03-06-06
BY JACK BULLOCK
Anytime the Pinckneyville Panthers boy's basketball team gets on a roll, the statewide attention meter pegs "Red."

Or in the case of head coach Dick Corn's program, "Columbia Blue."

This season, the champions of the Southern Illinois River-to-River Conference have taken care of all the Class A teams on its slate and are poised for their 12th quarterfinal appearance in the state tournament and fourth trip in Class A.

The Panthers under Coach Corn have two championships (1994 and 2001) to go with a second place finish in 1988.

Add 18 sectional titles and 44 regional titles in the schools storied history and it is no wonder why when the Panthers get rolling, people pay attention.

E.F. Hutton has nothing on this Perry County perennial power.

This season the Panthers won the Carbondale Holiday Tournament, topping Fayetteville (AR.) 52-48 in the title game crossover between the Class A and AA champions.

They also took care of all five of their opponents at the prestigious Benton Invitational Tournament back in January.

The lone loss of the season was at Carbondale 58-44 back on December 10.

Pinckneyville has won 27 games since that defeat and have beaten a 'who's who' of Southern Illinois basketball powers in 2005-06 having taken down Nashville (3), Anna-Jonesboro (2), Hamilton County, West Frankfort, Trenton-Wesclin and Carlyle.

All six of those team's won 20-games and five of them played in sectional final contests Friday night.

Having a young and exciting team, Coach Corn relies on a deep bench and defensive ability to wear down its opponents.

Playing eight or nine players that are interchangeable cogs, this Pinckneyville machine has the locals thinking about a run to Peoria similar to the 2001 championship crusade.

"They (his players) are so coach-able and they listen to what we tell them and try to do exactly what you ask them to do," said Corn, who is an outstanding 681-252 in his 31st year coaching at Pinckneyville.
"They have watch games and they have learned how to play the game."

Zack Hawkins, a 6-foot-5 junior, is the top scorer for the team averaging 12.3 points per contest.

The rest of the players in the nine-man rotation are all in the five to nine point range.

Thad Hawkins, Zack's 6-foot-3 junior twin brother, has recovered from a broken neck suffered during football season and his return the last week of the regular season has added additional spark and inspiration to this talented Panthers' squad.

Six-foot-four sophomore guard Kyle Cassity (9.1 p.p.g., 3.6 r.p.g. and 3.6 a.p.g.) has been the top individual defender for the Panthers. He is averaging nearly two steals a contest.

With his size, quickness and wingspan Cassity has caused the opposition many problems this season.

He recently held highly regarded Red Bud point guard Bryant Porter to just three points and zero field goals in the Panthers' 54-41 Chester Regional title game victory.

Two seniors Austin and Lyle Winter are another pair of cousins that have helped the Panthers' winning streak. A 6-foot-5 forward Austin (10.7 p.p.g. and 5.1 r.p.g.) has been very good around the basket for Coach Corn's club while 6-foot-1 brother Lyle's (7.7 p.p.g.) contributions come from the backcourt.

Six-foot-one sophomore Hayden Hicks and 5-foot-10 junior Skyler Graskewicz each average six points a game while 6-foot-1 Ryan Rushing and 6-foot-1 Collin Woodside all see extended minutes in the Panthers' rotation.

All have one thing in common. All nine of them can defend.

The Panthers are holding their opposition to just 47 points a game while scoring nearly 60 points per contest.

If Pinckneyville (30-1) runs the table, its 34-wins will be a new school record.

Four previous Panther teams won 33-games in a season; the 1994 Class A state champs and three consecutive Merrill "Duster" Thomas teams in 1953, 1954 and 1955. All three of those Thomas teams finished third in the single-class system.

Pinckneyville's opponent on Tuesday night is a familiar one.

Hamilton County has been playing its best basketball in the past month and a half of the season, having corralled 14-straight wins.

Being just the third seeded team in its regional, Hamilton County had to play an extra game to reach this point in the season.

Head coach Curt Reed's Foxes have defeated Gallatin County, Carmi-White County, Eldorado, Goreville and West Frankfort in its March to SIU Arena.

"They (Hamilton County) are so well coached and they will try to lull you to sleep and back door you and all of that stuff," said Corn about Tuesday's opponent after his team's win over Nashville Friday night. "They will come ready to play and they will be a different type of challenge for us than Nashville was tonight."

Cedrick Graham is the top offensive weapon for the Foxes as this 6-foot-3 senior is averaging nearly 20 points a game.

He tossed in 27-points in Hamilton County's 70-51 regional title game win over Eldorado and had 20 and 19 in the Foxes last two wins over Goreville and West Frankfort.

Kevin Waier, a 6-foot-4 senior center, is averaging nearly a double-double in points and rebounds (just under 10 in each category) and is the only real size on the Foxes roster.

Although smallish Hamilton County has skilled players, especially backcourt players Jake Welch, a 5-foot-10 junior, and senior Travis Ackley who stands 5-foot-7.

Five-foot-eleven senior Nick Walls had a fine game against West Frankfort Friday night with 12 points on two 3-pointers and 6-of-6 free throw shooting.

Bryan Thomas is a 5-foot-10 sophomore that also came up big in the postseason for Hamilton County. He scored eight points in the fourth quarter as Hamilton County held off the host Redbirds to win the school's fifth sectional title to go along with the 20th regional title in the schools' history.

"They're very good. They got good size plus they got the Hawkins (Thad) back that broke his neck earlier," Coach Reed told the Mount Vernon Register-News. "And he is a big asset for them there is no question about that."

When Teutopolis takes the court on Tuesday night the Wooden Shoes will once again all too familiar with its surroundings.

Playing each season at Eastern Illinois University's Lantz Gymnasium at the Charleston Holiday Tournament, head coach Ken Crawford's 28-3 eighth ranked T-Town team has a 4-1 record in Charleston Supersectionals.

This season, the National Trail Conference titleholders have but three losses, most recently a 68-62 loss to Madison on the final Friday of the regular season.

Coach Crawford has four players averaging double figures as his team prepares to tackle Nokomis on Tuesday.

Matt Crawford, the coaches' 6-foot-5 senior son, tops the club with 14.1 points per contest. Crawford was named first team ABV South Central Area this season. He is also the top rebounder for the club that finished the regular season ranked eighth in the AP poll.

Jason Runde, a 6-foot-3 junior guard, tosses 13.4 points a game while 6-foot-2 Kyle Ruholl is third on the club in scoring with 12 p.p.g.

Six-foot-three senior Lee Zerrusen adds 9.8 points and 4.7 rebounds to the T-Town totals.

Nokomis is no stranger to the state tournament photo, having been sighted in many big games over the years.

Twelve regional titles and now three sectional championships adorn the trophy case at the home of the Redskins.

Coach Steve Kimbro has taken two teams to the state finals (1983 and 1997) and he and his fan base have reason for optimism heading into the Charleston Supersectional showdown. This mentor reached the 500-win plateau this season and joins Corn, Crawford and Reed on the list of 500+ winners left in the field.

A pair of kids named Johnson has led Nokomis to a 30-2 mark and they finished the season ranked tenth in that same AP ranking.

Blake Johnson is a 6-foot-4 senior and Derek Johnson is a 6-foot senior. Both are veteran players for Coach Kimbro.

But the Redskins get a lot of help from their underclassmen.

Junior Michael Keller scored 17-points in Friday night's 52-48 win over Neoga in the title game of the Shelbyville Class A Sectional while sophomore Wade Kimbro added five points. Both of those players improved enough at the junior varsity level to warrant time on the varsity court.

"They (Nokomis) are really good offensive rebounder's and they are a physical ballclub," said Coach Crawford, who has compiled a 629-197 record at both Teutopolis and Rossville-Alvin including the last 25-years leading T-Town.
"They are a zone-oriented team and play the ball press. They are very fundamentally sound and disciplined on offense."

When the Carlyle Indians get off the bus at Jacksonville High School Tuesday night, head coach Andy Palmer's club will need to stretch their legs a bit after the 120 mile trip to 'The Bowl.'

However I am sure no one will care much where the game is played because this Clinton County team is in its first supersectional since 1989, a year in which the Tom Michael, Scott Horner, Jason Peters led squad captured the Class A state title.

Coach Palmer, in just his second season at CHS, has some supersectional experience having led upstart Pope County to the Carbondale Class A Supersectional a decade ago where the Pirates lost to Breese Mater Dei, 51-41.

Carlyle reached the super with wins over Breese Central on the Cougars home court and then beating Madison and Trenton-Wesclin to capture the Greenville Class A Sectional crown.

Jacob Tucker, Kory Peppenhorst and Darrell Johnson top the Tribe on the stat sheet, each in the double-digit zip code.

Tucker, a 5-foot-11 senior jumping jack, was named ABV Southwestern Illinois 'Player of the Year' and he tops the team with 14 points a game.

Six-foot-three sophomore Matt Palm scored 14-points in the Indians' 59-43 win over Cahokia Conference rival Trenton-Wesclin Friday night.

Liberty is looking at making its second consecutive trip to Peoria and they have a first team all-state player that they rely on heavily.

Justin Brock, a 6-foot-8 senior center, tops head coach Jeff Kasparie's 26-5 Eagles who hail from Adams County near Quincy.

Brock netted 30-points in Friday nights' 55-49 win over Hardin Calhoun at the Mt. Sterling Brown County Class A Sectional.

ABV Projections

Moline Supersectional - Illinois Valley Central vs. Forreston
Some may think I need an IV of something but lets go with the best nickname 'The Grey Ghosts' of IVC.
ABV Pick - IVC 50, Forreston 48.

Kankakee Supersectional - Chicago North Lawndale vs. Chicago International Charter School-Longwood.
I like the North Lawndale Phoenix, not because of another cool 'nick' but because they not only won a lot of games up North but they beat some good Class A teams down at the Breese Mater Dei Holiday Tournament.
Coach Lewis Thorpe has been waiting for a chance at Peoria with Hales Franciscan and Leo getting in the way in previous seasons.
Besides, the other school's name is just too darn long for the printed programs.
ABV Pick - North Lawndale 75, Chicago International Charter School-Longwood 57.

Normal Supersectional - Maroa-Forsyth vs. Cissna Park-Crescent Iroquois.
This M-F team has a good one in guard Austin Peebles.
A friend from up in Gibson City told me they are very quick.
Enough said.
ABV Pick - Maroa-Forsyth 62, Cissna Park-Crescent Iroquois 56.

Jacksonville Supersectional - Carlyle vs. Liberty.
The Indians will have to deal with the large presence of Justin Brock in the middle. But they have played against good big men this season and have still came out victorious. In what will likely be considered and upset, I am going with Clinton County in a game in which might see a few extra sessions to decide the winner.
ABV Pick - Carlyle 71, Liberty 69 in 2OT.

DeKalb Supersectional - Seneca vs. Winnebago.
This game on paper looks like the best super. Devan Bawinkel is a 6-foot-5 senior and three time Class A All-State selection. He is a first team All-State pick again and has signed to play D-I ball at West Virginia. Although he isn't from 'Cabin Creek' he does have offensive abilities that some would call Jerry West-like. He is averaging 24-points a game for the 28-2 Indians.
The Seneca Fighting Irish (31-0) are unbeaten, ranked number one in the state and led by 6-foot-2 senior Garrett Callahan who is also on that All-State list. Both of these teams were at Peoria last year and with an IHSA switch ended up in the same supersectional this season.
Both lost to Hales Franciscan last season. Both teams are capable of winning the title this season.
When in doubt, pick the D-I guy.
ABV Pick - Winnebago 52, Seneca 51.

Charleston Supersectional - Teutopolis vs. Nokomis.
This is a tough one to pick. T-Town is an 'in your face' man-to-man club while Nokomis causes problems with different zone looks.
Both coaches will have their teams prepared for this contest.
However as I have said in the past, familiarity with ones surroundings is a big factor in supersectional games and in this case I like the Wooden Shoes to do enough to win this close contest.
ABV Pick - Teutopolis 49, Nokomis 41.

Macomb Supersectional - Macomb vs. Riverton.
The Bombers are another team playing virtually at home. Although the super isn't played on their home floor, it might as well be. While Riverton boasts one of the top big men in the state in 6-foot-11 junior Michael Tisdale, who has signed with the University of Illinois, I like Macomb's chances here.
Six-foot-two senior Tyler VanVleet is one of the top players for coach Dan Watson.
Matt Buren is a 6-foot-6 sophomore that will have his hands full in the lane against Tisdale.
ABV Pick - Macomb 60, Riverton 56.

Carbondale Supersectional - Pinckneyville vs. Hamilton County.
The sentimental choice here would be Coach Reed's Foxes, who have won 14-games in a row and have captured the fancy of fans around the state.
But don't look for the Panthers to let Ham Co. hang around long. If they do, it could be another chapter in the Cinderella story.
However unlike the classic fairy tail, most Cinderella stories in sports end up with the clock striking midnight.
It is Pumpkin Time at SIU Arena.
ABV Pick - Pinckneyville 42, Hamilton County 29.