ABV FINAL REGULAR SEASON RANKINGS - FEBRUARY 13, 2012
As ABV has done in the past, these are the final regular season rankings. The postseason will prove if ABV was right or not. ABV still believes Breese Central and Mounds Meridian are going to get to Carver Arena. It will be Olney and Woodlawn waiting on them at SIU Arena. There will be some interesting matchups and a lot of work for those four to get to Carbondale on March 6. The past two seasons, ABV has picked the winners of each of the southern Illinois supers in the ABV Preseason Rankings. In 2009-10 it was Sesser-Valier and Breese Central. In 2010-11 it was Woodlanw and Murphysboro. This season the picks were Meridian and Breese Central. Both of those teams have given no reason to doubt now.
Carbondale Supersectional Area "Top Ten" Class 1A Rankings
1. MERIDIAN (22-2)
Coach Mandrell's team, as ABV has said all along, are the Peoria favorites. If Meridian makes free throws in the postseason, they will cut down the nets at Carver Arena.
2. WOODLAWN (21-5)
The Cardinals are likely to be the ones waiting on Meridian at SIU. Coach Witzel's program knows how to get to the supersectional, having been there three times in four years.
3. ST. ELMO (19-7)
After a loss to Madison, the Eagles should now focus on their conference rivals at the Altamont Regional. Coach Feezel would love another crack at Woodlawn at Red Hill.
4. DIETERICH (21-5)
The Movin Maroons topped short-handed Flora last week and will be a favorite at the Stew-Stas Regional. If Dieterich shoots it well, they could make it to SIU also.
5. GOREVILLE (18-7)
Coach Tripp has the Blackcats playing well at the right time of year. Wins over Sesser-Valier and Trico late in the season has all but sewn up the BDC West Division title.
6. SESSER-VALIER (17-9)
Dropped a game at Goreville last week shorthanded. The Red Devils need to be healthy enough when they arrive at the Gallatin County Sectional. They are heavy favorites at the Steeleville Regional.
7. CRAB ORCHARD (24-2)
The Trojans added wins over Carrier Mills and NCOE last week and are poised to challenge Goreville at home. Coach Brown has the scorers to make it back-to-back sectionals
8. GALLATIN COUNTY (15-8)
They're the favorites at the NCOE Regional and, if they make it back to the sectional, it will be on their own floor. Coach Patton would love to get another chance at Meridian at home.
9. EGYPTIAN (20-6)
The Pharaohs must beat both Cairo and Meridian to get to the program's first sectional since 2002. Coach Mandrell's club will need to step up the defense to get to Gallatin County.
10. HUTSONVILLE-PALESTINE (18-8)
The Tigers host a regional that is very winnable. Coach Travis Titsworth have played a tough enough schedule to get them ready for a possible Red Hill Sectional berth.
HONORABLE MENTION (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)
Altamont, Cairo, Carrier Mills, Christ Our Rock Lutheran, Cisne, Cowden-Herrick, Dongola, Hardin County, Oblong, Neoga, Sandoval, South Central, Stewardson-Strasburg, Waltonville and Wayne City.
Carbondale Supersectional Area "Top Ten" Class 2A Rankings
1. BREESE CENTRAL (26-1)
The Cougars drilled both Wesclin and BMD last week. Coach Eagleson's club is the ABV favorite to get back to Peoria. The Vandalia Sectional will be very tough.
2. OLNEY EAST RICHLAND (22-4)
The Apollo Conference wars will pay off once the games really count in Feb and March. Coach Flannigan will have the Tigers purring at the right time.
3. MARQUETTE CATHOLIC (26-2)
A big win over Pana last weekend should help the psyche. Coach Medford wants to get to the Vandalia Sectional for a chance at BC.
4. FLORA (23-3)
Dropped a close game to Dieterich last week without Knapp and Burgess. Coach Leib has his club part of a tough Fairfield Regional coming up soon.
5. HARRISBURG (23-5)
Topped rival Massac County but came up short in the marquee matchup at the Benton Shootout vs. Teutopolis. The Bulldogs need to take it up a notch in the postseason.
6. NEWTON (21-4)
Just like Olney, the Apollo games will make Coach Mammoser's club postseason ready. The Eagles will need a big effort at Fairfield to get to the Eldorado Sectional.
7. PANA (20-4)
The Panthers have had chances in both games against Marquette. Carlyle will be a stern test in the regional finale should both clubs excel next week. Unexpected Greeville loss doesn't help.
8. PINCKNEYVILLE (22-4)
The Panthers took care of SIRR Miss biz last week in beating Nashville and DQ. Coach Waggoner has done a fine job getting this team in postseason position.
9. CARLYLE (21-7)
The Tribe topped Columbia and Lebanon last week and are poised for a regional that features no one from their county. This may have never happened before.
10. WINCHESTER WEST CENTRAL (24-3)
The Cougars are the top seed at the White Hall-North Greene Regional that will feed to Vandalia. Last year's 1A runner-up moved up to 2A this year and gets some props here.
HONORABLE MENTION (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)
Anna-Jonesboro, Benton, Breese Mater Dei, Chester, Columbia, Fairfield, Greenville, Massac County, Murphysboro, Nashville, North Mac, Red Bud, Roxana, Trico, and Vandalia.