Cisne Chrarges past Edwards County @ Grayville 11-28-03 BY JACK BULLOCK GRAYVILLE - Two teams with a lot of familiarity collided Friday night in a physical battle that helped decide one of the combatants in Saturday night's championship contest.

Salem breaks Hearts, Wins Effingham Turkey Title 11-29-03 BY JACK BULLOCK EFFINGHAM - The title game of the 5th Annual Effingham Thanksgiving Tourney came down to two physical teams that are now part of the same conference.

12-01-03 Trico, Steeleville, Marissa-Coulterville win @ Trico The Warriors overcame a sluggish start to beat upset-minded New Athens in the opening game of the PIT. Trailing 37-32 at the end of three quarters of play, Steeleville (1-0) outscored ......

12-02-03 Ullery, Michel too much for Sandoval BY JACK BULLOCK BLUFORD - Fresh off of a Christopher Thanksgiving Tournament championship win on Saturday, Webber Township got to show the Trojan loyalist what they could do at home.

12-03-03 Steeleville, Elverado, New Athens win @ Trico DuQuoin wins in OT, Cairo, Benton roll @ DQ The Warriors moved to 2-0 on the season and in the round robin tourney with a thrashing of Waltonville. Jeff Mulholland ripped the Spartans with 22 points on Wednesday night.

12-05-03 St. Anthony cranks up the 'D' on Red Hill BY JACK BULLOCK EFFINGHAM - After last weeks self-stated 'sub-par' showing in its own Thanksgiving tourney, Effingham St. Anthony couldn't wait to get back on the floor on Friday .......

Rams milk clock, cream Madison late 12-09-03 BY JACK BULLOCK MOUNT VERNON - Getting off the bus Tuesday night, Madison coach Kenny Stanley preached to his team that they could not afford to play from behind against ......

Steeleville survives late scare, finishes off Gibault 12-12-03 BY JACK BULLOCK STEELEVILLE - No one in the immediate Steeleville sports family could remember when the Warriors last beat independent school rival Waterloo Gibault.

T-Town wears down DQ 12-13-03 BY JACK BULLOCK TEUTOPOLIS - Coach Ken Crawford said that this would be a physical game. However he had no idea coming in to the contest that he would have to play a ....

Thompsonville crushes Crab Orchard 12-15-03 BY JACK BULLOCK WAYNE CITY - Was there anyone in attendance Monday night at the 50th Annual Conrad Allen Holiday Tournament in Wayne City that was expecting anything but a tight ....

Hawks 'tough out' win over Carrier Mills 12-16-03 BY JACK BULLOCK CARRIER MILLS - With all that has happened with the Gallatin County Hawks in the past few hectic days, Coach Robert "Radar" Patton was happy with any sort of victory.

Wayne City tops Webber, title tilt awaits Friday 12-17-03 BY JACK BULLOCK WAYNE CITY - Coach Steve Strickland knew after the first two weeks of the season that his team needed to make some changes offensively in order to win more ballgames.

Thompsonville tops Cisne @ Conrad Allen 12-18-03 BY JACK BULLOCK WAYNE CITY - For Thompsonville Coach John Robinson, this season he has seen a new hero each night step up with a big game.

Tigers triumph @ Wayne City 12-19-03 BY JACK BULLOCK WAYNE CITY - It has been quite a while since folks in the southeast corner of Franklin County had much to celebrate in the way of boy's basketball success.

Rams 'blow' past 'cold shooting' Cylones 12-20-03 BY JACK BULLOCK MOUNT VERNON - After having played a tough game against rival Springfield Southeast the night before and playing without one of its key starters who was injured .....

Vienna, Waltonville 'shake up' S-V Tourney 12-26-03 BY JACK BULLOCK SESSER - Most people associated with the Vienna basketball program know that Cory Waters is the Eagles 'go-to' guy, especially during close games in the fourth .......

Century, Woodlawn advance to final four @ SV 12-27-03 BY JACK BULLOCK SESSER - If this were a NASCAR race the Galatia Bearcats would have racked up a lot of points for leading laps.

West Frankfort trips Meridian, wins EHT title 12-29-03 BY JACK BULLOCK ELDORADO - In one of the most exciting games ever played to decide an Eldorado Holiday Tournament title, West Frankfort's Craig Ramsey got to live out a childhood fantastic finish fantasy.

South Central breezes past St. Elmo 01-06-03 BY JACK BULLOCK FARINA - After winning the Vandalia Holiday Tournament last week, the South Central Cougars were due for a bit of a let down.

Trojans edge rival Indians 01-08-04 WAYNE CITY @ WEBBER TOWNSHIP BY JACK BULLOCK BLUFORD - With teammate Joey Ullery saddled with some early foul difficulty .....

'Rocked' by the House (s), Massac falls 01-09-04 BY JACK BULLOCK MURPHYSBORO - In what was supposed to be a close contest for early supremacy in the SIRR Ohio Division on Friday night, the

Marquette holds off Carlinville, 37-32 01-13-04 CARLINVILLE @ ALTON MARQUETTE BY JACK BULLOCK ALTON - When Marquette coach John Ducey walked off the court

Foxes top JC late. 44-41 01-16-04 BY JACK BULLOCK MCLEANSBORO - As the final seconds of Friday night's Black Diamond Conference game at McLeansboro were ticking down, there was little doubt which .....

Hornets top Pana 01-17-04 BY JACK BULLOCK CENTRALIA - Nashville head coach Darin Lee knew that his team needed to make some adjustments at halftime in its defensive scheme in its game Saturday against Pana.

Century 'tips' Central 01-17-04 BY JACK BULLOCK CENTRALIA - The Century Centurions, the small school from Ullin, Illinois, have been searching for a big win against a quality opponent since the arrival ......

Aces 'trump' host Bulldogs 01-19-04 BY JACK BULLOCK CARMI - Coach Ronnie Wilcox told his team before the Carmi Tourney began that they had a great opportunity to show what they can do against some teams ......

Z-R outlasts FT cold Trojans 01-20-04 BY JACK BULLOCK ZEIGLER - Crab Orchard coach Jon Brown can look to one stat on the final sheet to see what went wrong on Tuesday night in his teams' non-conference game .....

Murphysboro outlasts A-J 01-21-04 BY JACK BULLOCK WEST FRANKFORT - The phrase 'see-saw' game is used a lot to describe a basketball game. In most cases the phrase is warranted.

Tigers pressure Wesclin into submission 01-22-04 BY JACK BULLOCK NASHVILLE - After playing a brutal schedule of contests, the Herrin Tigers came into the Nashville Invitational Tournament with just a 6-11 mark.

Cairo 'pilfers' BIT title 01-24-04 BY JACK BULLOCK BENTON - Too fast, too deep, too much! Those words summed up the Cairo Pilots win over its long time rival .....

Cardinals, Bearcats post wins @ Woodlawn Tourney 01-28-04 BY JACK BULLOCK WOODLAWN - After two days of in climate weather, the 12th Annual Woodlawn/Waltonville Round Robin got under way Wednesday night.

No problems for favorites @ Woodlawn 01-29-04 BY JACK BULLOCK WOODLAWN - The more things change; the more things stay the same.

Hawks 'blanket' Galatia 01-30-04 BY JACK BULLOCK HARRISBURG - Five-seven senior guard Trent Wargel is known around this conference and in southern Illinois as one of the top offensive point guards.

Swartz, Trojans conquer Cardinals 02-03-04 BY JACK BULLOCK BLUFORD - Tuesday night's game between NCOE and Webber was the first such meeting of the season for the two Mid-South Conference clubs.

Eagles top Cobden 02-06-04 BY JACK BULLOCK VIENNA - Southern Illinois has been in a recent cold spell, not unlike most winters in the Mid-West.

Red Bud's zone buster Schield tops Mater Dei 02-07-04 BY JACK BULLOCK NASHVILLE - Red Bud's Chris Schield was on fire to say the least Saturday evening and the Mater Dei Knights found no way to extinguish the his blaze of 3-point bombs.

Cairo tops St. Francis deSales, 64-55 02-07-04 BY JACK BULLOCK NASHVILLE - From the opening tap to the final horn, the Cairo Pilots never fully reached a 'comfort zone' against the Pioneers from Chicago St. Francis de Sales at the ....

Hornets send message with defensive gem 02-07-04 BY JACK BULLOCK NASHVILLE - It was billed as a battle of two of the state's top teams and early on it looked like it might live up to its hype.

T-Town tops St. A, 49-34 02-10-04 BY JACK BULLOCK EFFINGHAM - One of the top Class A boy's basketball rivalries in the state was renewed on Tuesday night as Teutopolis and St. Anthony squared off in the new .....

Tigers top 'pesky' Newton 02-17-04 BY JACK BULLOCK OLNEY - Although the Olney seemed to be in complete control of this Apollo Conference game at home Tuesday night, Newton never gave up hope.

Rams take care of rival Orphans 02-20-04 BY JACK BULLOCK MOUNT VERNON - Coach Doug Creel finally reeled in the 'big fish' that always seemed to get away.

Bearcats spoil Waltonville senior night 02-21-04 BY JACK BULLOCK WALTONVILLE - Christopher's James Trogolo crashed the Waltonville party on Saturday night. With the senior night festivities on display, this 6-1 senior had ideas .....

Meridian advances past Carrier Mills @ Gallatin County 02-24-04 BY JACK BULLOCK JUNCTION - The Meridian Bobcats did not finish their regular season on a strong note.

Centurions overcome inspired Hawks 02-25-04 BY JACK BULLOCK JUNCTION - After two quarters of play, the Gallatin County Hawks had put together a nearly flawless offensive performance, which led to a 29-26 halftime lead over state

Lions complete comeback, edge Du Quoin 02-26-04 BY JACK BULLOCK SESSER - Matt Rowald put together a fourth quarter that most players can envision but never reach.

Eagles snare regional title 02-27-04 BY JACK BULLOCK JUNCTION - When a team shoots just 15-29 from the free throw line and fails to make any of their 15 3-point attempts, most teams will be in trouble trying to win .....

Redbirds fly past host Eldorado, 59-47 03-02-04 BY JACK BULLOCK ELDORADO - Old school basketball had a revival in southern Illinois this season, courtesy of the West Frankfort Redbirds.

Panthers advance with win over A-J 03-03-04 BY JACK BULLOCK SPARTA - Using two big scoring runs in the first half to get separation, the Pinckneyville Panthers survived some foul trouble to advance .......

Jacobs' shot puts Patriots in Sweet 16 03-05-04 BY JACK BULLOCK ELDORADO - With the clock winding down on the Massac County basketball season, senior guard Matt Jacobs decided he wanted his team to play at least one more game.

Massac County, Pinckneyville set for SIU 03-07-04 BY JACK BULLOCK One team who is very familiar with the SIU Arena floor will face one that hasn't stepped foot on it since March of 2000 at this year's Class A Carbondale Supersectional.

Patriots 'Peoria Bound' 03-09-04 CARBONDALE - After a seemingly endless trail of tears, the Massac County Patriots have reached the basketball promised land. Heading into the Carbondale Class A Supersectional Tuesday night .....

Peoria Christian 'charges' past Massac 03-12-04 PEORIA - Size wise, the Massac County Patriots seemed to have an edge over their smaller opponent in the Class A Quarterfinal game on Friday afternoon. Having a major height advantage over a team that started no one over .....

Chicago Leo too deep, too much for Breese Central 03-12-04 PEORIA - Making two straight trips to the Class A quarterfinals is a great accomplishment by any school. However in the case of Breese Central, having to face the Chicago area .....

Quincy Notre Dame powers past Pana 03-12-04 PEORIA - The Pana Panthers entered into Friday night's final quarterfinal game at Peoria's Carver Arena the same way that it did most of its 31 previous games this season. They were staring at a much bigger club in Quincy Notre Dame.

Dentmon's FT's sink Flyers 03-16-04 EDWARDSVILLE - Justin Dentmon is the Carbondale Terriers' team leader. On Tuesday night he proved it once again. The 6-foot-2 senior guard stepped to the free throw line with :00.3 left .....