03-08-07
BY JACK BULLOCK
PEORIA - When Teutopolis (30-2) and Nashville (33-0) hook up on Friday afternoon in the quarterfinals of the IHSA Class A State Finals – it will pit two great schools, coaches and traditions that are familiar to fans across southern Illinois.

And unfortunately for fans from the South part of the Land of Lincoln it comes two games too soon.

Having these two quality programs hook up in the final Class A state title game in the final year of the two-class system would add to the history of the Illinois High School Basketball Tournament.

But the winter sports drawing put the Carbondale and Charleston Supersectionals together in the second quarterfinal game slated for 1:45 pm.

In 1972 - the first season of a Class A tournament - Lawrenceville and Mounds Meridian christened small school basketball with a great title game won by the Indians, 63-57.

In the first 24 years of the Class A tournament – the Charleston and Carbondale representatives won 16 of the titles although just one winner (Pinckneyville in 2001) has captured the big prize in the last 13 years.

Only one other time did the Charleston and Carbondale Super teams meet in the championship game.

In 1987 Venice topped Okawville, 56-54, in the finale.

Head-to-head the Charleston Super holds a 6-4 advantage over their southern counterparts.

Recent History ...

The topics of discussion of this match up are intriguing and the subplots are a grand backdrop for the two teams that represent individually the two supersectionals that have produced the most state tournament titles in the 'soon to be ending' two-class era of Class A hoops.

Teutopolis is the sentimental favorite in the 'Elite Eight' with long-time head coach Ken Crawford set to ride off into retirement.

Coach Darin Lee brings an undefeated and top-ranked Nashville team into the final weekend looking to do something that his father accomplished 23 years ago – go undefeated and win a Class A state crown.

Head coach David Lee led McLeansboro to a 34-0 Class A title run back in 1984.

T-Town's mentor knows something about 'running the route' in unbeaten fashion having won the 1986 title at 32-0.

Then there is the down side of each of these programs and coaches.

Lee – while a perfect 5-0 in supersectionals – is 0-4 at Peoria having failed to win a game.

One of those losses was in 2000 to Teutopolis, 48-41 in overtime.

Nashville in its previous four visits managed to lose late game leads that resulted in the Hornets leaving Peoria empty handed each time.

Teutopolis has felt the sting of a couple of opening round losses in the 'Elite Eight.'

Who can forget the T-Town unbeaten and top-ranked club that saw its season come to an abrupt end at the hands of eventual champion Pinckneyville, 55-54, in 1994.

They held a halftime lead over Spring Valley Hall back in 1998 only to lose the lead late in a 52-44 defeat.

As for this season – the two teams have already met in a game that wasn't originally scheduled.

A quick thinking group that handles the Riverton Shootout – after Riverton's Michael Tisdale was injured – switched games featuring Teutopolis and Nashville and put them together to headline a very good event.

Nashville played well in a 57-43 win back on February 10 and will need to put together another good effort to beat T-Town again.

Nashville

All of the words to describe Lucas O'Rear have been used and with good reason.

He is an incredible Class A basketball player and deserving of his first team selection to the AP All-State Team announced Tuesday. His selection for ABV 'Player of the Year' was a 'No-Brainer' as no other player in the Carbondale Supersectional Area came close.

At 6-foot-7 he has towered over the Hornets tough competition this season while breaking more records than a Metal-Head at a 'Disco Demolition' rally.

The numbers are 20 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and a couple of steals per game. He had four steals that contributed to 29 points and 10 rebounds in the Hornets 'beat-down' of Mount Carmel, 76-46 on Tuesday night.

Counting the Teutopolis victory – Nashville has beaten state-ranked teams Pinckneyville (three times) Chicago North Lawndale and Effingham St. Anthony.

Seven of Nashville's victims this season (Madison, Murphysboro, Pinckneyville, Vienna, West Frankfort, Effingham St. Anthony and Chicago North Lawndale) won regional titles.

While they were staying undefeated the Hornets took care of all four games they played against Class AA teams Breese Mater Dei (twice), Freeburg and Jerseyville.

They won all three of their regular season tournaments at Lebanon, Breese Mater Dei and their own Nashville Invitational.

Four of the teams in the NIT won regional's this season and Breese Central also made it to the Jacksonville Supersectional.

Teutopolis

The Wooden Shoes' resume is solid as well.

The Wooden Shoes lost just a pair of games coming late in the season to rival St. Anthony and the Nashville loss.

Led by 6-foot-3 Jason Runde – another AP All-State and ABV All-South pick in the Charleston Supersectional – Teutopolis has some very good victories.

The one win that stands out on this list for the 'Shoes is a 76-59 win over Class AA Edwardsville to win the Charleston Holiday Tournament.

Coach Crawford's kids have triumphs over other large schools.

If there is ever an opening in the Apollo Conference – T-Town will fit that league – well, like a really good shoe.

Teutopolis beat Olney East Richland (twice), Newton, Mount Zion, Effingham, Robinson and Paris. Had they played Salem and Charleston – the Wooden Shoes would have likely defeated them as well.

With most of the National Trail Conference teams improved over the past two seasons – the brethren weren't the usual “Dolly Madison's” for Teutopolis to snack on this winter.

Both of these teams are well tested and deserve to be in Peoria.

The Game ...

Nashville will continue to rely on O'Rear and the perimeter shooting of 6-foot-4 junior Tommy Pelczynski and 6-foot senior point guard Matt Engele.

Engele is the floor general for Coach Lee – running the show for the unbeaten Hornets.

Pelczynski keeps teams honest from outside and 6-foot-1 senior Brandon Reckmann can take the ball to the basket.

The biggest difference in the Nashville team this season as opposed to 2005-06 has been the improvement of 6-foot-6 senior Ryan Keller.

For much of his career he struggled offensively but he has hit key baskets – one after another – in big games for the Hornets.

He scored 16 points against Teutopolis and added another 10 points against Pinckneyville in the Herrin Sectional title game.

He hit a pair of early open shots in the third Pinckneyville game that made 'building a wall' around O'Rear in the paint ineffective.

Patrick Weathers – assistant coach Brad Weathers' son – has stepped up in his senior season and he is yet another long-range bomber that can 'bust a zone'.

All of those players – other than O'Rear – are in the six to eight point scoring range.

Teutopolis has rode the shoulders of Runde – a 19 points per game contributor.

The Wooden Shoes have enough size to match up with Nashville.

Six-foot-six senior center Rich Borries and 6-foot-4 senior forward Craig Westendorf roam the middle on both ends of the floor.

Westendorf tossed in 17 points to back up Runde's 22 in Teutopolis' 55-45 Charleston Supersectional win over Central A&M.

Coach Crawford has a pair of other senior players that are very important in the backcourt.

Wade Koester is a 6-foot-3 senior who can step out an bury 3-pointers along with Runde.

Andy Tipton – a 6-foot-3 senior guard/forward - has also had some very good games.

Unfortunately while other teams that have reached Peoria have strong reserve units – no such corps exists as the Wooden Shoes' pine is paper thin.

There in lies the rub.

Virtually no contributions come from anyone other than those five T-Town starters.

In fact that quintet played all 32 minutes in beating Newton in the Teutopolis Regional final.

They won three consecutive wars to reach Charleston and needed a big third quarter to put away A&M.

The Outlook ...

I would love to believe that Coach Crawford will ride into the sunset on the back of a championship team in his final season. No other coach is more deserving of this honor. Unfortunately Coach Lee has the better horses and he has the best horse in the state to stake.
I see a close game going the way of the Hornets – a springboard to an elusive state title. The most unfortunate part of this years set up is that these two southern Illinois teams have to 'lock horns' in the quarterfinals. This contest would be a fitting ending of the final Class A State Championship Tournament.
ABV Pick – Nashville 49, Teutopolis 44.

Editor's Note - I like the winner's chances - whomever it is - to win the title.