St. Anthony sectional features three state-ranked teams
Host Bulldogs, Tuscola, Macon Meridian vie for trip to SIU; South Central crashes the party

Carbondale Class 1A Super-Sectional
Effingham St. Anthony 1A Sectional
Tuscola (26-6) vs. Effingham St. Anthony (21-12)
For the Tuscola Warriors their quest for a short trip to Champaign for the state finals will take a very scenic road trip.

It will take two trips to Effingham (wins) and a long journey (175 miles one way) to SIU Arena for the Carbondale 1A Super-Sectional

The Warriors success will hinge on the continued stellar play of Jalen Quinn, a 6-4 senior guard, who leads the Warriors in all of the categories.

The Loyola of Chicago committed left-hander is the Tuscola all-time leading scorer and hit a career high 45-points in a 2OT loss to Central Illinois Conference rival Macon Meridian.

The two rivals have split a pair of games this season, each on the other team's home floor.

If both win their sectional semifinals they would meet for the third time.

Quinn padded the resume in the Warriors' 56-33 win over host Arcola to win the regional title with 32-points.

Leading 24-15 at halftime on the Purple Riders' home floor, the Warriors' 'floored it' in the second half outscoring the hosts, 32-18 to win going away.

Quinn has teammate help from 6-4 senior Preston Brown, 5-9 sophomore guard Josiah Hortin, 6-0 junior Colton Musgrave, 6-3 senior Haven Hatfield and 6-2 sophomore Jordan Quinn.

Head coach Justin Bozarth has his club playing well in the postseason.

The Warriors' losses have come against Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg, Macon Meridian, Okaw Valley, Cerro-Gordo/Bement, 2A state ranked Monticello and Indiana state ranked Gary (IN.) 21st Century.

Tuscola now owns 18 regional championships after the Friday night win and are one of four programs (Trico, Carlyle and Watseka) who dropped from 2A to 1A in boy's basketball during the current enrollment setup in the IHSA.

It's no real surprise that Effingham St. Anthony made it to their own sectional as Coach Cody Rincker knows how to get his teams ready for the state tournament.

His Bulldogs don't have the prettiest of won-loss record but they, as per usual, battle some of the best teams in Southern and Central Illinois each year.

They once again ran the table (8-0) in the very tough National Trail Conference this winter and they're on a seven-game win streak after taking care of Carlyle on Friday night

Craig Croy, a 6-3 senior forward, paced the Bulldogs in the 58-46 win at the Patoka Regional with 23-points.

Six-four senior Kyle Stewart has also been a major factor for the 21-12 club along with Griffin Sehy, a 6-3 junior.

Six-one freshman Brock Fearday, 5-10 junior Eli Levitt, 5-10 senior Colton Fearday, and 5-10 sophomore 5-10 Adam Rudibaugh have all had a hand in the success of this battle tested squad.

Macon Meridian (25-7) vs. South Central (26-7)
Speaking of brutal schedules, the Hawks and head coach Shannon Houser went through a gauntlet of tough games in 2021-22.

They had some key wins and some difficult losses.

But here they are in the sectional after taking care of another NTC team in the regional final at Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg Friday night.

Macon Meridian, behind 6-0 senior guard Graham Meisenhelter and his game-best 32-points, beat Neoga, 73-67 to improve to 26-7 on the season.

Neoga had upset the host Hatchets in the regional semifinals.

Meisenhelter missed the first half of the season for the Hawks due to a football injury, which kept him from likely becoming the school's all-time leading scorer.

His brother 5-11 senior Grant Meisenhelter added 13-points in the Friday night win and was one of the many who helped pick up the slack while Graham was on the mend.

Six-one senior Mekhi Phillips also pitched in 13-points in the Neoga game.

Coach Houser has also gotten strong play from 6-0 senior guard Riley Day and 6-5 senior center Andrew Hurelbrink

Brett Brown, a 6-5 junior, 6-2 senior Michael Ripple and 6-6 center Roy Ralston provide depth to a solid reserve unit.

The South Central Cougars for head coach Blake Doehring are one of this year's 'party crashers'.

This club was part of that strong NTC contingent in the postseason and they took care of 20-win teams Cisne (47-44) and top-seeded Altamont (56-50) to nab the Dieterich Regional championship last Friday.

The Cougars program is no stranger to postseason success as they won the 2020-21 1A state baseball title.

So winning isn't anything new to the Cougars.

Aiden Dodson, a 5-9 junior guard, came up big for South Central in the regional title game, scoring 29-points, including 7-of-10 from the foul line as his team ended the season for state-ranked Altamont.

Keenin Willshire, a 6-3 senior, and 5-9 senior Spencer Johannes have also been important for the Cougars who won the consolation title at the NTC tournament and have won 8-of-9 games heading into the sectional.

Senior London Hails and junior Ethan Watwood are part of the Cougars' lineup along with 5-9 junior Anthony Buonaura, and 5-9 senior Brandt Hiestand that were one of seven NTC teams who finished with winning regular season records.

This is the ninth regional championship for the school, which began in 1989-90 as a consolidation of Farina-LaGrove and Kinmundy-Alma school districts.
Carbondale Class 1A Super-Sectional
Okawville 1A Sectional
Steeleville (26-6) vs. Goreville (24-9)
For Steeleville and head coach Aaron Fiene the journey to the regional championship is a culmination of a two-year plan that saw the Warriors go undefeated (15-0) in the Covid19 season and are sitting with their first regional title since 2013.

A mix of seniors and juniors have had a successful run and this program is hoping for three more wins to reach the state finals in Champaign-Urbana.

Zach Mevert, a 6-0 senior, has been a four-year varsity play for Coach Fiene.

Reid Harriss, a 6-4 junior, provides some needed size to the lineup while Carter Wasson, a 6-0 junior, has become a defensive stopper for the Cahokia Conference Kaskaskia Division champs.

The backcourt is one of the top ones in the South in 1A with 6-0 junior Jacoby Gross and 5-10 senior Lane Lazenby to go along with Mevert.

Six-two junior Evan Buch comes off of the bench for important minutes.

Gross scored 18 and Mevert 16 in Steeleville's 56-38 win over Edwards County to cop the Woodlawn 1A Regional championship on Saturday.

All six of the Warriors defeats have come against larger schools, including twice to state-ranked and regional champs Murphysboro.

They are 20-0 versus 1A teams, including wins over regional champ Waterloo Gibault and 21-win Mounds Meridian.

NCOE (18-12) vs. Christopher (23-8)
The Norris City-Omaha-Enfield Fighting Cardinals won their first regional title since 1992 with a 40-38 triumph over Greater Egyptian Conference rival Carrier Mills-Stonefort at the Gallatin County Regional.

Head coach Jordan Johnson's club beat the teams they needed to beat to get to the Okawville Sectional, having taken down Hardin County 34-33 in the semifinals, a team that they had lost to three previous times during the season.

Six-three junior Joel Hortin scored 14-points and 6-1 junior Preston Long added 10 for the Cardinals while 5-10 junior Cord Tucker posted eight-points in the low scoring win.

NCOE is on a five-game winning streak heading into the sectional.

Christopher had an 'up and down' season in 2021-22 but the Bearcats were 'sky-high' on Friday night as they played a complete game in demolishing Franklin County rival Sesser-Valier, 52-20 to win the Elverado Regional.

Head coach Eric Stallman got his 'Cats 'purring' at the right time.

After losing four-straight BDC West games to fall out of the league race, Christopher has won four-consecutive games heading to the sectional.

Six-five senior Peyton Mazur has paced the club for most of the season inside and 6-2 junior Scout Hudgens came up big in the regional title win over the Red Devils.

Guard play is key and Coach Stallman has senior 5-9 senior Colin Sveda, 5-11 senior Mason Goins and 6-0 junior Trey Cole in the mix along with 5-10 junior Brett Janello.

Cole Freeman, a a 6-0 senior, is also an important part for the Bearcats who face an NCOE team they are familiar with.

The Bearcats topped the Fighting Cardinals, 49-29 in the second game of the season at the annual Christopher Turkey Tournament.
Carbondale Class 2A Super-Sectional
Carterville Sectional
Breese Central (28-5) vs. Massac County (21-11)
The Breese Central Cougars, this season has also been a journey like that of Cahokia Conference member Steeleville.

Head coach Jeremy Shubert saw his club go unbeaten during the Covid19 season (15-0) but without postseason hardware to show off.

However on Saturday they got to pose with the regional title from the Wesclin 2A Regional after besting crosstown rival Mater Dei, 46-30.

Defensively the Cougars threw a blanket on the Knights as they never trailed to improve to 28-5 overall.

Despite losing games to Mater Dei (32-25) and Columbia (55-52) in back-to-back games in February, those are the only two defeats since Christmas as they are 16-2 in that stretch.

Brady Moore, a 6-4 season, has averaged in the 16 point range for the season to lead the Cougars offense.

Cody Dickshot, a 5-10 junior guard, 6-4 senior Luke Strubhart, 6-2 sophomore Mason Shubert and 5-10 senior Dalton Boruff all average right around seven-points a night for Breese Central.

Strubhart, Shubert and Dickshot all hit for double-digits in the Mater Dei win.

The Cougars other losses were to 3A teams Herrin and Highland along with Briarcrest (TN.) at the Mater Dei Holiday Tournament.

Head coach Joe Hosman brings his Massac County team into the Carterville Sectional after having staggered their way into the postseason.

The Patriots lost four-consecutive games in the last two weeks of the regular season, finally righting the ship with a season ending win at West Frankfort for Coach Hosman's 800th career victory.

However Massac County put things together in beating Eldorado and Hamilton County to win the Eldorado Regional.

Coach Hosman is led in scoring by his son, 6-0 sophomore Isaac Hosman, who is averaging nearly 18 points a night.

Five-eleven junior guard Brody Smallwood is also an important cog in the wheel for the Patriots as their backcourt needs to keep it going.

Smallwood (20) and Hosman (16) paced the Pats in their 63-48 win over Hamilton County.

Six-four junior Brady Cissell, 5-11 sophomore Will Harmon and 6-0 senior Reed McCuan have also given Coach Hosman some contributions this postseason along with 6-4 junior Ian Higgerson and 6-3 senior Matt Bremer.

The Patriots have a win over Murphysboro this season having split a pair of games with the Red Devils while they also lost three games to Herrin and a couple of out-of-state powerhouse programs Marshall County (KY.) and Charleston (MO.).

Massac County is the only one of the four teams that hasn't been state-ranked this season.

Nashville (25-4) vs. Murphysboro (28-2)
The Hornets and first year head coach Patrick Weathers went through a brief lull in their season, sort of a hiccup, as they lost consecutive games to Breese Mater Dei and Breese Central at their own Nashville Invitational Tournament.

Prior to the two tournament defeats, Nashville had won 16-straight and since have ran off seven-straight victories, including a 51-42 overtime victory over rival Pinckneyville to take home the DuQuoin Regional championship on Friday night.

The starting unit is probably the best in the South with size, athletic ability and experience in big games.

Isaac Turner, a 6-3 senior guard, is one of the team leaders for the Hornets.

Also in the backcourt is 5-11 senior Nolan Heggemeier.

Saxton Hoepker, a 6-7 senior forward, is one of the many good athletes who can do many things.

In that same category is 6-5 senior Kolten Gajewski and 6-3 guard Carter Schoenherr.

Turner came up large on Friday night in the Pinckneyville win with 28-points, including nine-points in the overtime as he was also 10-of-14 from the foul line.

Hoepker added 10 as the Hornets nabbed their programs' 22nd regional title.

Head coach Daryl Murphy and his Red Devils come into the sectional on an eight-game winning streak since losing at Massac County 54-50 on January 28.

Murphysboro's other defeat was in the semifinals of the Pinckneyville “Duster Thomas Classic” to the host Panthers.

Wins include Herrin (twice), Massac County, 1A Steeleville (twice), Freeburg, Harrisburg (three times), Mounds Meridian and Mount Carmel.

Massac, Steeleville and Mount Carmel are still alive in the postseason.

Calvon Clemons, a 5-7 senior guard, has been a four-year starter for Coach Murphy and he makes the team go.

AJ Walker, a 6-5 junior, provides size and athletic ability in the lane.

Sophomore guard Karmelo Abernathy, senior Carmello Davis and senior Tyreek Feggins are all guards and can all make plays.

Clemons topped the Red Devils on Friday night with 15-points in their 46-36 triumph over Carterville to win the West Frankfort Regional title.

Abernathy added 12 and Walker 11 as Murphysboro is technically the defending sectional champ having won the Hamilton County Sectional back in March of 2020.
Carbondale Class 2A Super-Sectional
Flora Sectional
Pana (29-3) vs. Mount Carmel (22-9)
The Panthers have a sparkling record but the losses are sort of a mystery, having dropped games to 1A teams Altamont and Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg and 3A Mattoon.

The two 1A defeats were to 20-win clubs but they probably should have been victories.

However they have some quality wins, also, with a pair of triumphs over 1A Macon Meridian, 2A Flora, 3A Taylorville and 2A perennial power St. Joseph-Ogden.

Coach Adam Metzger and his club made quick work of Litchfield in the regional semifinals before ousting Salem, 50-38 to win their own Pana Regional title last Friday.

Five-ten senior Brenden Schoonover cashed in 18-points on Friday night to lead the Panthers to the win over the Wildcats while 6-3 junior Devon Peebles added 10.

Two other Pana players; 5-11 senior Colin Schmitz and 6-4 senior Kyle Kuhn, added eight-points apiece in the win.

Six-four senior Drew Hackler is the other Panthers' starter while Coach Metzger has some help off the bench from 5-11 junior Max Lynch, 6-2 senior Evan Hudlin, 5-11 junior Ace Armstrong, 6-0 junior Joel Deere and 6-2 junior Brant Bowker.

Mount Carmel has been really good and really average this season for Coach Tyler Buss.

The Golden Aces have really good wins (Newton, 3A Jerseyville, Robinson, Evansville (IN.) Wood Memorial) and some not so pretty losses (1A Cisne, 1A Casey-Westfield (2)) along with two defeats to 27-1 Richland County.

However Coach Buss and his club put in a good week in winning the Robinson Regional with victories over Flora (46-37) and Fairfield (55-42) to win the programs' 25th boy's regional championship.

Much of the credit for the Friday night win comes from 6-0 junior guard Gage Kennard.

Kennard went wild on the Mules as he scorched Fairfield with 33-points, which included six 3-pointers and 9-of-9 from the foul line.

Blaine Sisson, a 6-3 sophomore standout, came up with 12-points while Coach Buss got points from senior Noah Martin, junior Gavin Smith, sophomore Andrew Gillihan, and senior Zach Allen.

 Teutopolis (24-7) vs. Alton Marquette (19-12)
Playing a difficult schedule and still winning 20-games a year is a habit that the Wooden Shoes have had for decades now.

Head coach Chet Reeder fashions an independent schedule that tests and toughens his club each year and gets them ready for the postseason.

Each season the Wooden Shoes are vying for regional championships and 2021-22 was no different.

On Friday night Teutopolis won the rubber game of their three games with Newton, beating the Eagles 48-45 to snag the Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond 2A Regional title.

The victory added the 35th regional championship to the trophy case in the eastern part of Effingham County.

Six-foot senior Brendan Niebrugge led the way with 14-points for the Shoes, who are riding a nine-game win streak into the sectional.

Six-one senior Dylan Pruemer added 10-points to the win on Friday while 6-5 junior center Caleb Siemer added nine.

Mitch Althoff, a 6-2 senior, and 5-10 senior Max Niebrugge are the other starters for Teutopolis.

The losses this season have come against good stock.

Breese Central, Peoria Christian, Newton, Warrensburg-Latham, 3A Centralia, 3A Mount Zion and Breese Mater Dei.

They have seven wins over 3A teams, they topped state-ranked and regional champ Monticello and also hold a pair of victories over rival St. Anthony.

They have another win over a regional champ, Bloomington Central Catholic.

Alton Marquette also plays a tough schedule and head coach Steve Medford and his program lives for the postseason.

The Explorers will need a win on Tuesday night to secure another 20-win campaign for this mentor and program.

Discounting the Covid19 7-7 season, Coach Medford has nine 20-plus win seasons in the previous ten.

Of the schools' 12 regional championships in boy's basketball, Medford coached nine of them, including the win over host Greenville to take home the Greenville Regional title, 55-24.

Unlike some of his other teams, Marquette went through some tough times this season, including a five-game losing streak.

Five-eight junior guard Parker Macias scored 18-points in the Greenville win to pace the Explorers while 6-2 guard Kendall Lavender added 14.

Six-foot senior Owen Williams added 13 as Alton Marquette put the game away with a 25-8 third quarter for a 47-21 lead.

Six-one sophomore Braden Kline, 5-10 junior Dre Davis and 6-0 junior Brody Hendricks play significant roles.