ago.

The Raiders' three losses have been to good teams.

Coach Smith's club dropped two games at the tough Effingham/Teutopolis Holiday Tournament back in December.

They lost to 3A Champaign Centennial and 2A powerhouse Pleasant Plains.

The third loss came at the Teutopolis Shootout to another club in this sectional; Effingham St. Anthony.

The 50-49 defeat was as close as the score.

Central A&M missed three shots in the final seconds, any of which would have given them a victory.

If both teams take care of semifinal business, they could meet again on Friday night.

The first roadblock for A&M is the Altamont Indians and head coach John Niebrugge.

The Tribe took care of things this past week at home in winning a regional title, beating Dieterich 64-44 in the championship game.

Coach Niebrugge has his team sitting at 28-6 on the season.

The top guns for Altamont reside in the backcourt.

Five-foot-ten senior Aiden Jahraus and 6-foot-2 junior Kaden Eirhart have led the team this season.

Jahraus scored 15 and Eirhart 13 in the victory Friday night.

Altamont has some other kids who can score; most notably 6-foot-1 senior Noah Teasley and 6-foot-3 senior Jared Kollmann are both capable.

Teasley (13) and Kollman (12) added points in the regional title game, a contest that they led 37-20 at halftime.

Denver Duckwitz, a 5-foot-10 senior, and 5-foot-11 sophomore Noah Klimpel are also part of the plan.

A look at the resume shows they were second in both tournaments they played in, losing to Goreville, 75-65, in the title game at the Sesser-Valier Holiday Tournament and to Effingham St. Anthony, 62-45, in the finale of the National Trail Conference Tournament.

The six losses were all to quality teams; St. Anthony (2), Central A&M, Woodlawn, Goreville, and 2A Tuscola.

The 1A teams they lost to are all regional winners from Friday night.

The last time Effingham St. Anthony played in a 1A state tournament the Bulldogs, and their fan base, had a lot of fun.

The 2016-17 club won the 1A state title with an overtime win over Okawville, 49-46.

After two seasons of being bumped up to 2A, Coach Cody Rincker and his Bulldogs are back in the hunt for a 1A championship.

This season St. Anthony got to the 1A Casey-Westfield Sectional on the strength of a 69-54 win over North Clay to take home the regional title at Bridgeport Red Hill.

Jaccob Dust, a 6-foot-7 senior center, has been a force inside for the 28-3 Bulldogs.

The backcourt has also been prominent in all of the St. A wins this year.

Six-foot junior Logan Antrim scored 23 points in the win over North Clay while 6-foot senior Jack Hoene and 5-foot-11 senior Aaron Webb each scored nine.

Dust hit for 19 in the victory as Effingham St. Anthony led 37-22 at halftime.

The three losses came to 2A Teutopolis, a rival they split two games with, 2A Pleasant Plains and 2A Breese Mater Dei.

All three of those squads are in sectionals this week.

If you look at the wins and losses of all of their opponents, the Bulldogs have faced a tough group and that proved valuable as they eye another trip to Peoria.

Head coach Tom Brannan has his Casey-Westfield Warriors right where they want to be.

Another of the IHSA class droppers, C-W went from 2A down to 1A for the next two seasons and this coach is hoping for some postseason success.

This team has also faced some good opponents this season and they have the bruises to prove it.

At 24-7, C-W earned a high seed and it proved worthy as they dispatched Bethany Okaw Valley on the Timberwolves home floor, 57-37 Friday night.

Coach Brannan has a pair of backcourt specialists that have led the Warriors to this moment of time.

Six-foot-one junior Noah Livingston and 6-foot Dawson Dallape have experience and skill and it showed Friday night in the 20 point win.

Livingston scored 16 points and Dallape 12 in the victory.

Six-foot-six sophomore Jackson Hills has been a big part of the success this season and the forward hit for 18 points Friday night.

The only 1A loss was to St. Anthony, 48-42 on February 21 at home in the two school's annual season ending scrum.

The other six losses have come to large schools 3A Charleston and Effingham, 2A Robinson and Fairfield along with two losses to Indiana teams at the Wabash Classic in Terre Haute.

Two of the best wins of the season came against Coach Brannan's old school, the Marshall Lions.

Once in the regular season and again in the Little Illini Conference Tournament back in January.

The Warriors also conquered 3A Olney Richland twice and 2A Teutopolis.

Marshall and Teutopolis both won regional titles on Friday night.