11/25/2024
BY JACK BULLOCK
CARBONDALE - The dominance of the South Egyptian Conference by Mounds Meridian in boy's basketball is almost scary to think about.

Other than a brief run by Cobden during the covid19 season in 2020-21, the Bobcats have owned this league.

I wouldn't bet that this trend will stop in 2024-25.

The Bobcats have a great deal of talent returning from last season's club that got to the 1A title game and another run north isn't out of the question.

Head coach Jake Parr enters his second season at Century and they have some talent that could have a chance at reaching 20-wins after winning 18 in 2023-24.

Elverado has a new head coach who people in southern Illinois sports will recognize his name.

Coach Aaron Wright, a long time official for the IHSA, will blow his whistle in practices now instead of games as he takes over the Falcons program and has some returning players ready to work.

Another basketball official will also coach in this conference with Coach Greg Harris taking on the job at Joppa-Maple Grove.

Coach John Dillard at Egyptian lost some kids to graduation and transfer but the Pharaohs have some kids back ready to compete.

Cobden and head coach Karl Sweitzer hope to continue improvement as they are digging their recently built gym.

Dongola lost one of its all-time leading scorers a season ago but Coach Russ Marsh is optimistic that the Demons will be ready to go when the season begins.

Coach Trey Pender has done a bang up job with Shawnee, his alma mater, in keeping the Redskins competitive.

Like most schools of this size, numbers are always a factor for turnout to fill uniforms.

Agape Christian and head coach Danny Stevens return four starters from last season and although they are not a full member of the IHSA, they compete in boy's basketball and play some private school tournaments.

As for 2024-25, look for the Bobcats to hang another South Egyptian Conference banner next spring.

It will be number 19 as they have won or shared 18 regular season championships.

Century head coach Jake Parr heads into his second season as the leader of the Centurions' program after exceeding most expectations as they completed their 2023-24 campaign with an impressive 18-13.

You would have to go back to 2003-04 to find the last time Century won 20-games but it wouldn't be out of the question for Century to reach that mark in 2024-25.

Landon Dunning and Chris Sharpe were the only seniors on the squad last winter so everyone else is back for a run to 20.

Five-nine senior point guard Samuel Perez returns for the Centurions.

He was a first team SEC pick as a junior.

Coach Parr will also have Caden Crain back, who is a 5-10 senior forward.

Jael Solomon, a 5-9 senior, is a guard for Century while 6-2 junior Adam Taake plays in the front court.

Six-one sophomore guard Landyn Walshon, 5-8 junior guard Bryce Windings, 6-3 junior Drew Dillow and a newcomer sophomore Tyler Windings.

All will have a shot at minutes for Coach Parr as they look for continued success.

“We are returning a lot of experience from a 18-13 team from the previous season. We have some guys who didn't play a lot last year who I am expecting to make an impact for this team this season,” said Coach Parr, an Anna-Jonesboro grad and standout. “We are an athletic group and quick group this year that has more of an understanding of each other and our program. I expect our four returning starters to take another jump this year and become leaders on an off the court.”

Just one starter returns for Coach Pender at Shawnee for the 2024-25 season so there will be some new kids that will have to mature to the varsity level for the Redskins.

Lost to graduation from the spring were seniors Brody Wills, Kayman Ford, Ryan Libbert and Ethan Smith.

That is a bunch of missing minutes from the club that ended up 11-18, 3-5 in the SEC last winter.

But this coach, who mentored the kids at the lower levels at this school, will get to see the fruits of his labor continues as the fresh faces appear in varsity action this season.
Six-foot senior Noah Mayberry is a returning starter, someone Coach Pender is looking for big things from.

Jackson Rendleman, a 5-8 senior, is also returning along with 5-9 junior Gabe Ellet and 6-3 sophomore Kyler Jewell.

Senior Isaac Wonnell, a 6-1 senior, returns to the team after a year hiatus and incoming freshman 6-2 Conner Wilson and 5-10 Brody Maeser all come into the program.

Sophomore 5-4 Terrence Freeman and and 6-0 freshmen Tyler McHughs along with 5-10 freshman Matthew White could earn playing time.

“I feel like this year could be a rebuilding year for us. That doesn't mean we won't be competitive, but I think people may see a different style of basketball from us that we haven't played before. We have been a more run-and-gun team for the last three years and defense may be our calling card this year,” said Coach Pender.

A familiar face for basketball fans has traded his striped shirt for a seat on the bench as Aaron Wright, a long-time sports official, takes the reigns of the Elverado Falcons' basketball program.

Coach Wright has some talent to work with and some depth for a change as the 2024-25 begins with their own Thanksgiving event.

One starter is back from the 2023-24 season which ended with a 14-17 overall mark, 5-3 in the SEC.

A loss to sectional finalist Waterloo Gibault at the Trico Regional.

Coach Wright has one starter returning, 6-0 senior Trenton Shirley.

But the others who are going to step up has this coach ready to get going.

Kamdyn Hodges, a 6-1 junior forward, is expected to start along with 5-10 sophomore Frankie Guerra

Five-nine junior guard Crow Creo will have backcourt company with 5-11 sophomore guard Hayden Sims .

Coach Wright mentioned a key transfer into the program that should help immediately.

Six-two junior Bo Owens comes in from Carbondale and will make an impact from the word 'go'.

According to Coach Wright, a young group of reserves will be equally important in the long haul.

Five-nine sophomore guard Caden Contes is part of the list along with a trio of freshmen; 5-8 guards Michael Clark and Josh Ruiz-Santiago, and 5-9 guard Isaiah Velasquez.

Especially early in the season depth is key component for the Falcons.

“We lost three all-SEC players to graduation so replacing experience will be the first challenge for us. We are young but have several kids that are working hard in the off-season. I'm trying to change the mind set of the kids that hard work pays off and we all have to buy into the system to be successful as a team,” said Coach Wright. “We just want to build our days and get better at something each night. There will be no excuses for not playing hard and putting in the effort to get better.”

Its been a rough go for the Dongola Demons' boy's basketball program in the most recent seasons.

With several different coaches the wins have been few and the losses a plenty.

But head coach Russ Marsh came back to the program last season and things took a turn for the better as the Demons managed to pick up a couple of wins, including a league win over Joppa-Maple Grove to avoid the SEC cellar.

Gone from that team were a pair of seniors; 6-8 forward Blake Herron, a four-year starter, and DJ Higgins, who was also a starter last season for Coach Russ Marsh.

The rest return as they try to turn things around.

One of the returning starters is Caleb Gaddis, a 5-11 sophomore who played a bunch as a freshman a year ago.

Coach Marsh thinks he can have a very good season after being second on the team in scoring last winter and was honorable mention SEC.

Six-one junior Dan Holderfield is the only player from his class to be part of the roster.

Coach Marsh said Holderfield is his most improved player as a sophomore.

Brian Neal, a 6-1 sophomore, should also be called upon for minutes.

Incoming freshman 5-9 Isaiah Liberman is a point guard and another freshman, 6-1 Ben Flores, is also listed as a potential starter.

Coming off of the bench will be important and Coach Marsh is looking at 6-0 sophomore Eyen Sheppard.

Six-one sophomore Jeff Reynolds, 6-0 freshman Tristan Riley, 5-6 freshman and 5-5 freshman Sebastian Turner could all find themselves in varsity games.

Coach Marsh lost one potential starter as 6-1 sophomore Noah Pollard was hurt playing football for Anna-Jonesboro and is lost for the year.

Jayzaun Massie, 6-1 sophomore, transferred in from Columbia (MO.) where he was an AAU player with no grade school or high school experience.

Coach Marsh expects him to be eligible before the first of the year.

“Our team is again, very young. We have no seniors. I am impressed with our speed and defense so far. Our team played this past summer in the Cape Girardeau (MO.) League. It gave us a lot of experience. We also played in the Benton Summer Shootout tournament. Our future looks bright. I am very excited to get the season going. We are still learning from our mistakes,” said Coach Marsh.

While many schools in southern Illinois and the South Egyptian Conference experienced a mast exodus of graduates from their basketball teams, the Cobden Appleknockers have a bunch of kids returning for head coach Karl Sweitzer in 2024-25.

Just a pair of seniors; Mitchell Howell and Jett Kuhn are gone from the 16-16 squad that hit the .500 mark exactly after a regional loss to Cairo in the first round of their own event.

Coach Sweitzer will look to a pair of returning starters and some others with experience.

Six-one senior Thomas Coleman was a starter last winter as was 5-8 junior Matthew Howell.

Five-ten junior James Eagle and 6-3 junior Kingston Kuhn have the most experience returning.

The fifth starting slot with have many suitors.

Gabe Haynes, a 5-11 junior, made the list from this coach heading into the preseason.

Also toss in the names Tommy Quertermous, a 6-0 junior, 6-2 junior Jansen Nance, and 5-11 senior Kohen Moore.

Five-eleven freshman Tyler Shoemate is on the radar.

With 13 upperclassmen in the program, we will be a more experienced team compared to the past two seasons. We return two starters and our top two bench players, while everyone else played significant time on JV. I am excited to see our returning players take on a larger role this season as our new rotation guys continue to develop while earning opportunities in the varsity games,” said Coach Sweitzer.

The Agape Christian Knights went 10-21 last season for head coach Dan Stevens but were good enough in the South Egyptian to end up 6-2.

Since they don't play in the IHSA postseason, their campaign ended with the end of the regular season.

Coach Stevens has a special place in the history of Illinois high school basketball.

Old timers will recall the great run by Ridgway to conquer the state in Class A back in 1972-73.

Stevens was a starter on that title team and was part of a 50-year celebration by in 2023.

He enters this season with four returning starters.

Senior Jacob Stearns, a 5-9 guard, returns for the Knights along with 5-11 Maddox Dillon, also a senior.

TJ Kukorola, a 5-11 senior, is another returning starter while 6-0 sophomore Justin Sesock is a player who started as a freshman last winter.

Sesock will miss 6-8 weeks to begin the campaign with a broken hand.

Coach Stevens has some others looking to step up.

Six-two sophomore Jeremiah Hoyle is one of the Knights ready to move up along with 5-5 junior guard Camden Reed.

Jonah Seals, a 6-0 junior, was also mentioned as one of the top players for Agape.

Others on the roster include seniors Preston Cannon and Pierce Kolb and sophomores Maxton Dillon and Jacob Miller.

The goals are clear for Joppa-Maple Grove Rangers' head coach Greg Harris.

Be prepared for games in February.

Harris takes over a program that had injuries and losses during a 0-8, 6-22 season that ended with a first round regional loss to Hardin County, 90-33.

Seven seniors were on the roster last winter, with the most notable being Jacob Smith, the Rangers' top scorer.

Coach Harris, who is another sports official changing gears, has some kids back for this season, including one who missed all of last season with an injury.

Five-ten senior AJ Lyle and 5-11 senior Brandon Pease are back for Joppa-Maple Grove.

Marcus Stallings, a 6-2 senior, missed most of last season on the DL.

Coach Harris added the names Braiden Hooks, a 6-0 senior, to the list along with 5-9 freshman Braden Ford.

Two other freshmen; 5-10 Theron Tanner Freshman and 5-9 Ryan Dalton are part of the plan.

Aiden Messer is a 6-2 sophomore who transferred in from nearby Massac County.
“We're playing teams that will helps us compete in February. Our goals are to get better everyday, finish in the top half of the conference and be playing well by postseason,” said Coach Harris. “The SEC is owned by Meridian and it'd be a battle for second in the conference.”