ABV "Year In Review"
Eagleson, Motsinger, Rueter reach 600-wins
Excellence in officiating, national anthem performances honored
Geography question for the IHSA

04-17-13
BY JACK BULLOCK
There are several things on my mind as this past season has come to its end.

Most of them are of an upbeat nature.

In our negative society, where we tend to want to look at the evil over the ....

Harrisburg, Seton Academy, Officials get blame
Coaches' Smithpeters, Thomas get probation for 2013-14 seasons

04-10-13
NEWS RELEASE FROM THE ILLINOIS HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATION
IHSA Completes Investigation of Class 2A Boys Basketball Title Game, Announces Sanctions

The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) has completed its investigation into the 2013 IHSA Class 2A Boys Basketball State Championship game between Harrisburg High School and Seton Academy and has announced sanctions resulting from that investigation.

Henshaw, Smithpeters, Drone earn "POY" awards
Coaches' Smithpeters, Patton get the ABV mentor honors

03-27-13
BY JACK BULLOCK
The Harrisburg Bulldogs were clearly the top team in Southern Illinois and therefore they deserve some postseason awards from ABV.

The ones from this web publication are as follows.

The top two players and the top coach in Class 2A reside with the state-champions.

Madison falls in 1A title game
Illini Central use big fourth quarter comeback; Trojans get 24-points from Bourney

03-09-13
BY JACK BULLOCK
PEORIA
The Madison Trojans were on the brink of a state championship.

But not being able to take care of the ball proved to be their undoing.

The Trojans committed 18-turnovers and the sent Mason City-Illini Central to the foul line much too often.

Bulldogs bring home the title
Harrisburg rallies for 50-44 championship win over Seton Academy
Smithpeters' 23-points leads the way to 33-1 finish; Seton Academy self-destructs

03-09-13
BY JACK BULLOCK
PEORIA
– So much for private school domination of the boy's state basketball tournament.

For the second straight season and the third time in the last four years, a public school has worn the crown.

The Harrisburg Bulldogs, the pride of Southern Illinois ....

Harrisburg's title dream stays alive
Bulldogs bench comes up big; Henshaw, Amaya each score 13-points in 53-43 win

03-08-13
BY JACK BULLOCK
PEORIA
– The Harrisburg Bulldogs advanced to the title game of the 2A state tournament using a great beginning and a very good ending.

Jumping out to a 10-0 lead behind a trio of 3-point shots by Capel Henshaw and then holding St. Joseph-Ogden to zero

Madison moves into title game
Deontay Starnes two free throws with :08.3 gives Trojans a championship game berth

03-08-13
BY JACK BULLOCK

PEORIA
– It wasn't a pretty contest, but then again the Madison Trojans don't always win games with a beautiful style.

But Coach Jaime Cotto's club, in yet another workman-like victory, got the job done.

Congrats to ABV Area players named first team IBCA All-State
Tyler Smithpeters and Capel Henshaw of Harrisburg; Aaron Siler of Robinson represent 2A
Andrew Drone of Gallatin County, Jeremy Weeke of Okawville and Marquis Bourney of Madison are 1A
Bulldogs light up scoreboard, Wooden Shoes in super win
Smithpeters, Taborn-Scott shine in 77-66 triumph; Harrisburg moves to 31-1 and on to Peoria

03-05-13
BY JACK BULLOCK
CARBONDALE
– The Harrisburg Bulldogs, from the time they stepped off of the SIU Arena floor from last season's crushing defeat at the hands of eventual state-champion Breese Central on March 7, 2012, had one goal in mind.

To win a state championship.

Madison rallies past Indians, back to Peoria
Trojans improve to 20-10 with 66-60 win; Payson-Seymour ends season at 27-5

03-06-13
BY
SETH WHITEHEAD
FOR A BASELINE VIEW.COM
JACKSONVILLE
A partisan crowd was already in a frenzy when Madison leading scorer Marquis Bourney was forced to the bench with his third foul midway through the third quarter Tuesday at the Class 1A Jacksonville Super-Sectional.

Gallatin County comes up short in super
Nokomis rallies for overtime win, moves on to Peoria
Hawks dream season ends at 27-4 despite huge night from Andrew Drone

03-05-13
BY JACK BULLOCK
CARBONDALE
For the Gallatin County Hawks the dream of playing in Peoria fell just a bit short on Tuesday night in their supersectional game at SIU Arena.

After a first half in which nearly everything went right for the Hawks, the second half was nearly the opposite.

Harrisburg, Teutopolis, Gallatin County, Nokomis set for Super night
Veteran Bulldogs, Wooden Shoes in 2A showdown; Hawks, Redskins 1A matchup opens the show
Madison travels north to Jacksonville for the 1A Super after winning 1A Okawville Sectional

03-05-13
BY JACK BULLOCK

CARBONDALE
– The Harrisburg Bulldogs and the Teutopolis Wooden Shoes are set to meet at the 2A Carbondale Supersectional on Tuesday night at 8 pm at the SIU Arena.

The Bulldogs, coached by Randy Smithpeters, have had a dream-like season.

Teutopolis outlasts Central
Wooden Shoes set for third straight supersectional after 58-53 2OT win

03-01-13
BY SETH WHITEHEAD
FOR A BASELINE VIEW.COM

GREENVILLE -The pressure almost got to Brett Mette as he stepped up to the foul line late in the first overtime of Friday's championship game of the Class 2A Greenville Sectional.

"I was really nervous and I was shaking really bad," Mette said. "It's probably the worst I've been shaking in my whole life."

Trojans edge Gibault, advance to super
Madison wins rebounding battle, Bourney scores 21-points in win

03-01-13
BY JACK BULLOCK
OKAWVILLE - In a contest in which neither team was successful for most of the evening, there was one key stat that eventually separated Madison and Waterloo Gibault, one that proved to be the Hawks' downfall and provided the Trojans a path to the Jacksonville Supersectional.


Bulldogs roll past Chester
Harrisburg stays the course in easy win; Nashville awaits Friday

02-27-13
BY JACK BULLOCK
WEST FRANKFORT - When talking about the Harrisburg Bulldogs boy's basketball team, ABV is running out of adjectives to describe how good they really are.

Outstanding, extraordinary, fantastic, phenomenal, etc.

Oblong shocks defending state champs
Panthers oust Woodlawn in sectional semi's; Johnson nets 17 in upset win

02-26-13
BY JACK BULLOCK
ALTAMONT
- The Oblong Panthers had to wait almost a year to get another shot at Woodlawn and Coach Brent Harper's team made the most of it.

It was 361-days to be exact.

ABV Sectional Previews
Panthers wear down Maroons, win regional title
Johnson, Knollenberg propel Panthers' second half blitz; Traub scores 19-points in defeat

02-23-13
BY JACK BULLOCK
DIETERICH
- Playing an opponent four times in a season is tough.

But when that opponent is as talented as the Oblong Panthers, it is even more difficult to deal with.

Harrisburg smashes rival Rangers
Bulldogs take no prisoners in lopsided romp; Taborn-Scott's 16-points leads balanced attack

02-22-13
BY JACK BULLOCK
ELDORADO
- There isn't much doubt who the top team in Illinois 2A boy's basketball in the deep south is.

The Harrisburg Bulldogs have more than earned this recognition.

Woodlawn, Christ Our Rock Lutheran advance to title game
Cardinals shutdown South Central's season, 54-27
Silver Stallions top Patoka for the fourth time in 2012-13

02-19-13
BY JACK BULLOCK
WOODLAWN - Defensive pressure and a short bench proved to be too much for the South Central Cougars to handle on Wednesday night in their game against defending state-champion Woodlawn.

Coach Rick Simmons club had their sights set on pulling an upset and .....

Sesser-Valier's inside game too much for WC
Justin Kulich muscles in for 18-points, 15-rebounds in 54-38 triumph

02-19-13
BY JACK BULLOCK
WALTONVILLE
- When the Sesser-Valier Red Devils have been successful this season, they have gotten the ball inside to 6-foot-6 senior Justin Kulich.

That game-plan served the Devils well on Tuesday night at the 1A Waltonville Regional.

Cairo, Century triumph in opening night games
Pilots roll past Dongola behind Terion Taylor's 24-points, 78-48
Centurions' Devontay Pullett's double-double dominates Joppa, 78-36

02-18-13
BY JACK BULLOCK
MOUNDS
- On Monday night at the Meridian 1A Regional the Cairo Pilots used their quickness advantage to take care of business in advancing into the semifinals.

Getting 11-different players scoring points and using its athletic gifts to crash the offensive boards for second, third and sometimes fourth chances, Cairo romped ....

Goreville goes "Back-to-Back" in Black Diamond
Blackcats roar out to early lead, cruise home with 69-31 win
Ruseell, Snell prove to be too much for Chester on Saturday night

02-16-13
BY JACK BULLOCK
CHESTER
On Saturday night the stage was set for a big time performance from the Chester Yellow Jackets.

In front of a huge crowd for senior night, the festivities were completed and game time was approaching.

Warriors end regular season on positive note
Johnnie Clift nets 28-points in Patoka's 64-49 win over Brownstown

02-14-13
BY JACK BULLOCK
PATOKA
 The Patoka Warriors made the most of their “Senior Night” celebration Thursday at home against Brownstown.

However it was a junior guard that stole the show in front of big crowd.

NCOE gets final run on Wildcats
Fighting Cardinals outlast Carrier Mills, 65-62; Sutton, Martin combine for 37-points

02-12-13
BY JACK BULLOCK
NORRIS CITY
The Norris City-Omaha-Enfield Fighting Cardinals contest on Tuesday night at home had a nightmarish beginning but a dream ending.

Coughing up seven first quarter turnovers, including five in their first five possessions, things didn't look good for the hosts as they spotted visiting Carrier Mills an 11-2 lead.

Carterville pressure dooms 'Dogs
Lions rally from 10-down in the first half, win 58-54 over Sparta

02-09-13
BY JACK BULLOCK
CARTERVILLE
For the first 13:46 of game time in their SIRR Mississippi Division matchup on the road at Carterville, the Sparta Bulldogs were in complete control.

Coach Jeff Bowlby's club was defending well and running its offense.

Odin tames Lions in OT
Eagles' rally produces 67-60 victory; Margrum leads winners with 20-points

02-07-13
BY JACK BULLOCK
ODIN
The youth movement for the Odin Eagles basketball program is beginning to pay off for head coach Mike Finckbone.

With just one senior on the roster, the Eagles have weathered a lot of varsity minutes in 2012-13 with kids who are “learning on the fly.”

Goreville stays unbeaten in BDC
Blackcats blow past Tornadoes, improve to 9-0 in the West, 20-4 overall

02-05-13
BY JACK BULLOCK
ZEIGLER
It only took a few moments into the their Tuesday night contest at Zeigler-Royalton for the Goreville Blackcats to get going.

Jumping out to a 14-0 lead and using a trapping full-court zone defense to force early Z-R mistakes, Coach Todd Tripp saw his team take care of business and .....

Harrisburg's early lead holds up in shootout win
Bulldogs jump out to 15-4 lead, improve to 23-1; Smithpeters, Henshaw net 20 and 18-points
Casey-Westfield gets 20-points from Brandon Wolfe in loss
Anna-Jonesboro, Mt. Carmel, Carrier Mills, Fairifield post wins

02-03-13
BY JACK BULLOCK
BENTON
– Last season the Harrisburg Bulldogs entered several shootouts as they were trying to get better each game.

They were building toward a run at a state championship.

Cougars earn defensive win
Cougars "grind" out home victory over rival Patoka, 45-41
Tharp, Hablewitz pace winners with 12-points each

01-31-13
BY JACK BULLOCK
FARINA
– In a game where possessions were at a premium and mistakes were magnified, the Patoka Warriors made some untimely errors that led to their eventual downfall on the road Thursday night against rival South Central.

Not being able to get going on offense, Coach Joe Eddy's club .....

Hawks win second straight GEC tourney title
Drone dominates paint with 32-points, Hawks hammer Wildcats, 68-24
Hish adds 17-points, five 3-pointers in rout; NCOE, Pope County post wins

01-26-13
BY JACK BULLOCK
HARRISBURG
How dominating was the performance of the Gallatin County boy's basketball team this week at the Greater Egyptian Conference Tournament?

Mind-boggling!

Casey-Westfield wins LIC title
Four Warriors net double-figures in 74-61 victory

01-25-13
BY JACK BULLOCK
CASEY
The Casey-Westfield Warriors used a strong start on Friday night to secure its first Little Illini Conference Tournament title since 2004.

Unfortunately for the Newton Eagles, their beginning wasn't of championship caliber.

Stew-Stras, Altamont advance to title round
Comets send St. Anthony to consy round for the first time since 1951
Indians overcome poor offensive night with win over South Central

01-23-13
BY JACK BULLOCK
ALTAMONT
In the very first year in which the St. Anthony Bulldogs played in the National Trail Conference Tournament, the Effingham based Catholic school lost in the quarterfinal round.

The year was 1951.

CORL, Patoka romp to wins
Silver Stallions top Mulberry Grove; Warriors roll past Odin

01-22-13
BY JACK BULLOCK
CENTRALIA
On Tuesday night at their own invitational tournament, Christ Our Rock Lutheran struggled offensively in the first half against Egyptian Illini Conference rival Mulberry Grove.

The Aces used a zone defense that forced CORL to make some adjustments .....

St. Anthony rolls early in Windsor win
Schuette tops Bulldogs' cause with 26-points; Neoga, South Central also triumph

01-21-13
BY JACK BULLOCK
ALTAMONT
The Effingham St. Anthony Bulldogs have struggled this season with just four wins heading into Monday night's opening round game of the National Trail Conference Tournament.

But Coach Mark Tovey's club rose to the occasion, taking care of .....

Teutopolis dominates Gibault, nabs NIT title
Pruemer leads the way with 19-points; Wooden Shoes shut down Hawks, 51-31
Mater Dei, Nashville, Weclin post final day victories

01-19-13
BY JACK BULLOCK
NASHVILLE
– The Teutopolis Wooden Shoes have found themselves a new home away from home.

It is called the Assembly Hall in Nashville, Illinois.

Gibault, Teutopolis to battle for NIT crown
Hawks give Coach Rueter his 600th win in OT; Wooden Shoes end Central's title reign

01-18-13
BY JACK BULLOCK
NASHVILLE
– The Waterloo Gibault Hawks haven't won a Nashville Invitational Tournament title since they won three-consecutive titles from 1991-93.

After an overtime win over Breese Mater Dei on Friday night at the Assembly Hall the Hawks are on the verge of title number four.

Woodlawn, Cisne set for Saturday clash
Cardinals thump Odin behind 23-points from Gabe Owens; Lions rally past Waltonville

01-17-13
BY JACK BULLOCK
LOUISVILLE
– It didn't take the Woodlawn Cardinals long to get rolling in their semifinal game against Odin on Thursday night at the Midland Trail Conference tournament.

In fact, after spotting the Eagles a brief 1-0 lead, Woodlawn scored the next 14-points to take command.

Teutopolis, Central cruise to semifinals
Wooden Shoes hammer Mascoutah; Cougars pull away from Freeburg

01-16-13
BY JACK BULLOCK
NASHVILLE
– It took Teutopolis roughly eight and a half minutes of playing clock to get used to their new January tournament surroundings on Wednesday night in the first round of the Nashville Invitational Tournament.

This basketball powerhouse program, for nearly the last century ....

Gibault, Mater Dei post first round NIT wins
Hawks fly past Wesclin, 63-42; Knights hold off host Hornets

01-15-13
BY JACK BULLOCK
NASHVILLE
– The Nashville Hornets were on the verge of digging themselves out of a self-inflicted hole in the opening round contest of the NIT.

Getting out played and out hustled in the first half, the Hornets mounted a rally to tie long-time rival Breese Mater Dei in the final minutes of the fourth quarter.

Carlyle rallies past Rockets to open BIT
Indians defensive effort stymies Okawville, 47-40; Pinckneyville, Sesser-Valier also post wins

01-14-13
BY JACK BULLOCK
BENTON
Heading into the Benton Invitational Tournament, the Carlyle Indians got one of their key players back after missing 13-games due to injury.

Matt Hilmes, a 6-foot-3 senior forward, left a big void in the middle of the Indians frontcourt after breaking his hand in an early season game against ....

Hornets handle short-handed Okawville
Nashville improves to 12-4 with easy win; Rockets fall to 11-4

01-05-13
BY JACK BULLOCK
OKAWVILLE
– It didn't take the Okawville Rockets and head coach Jon Kraus very long to find out how much they are going to miss injured guard Jeremy Weeke.

Weeke broke his foot during practice on Wednesday and on Saturday night in a game against Washington County rival Nashville they could have used ....

Bearcats roar past Z-R
Kuh, Mercks, combine for 32-points in 59-36 BDC win; Tornadoes fall to 13-5

12-08-12
BY JACK BULLOCK
CHRISTOPHER
- The Christopher Bearcats jumped out to a quick early lead in its game against rival Zeigler-Royalton on Friday night and Coach Eric Stallman's club didn't let up, crushing the Tornadoes 59-36 in Black Diamond Conference action.

Using their size advantage, the Cats improved to 9-5 overall and 2-2 in the league.

Harrisburg three-peats EHT
MVP Smithpeters paces Bulldogs to 58-37 romp over Gallatin County
Massac County edges Meridian for third; Union County tops Herrin for fifth
Fairfield outscores Eldorado for consolation title

12-31-12
BY JACK BULLOCK
ELDORADO - The Harrisburg Bulldogs became just the second team in the 48-year history of the Eldorado Holiday Tournament to win three-consecutive tourney titles.

They left little doubt who was the best team in the event following a 58-37 win over Gallatin County in the championship game on Monday night.

Woodlawn wins third consecutive S-VHT title
Cardinals hold off Goreville, top Blackcats for third time in three championship tilts
Sparta finishes third, Waltonville fifth; Z-R nabs consy crown

12-31-12
BY JACK BULLOCK
SESSER
The gap between the Woodlawn Cardinals and their SVHT rival Goreville has closed a bit since last season.

But despite this separation slip, the defending state-champs are still the class of the Sesser-Valier Holiday Tournament, and the 1A Deep South.

Pana tops Vandals, wins VHT
MVP Hester leads balanced attack in 56-44 win; Altamont tops Flora for third
St. Elmo needs overtime to edge Maroa-Forsyth for fifth; St. Anthony, Shelbyville post wins

12-29-12
BY JACK BULLOCK
VANDALIA
Head coach Gary Bowker and his Pana Panthers basketball program has had some heartbreaking decision at the Vandalia Holiday Tournament over the years.

Last second losses to South Central in 2000 and 2003, and last season they lost to a good Flora team in the title game.

Goreville holds off Indians, reaches semifinals
Christopher upsets Waltonville; Sparta posts win over Chester; Woodlawn edges New Athens
Sesser-Valier, Zeigler-Royalton, Century, Cobden get consolation bracket wins

12-28-12
BY JACK BULLOCK
SESSER
The Goreville Blackcats jumped out to a 18-point lead on the Johnston City Indians on Friday afternoon in their quarterfinal game at the Sesser-Valier Holiday Tournament and it appeared that the Coach Todd Tripp's team would “waltz” its way into the semifinals with ease.

Altamont stumbles against host Vandals
Poor shooting night dooms Indians; Vandalia controls own destiny; Flora, Pana set for Pool A showdown

12-27-12
BY JACK BULLOCK
VANDALIA
On Thursday night in the final game of the evening session of the 41st annual Vandalia Holiday Tournament, the Altamont Indians struggled mightily on the offensive end of the floor.

Hitting just 12-of-51 shots, the Tribe should have been no where close ....

Pana shuts down Cougars, improves to 2-0
Gibson scores 17-points in 49-29 win; Greenville, Maroa-Forsythe post morning wins

12-27-12
BY JACK BULLOCK
VANDALIA
The Pana Panthers, under head coach Gary Bowker, have always had the type of team that could score a lot of points and run and gun their opposition.

However the 2012-13 edition has bought into the defensive strategy that has the Panthers in contention for the championship of the Vandalia Holiday Tournament.

Cards look for third-straight title flight
Goreville, Waltonville, Chester have best shot; Sparta, JC, NA, Z-R are sleepers

12-26-12
BY JACK BULLOCK
SESSER – The Woodlawn Cardinals have dominated this event in the last two seasons and Coach Shane Witzel's club is the top-seed once again as they try to defend their crown.

With a very tough schedule and some new faces in the crowded talent pool rising up to take their place on the floor ....

Harrisburg looks for EHT Trifecta
Gallatin County, Meridian, Union County (KY.) are the other favorites

12-27-12
BY JACK BULLOCK
ELDORADO – Pat Riley of the Los Angeles Lakers coined the term “three-peat” in hoping that his Lakers, back in 1988, would win a third consecutive NBA crown.

ABV won't use the phrase here, but the Harrisburg Bulldogs are looking ......

Nashville grinds out road win
Hornets win defensive struggle, 41-34 at Pinckneyville; improve to 7-2 overall

12-21-12
BY JACK BULLOCK
PINCKNEYVILLE
– In a defensive contest where every possession mattered, it was the Nashville Hornets who made the most of each chance.

On this night it was a kid named “Chance” who got the job done the best.

Redbirds roll by CWC
West Frankfort uses big second half finish, sends Bulldogs packing, 58-42

12-18-12
BY JACK BULLOCK
WEST FRANKFORT
– Although the West Frankfort Redbirds' basketball program has taken some lumps in the past few seasons, not all is grim at Max Morris Gym.

On Tuesday night at home, Coach Dan DeWerff's squad was the one delivering the lumps.

Host Eagles wear down Altamont, nab title
Maxey, Beasley lead St. Elmo to 69-63 win
South Central, Cowden-Herrick, Ramsey post final day triumphs

12-15-12
BY JACK BULLOCK
ST. ELMO
– Whether it is boxing or basketball, it never hurts to have a good “one-two” punch.

The St. Elmo Eagles boy's basketball team put that combination to good use on Saturday night in the title battle against its long time rival from the East.

Carlyle ends Cougars' Cahokia dominance
Cold shooting Breese Central's league win streak snapped at 38-straight

12-14-12
BY JACK BULLOCK
CARLYLE
– The streak is over.

The Breese Central Cougars, the defending Class 2A state champions, had won a convincing 38-consecutive games within the Cahokia Conference Mississippi Division in the past three seasons.

Thompsonville can't survive Tornado warning
Zeigler-Royalton rallies from 10-points down; tops Tigers in Pool A
Edwards County, Cisne post Pool B victories

12-12-12
BY JACK BULLOCK
WAYNE CITY
– Heading into Wednesday night's game of the Wayne City Holiday Tournament, Thompsonville head coach Brandon Chaplain was worried about his opponents' quickness advantage.

The anxiety proved to be warranted.

Gibault produces big comeback
Hawks hand Hornets 44-37 loss, force Nashville into final quarter mistakes

12-08-12
BY JACK BULLOCK
NASHVILLE
– For the Nashville Hornets, Saturday night's contest against Waterloo Gibault Catholic marked another learning experience for Coach Brad Weather's team.

The lesson taught to them on this night was that to beat quality teams you must play four good quarters of basketball.

Cisne claims favorites' role at the Conrad Allen
Edwards County, Thompsonville, Crab Orchard have the best shot at the Lions

12-08-12
BY JACK BULLOCK
WAYNE CITY – The 59th annual Conrad Allen Wayne City Holiday Tournament is set to begin on Saturday, December 8 and will run until the championship game on Saturday night December 15.

As for the favorites roll, that burden falls squarely on the shoulders of Cisne Lions.

Spartans hold off North Clay
Waltonville survives Cards' rally, improves to 6-0 overall
Witges, Hale combine for 47-points in MTC victory

12-07-12
BY JACK BULLOCK
WALTONVILLE
– On Friday night at Waltonville, the host Spartans took on their first real challenge of the Midland Trail Conference season by hosting North Clay.

And it took a supreme effort to pass this huge test.

Cisne runs record to 7-1 with homecoming win
Three Lions score double-figures in 55-35 victory; Cisne improved to 3-0 in MTC

12-06-12
BY JACK BULLOCK
CISNE
– On the eve of the team's homecoming, the Cisne Lions took a few minutes to get focused on the task at hand; a Thursday night Midland Trail Conference game against rival Clay City.

But once the lucidity of the moment materialized, Coach Adam Ellis' squad .....

Eagles' "down the stretch" run catches Webber
Trailing 23-2 in the first half, Odin rallies past stunned Trojans for MTC road win

12-04-12
BY JACK BULLOCK
BLUFORD
– The Odin Eagles couldn't have played a worse first half of basketball on Tuesday night in their Midland Trail Conference opener on the road at Webber Township.

Coach Mike Finckbone's team was a woeful 2-of-25 from the floor and trailed 23-5 when the two teams left for the locker rooms.

Trico heats up, cools down Bulldogs to win PIT
Pioneers run tourney table at 5-0; top Sparta, 55-44
Chester, Steeleville post final day triumphs

12-01-12
BY JACK BULLOCK
CAMPBELL HILL
– It took the Trico Pioneers a while to get going in its Saturday contest against Sparta to close out their own Pioneer Invitational Tournament.

However once Coach Mike Denault's club got rolling, the Pioneers blazed a trail all the way to the championship.

Rockets wrap up title in OT
Okawville rallies past Woodlawn; Opens new gyam with tournament championship
New Athens tops Marissa-Coulterville for third place

11-30-12
BY JACK BULLOCK
OKAWVILLE
– The Okawville Rockets christened their brand new basketball facility on Friday night, not with champagne, but with a sparkling come-from-behind tournament title victory.

Coach Jon Kraus saw his team hit the big shots that forced overtime and then ....

Harrisburg opens season with big win
Tyler Smithpeters scores 25-points; Bulldogs pull away from Gallatin County late
Hamilton County edges Carmi-White County.

11-26-12
BY JACK BULLOCK
HARRISBURG
For the boy's basketball programs in both Harrisburg and Gallatin County, the 2012-13 season is like a Charles Dickens' novel.

In both camps there are “Great Expectations.”

Meridian outscores Patriots in overtime
Bobcats nab sixth straight Vienna title; Schoffner, Jones shine
Mitchell nets 34-points for Massac County; Eldorado defeats host Eagles
Century edges Carrier Mills in OT

11-24-12
BY JACK BULLOCK
VIENNA
– In a contest that was as full of drama as it was scoring, the Meridian Bobcats managed to dig down deep to find a way to win the final game of the Vienna Tournament on Saturday night.

After having led the entire contest, at one point by as many as 16, Meridian was in the driver's seat until the fourth quarter.

Trojans, Demons, Pirates share Turkey title
All three go 4-1 during Crab Orchard's week long event
Crab edges Elverado; Dongola rallies past Hardin County; Pope County rolls past Joppa

11-24-12
BY JACK BULLOCK
CRAB ORCHARD
Heading into the final day of the Crab Orchard Turkey Tournament, the host Trojans, Pope County and Dongola all needed to win and then have the other two teams lose in order to end up winning the tournament outright.


Only half of that scenario happened for each club.

Egyptian advances past deliberate Tigers
Price lead Pharaohs with 23-points; Egyptian looks to defend title Saturday night

11-20-11
BY JACK BULLOCK
CHRISTOPHER
– The Thompsonville Tigers wanted to be very patient with their offensive possessions on Friday night against Egyptian in the semifinals of the Christopher Thanksgiving Tournament.

And this strategy worked for nearly a quarter and a half of basketball.

Joppa catches Cougars
Castleman nets 34-points, Rangers rally past Hardin County; Dongola, Crab Orchard win

11-20-11
BY JACK BULLOCK
CRAB ORCHARD
Joppa's Tyler Castleman played a game that no one in this program should soon forget, leading his Rangers to a come-from-behind win over Hardin County on the second night of the 13th Annual Crab Orchard Thanksgiving Tournament.

Bearcats blast Wayne City
Christopher opens season with 59-22 romp; Waltonville tops Cobden

11-19-12
BY JACK BULLOCK
CHRISTOPHER
On the opening night of both the regular season and the Christopher Thanksgiving Tournament, the host Bearcats wanted to get the ball inside to their big man 6-foot-6 senior forward Kevin Mercks.

Good Morning ABV Fans!!!!!!!
The 15th Annual ABV Southern Illinois Boy's High School Basketball Preview has been completed.
Lots of work and a lack of sleep aside, it has been completed.
There are some changes this season.
In the rankings, in previous seasons I only ranked the teams in my area that feed into the Carbondale Area Supersectionals in 1A and 2A.
This season, I have decided to include all of the 1A and 2A teams that I previewed as part of the rankings system.
As for this preview, it was the same amount of conferences covered. There were only two schools who did not get me some sort of information.
That is a far cry from the days when I was lucky if I got half of them.
And I'm sure in the next few days I will get emails about certain typos or mistakes. I can deal with that. If it is something simple like a name spelled incorrectly or a won/loss mark being wrong, I can fix it.
But what I'm always ready for is that I know I will get a dozen or so emails that will begin with "Thank you for all the good work you do for the kids and I really love your website ......but ....."
Then they drop the bomb on me about this or that.
I will tell you ahead of time none of this bothers me.
If it is an error of a statistical nature I can fix it. But most of the time it will be an email from a fan who disagrees with my opinion about something or someone.
If you are planning to send me one of them, save your time and do something else.
It won't bother me at all.
With all that being said, I hope you enjoy this preview.

Jack Bullock
Editor/Web Publisher
www.abaselineview.com