04-09-18
BY JACK BULLOCK
CARTERVILLE – If you have
all of your taxes done and have an itch for some high school
basketball action this coming weekend, at John A. Logan College
in Carterville you can have another look at some of the top
senior basketball players in an All-Star Game.
Wendell
Wheeler's 31st annual event will showcase some of the top players
from this past 2017-18 season as they will suit up Sunday afternoon,
April 15, at 1:15 pm.
The
two squads were split up by the head coaches of the event; Pinckneyville's
Bob Waggoner and Okawville's Jon Kraus.
Unlike
some other all-star events, the teams were limited to 12-player
rosters which will help showcase more quality play.
Coach
Waggoner is coming off of an impressive run to Peoria in Class
2A while Coach Kraus piloted his Rockets to the 1A state title
back on March 10.
Both
teams will feature key players from those Panthers' and Rockets'
clubs that brought home hardware from Peoria.
J.C.
Moll and Grant Jausel, the ABV “Co-Players of the Year”
will be on Team Waggoner while 6-foot-7 Luke Hensler and guard
Payten Harre will help lead Team Kraus.
Coach
Waggoner will also have the services of a pair of1A Mounds Meridian
standouts; Darnell Lowe and Ja'Quan Jones.
The
Black Diamond Conference has five players listed for the event.
Braden
Webb, the 1A ABV “POY” is listed but he is nursing
a knee injury and his availablity is questionable for Team Kraus.
Sesser-Valier
senior guard Lukas Gunter, Christopher guard Jared Curry, Eldorado
forward Braden Attebury are representing Team Kraus.
Travis
Black of Carmi-White County and Jacob Traxler of Eldorado will
be part of Team Waggoner.
Southern
Illinois River-to-River Conference players, besides Moll and
Jausel, include Cade Thomas of Benton and Isaiah Thompson of
Massac County of Team Waggoner.
Three
members of the Murphysboro Red Devils are on Team Kraus; Rowdy
Loyd, Jaron Gaston and Jeremy House.
Isaiah
Saulberry of Harrisburg and Anna-Jonesboro's Jake Parr are also
part of Team Kraus from the SIRR.
Large
school South Seven Conference players include Carbondale's Kani
Acree and Marion's Justin Saddoris for Team Waggoner while Carbondale's
Darius Beane will be part of Team Kraus.
Tolono
Unity is a bit far north for southern Illinois but there are
family ties to this event.
J.T.
Wheeler will be part of event for Team Waggoner.
He
is the son of former Christopher and University of Illinois
standout T.J. Wheeler.
The
setup of the event will feature a team photo shoot before the
game itself.
There
will be a 3-point shootout and a slam dunk contest before the
game also.
The
game will be timed with a 21 minute first half with breaks at
the 14 and seven minute marks.
The
second half will be 20 minutes with a break at 15 and 10.
MVP
Awards will given out following the contest.
Admission
is $5.00 at the door.
Complete
Rosters are listed at the bottom of the page. |
