03-05-07
BY JACK BULLOCK
The great horse race known around the state as “March Madness” has reached the stretch in Class A.
The many mentors left have gone to the whip (figuratively) and are bringing their colts toward the finish line.
There is a story behind all of the remaining entrants in the three ABV Area Supersectionals.
One thing is for certain – only three of these talented squads will reach Peoria. The other three will see their dream seasons end on Tuesday night.
At the Carbondale Supersectional the Nashville Hornets have been the pace setter in the 2006-07 race to the River City.
Led by Lucas O'Rear and an underrated supporting cast – Nashville head coach Darin Lee is trying to wire the Deep Southern Illinois field with just one close-horse left to hold off.
The Mount Carmel Golden Aces have been looking forward to Tuesday night's matchup for some time now. More than 50 years to be precise.
This school has never played in a Supersectional as the previous success on the hardwood came way before the state tournament went to the super format.
In fact last Tuesday's win over West Frankfort was the Aces first in a sectional since 1954.
The Teutopolis Wooden Shoes just simply won't let head coach Ken Crawford retire.
T-Town has kept Crawford working the past two weeks with the usual stingy defense and clutch shooting.
While some teams have skated their way to the “Sweet 16” these 'Shoes have had a tough go of it – winning the last three postseason games by a total of 10 points.
They survived a pair of last second shots by Newton and St. Anthony (both misses) and an overtime affair against Vandalia.
Central A&M is the unknown factor of the six teams simply because they have 14 losses against a demanding Okaw Valley Conference schedule. Five schools from that league won regionals and three of them (Central A&M, Monticello, Maroa-Forsyth) are gearing up for Supersectional play.
Coach Danny Himes has the Raiders playing well without question as they pounded two opponents at the Carlinville Sectional.
It was 'old-home' week at the Dupo Sectional for head coach Stan Eagleson and his his Breese Central Cougars.
They topped Madison for the third-straight time that the Trojans and Cougars have met in a sectional semifinal.
BC then brought down Clinton County rival Trenton-Wesclin for the fourth time this season to advance to that long trip north to the Jacksonville Supersectional.
Eagleson is 3-0 in supers and he will face a new foe in Mt. Sterling-Brown County and All-State candidate Josh Babb.
These Hornets overcame a poor start to the season to put together a long winning streak and now the schools' second appearance in a boy's basketball Supersectional.
They were ousted in their only other super back in 2003 by Auburn. Central won a Supersectional that season and with an IHSA change the Hornets now head south.
Here is a quick look at the Deep Three.
Carbondale Class A Supersectionals
Nashville (32-0) vs.
Mt. Carmel (22-10)
These Hornets opened the season with some question marks but have ran the table on everyone they have played.
Taking down a good Pinckneyville team is difficult to do once but Coach Lee's club put the Panthers down three times – most recently in the Herrin Sectional final 52-43.
While Lucas O'Rear – the ABV Carbondale Supersectional 'Player of the Year' - has gotten most of the ink his teammates have stepped up in key games this year.
Blanketing the 6-foot-7 O'Rear on the defensive end has done little more than keep this one warm. His teammates have taken the opportunity to make opponents pay through the nose. Brandon Reckmann and Ryan Keller took down Pinckneyville on Friday night while the rest of the Hornets have all had a hand in this 32-game win streak.
If Mount Carmel is going to have a shot at topping Nashville at Carbondale on Tuesday – point guard Jensen Dardeen is going to have to continue his outstanding postseason play.
This 5-foot-8 junior had a 27 point night against West Frankfort last Tuesday at the Hamilton County Sectional and his 13 points in the first half of his teams' 51-50 win over Vienna kept the Aces in the game.
Steven Alka – a 6-foot-1 senior and ABV First Team Carbondale Super pick – didn't score a point in the Aces' West Frankfort win but responded with 19 Friday night.
Jacob Deisher – a 6-foot-4 junior swingman – hit the game-winner Friday night against Vienna.
Everyone wearing Maroon and Gold will need to play the game of their lives against the top-ranked Hornets.
OUTLOOK – Nashville and Coach Lee are 4-0 at SIU Arena in Class A Supersectional. Behind O'Rear the Hornets have yet to show any signs of overconfidence or nervousness. I don't expect that to happen Tuesday night.
Justin Lewis – Mount Carmel's 6-foot-7 senior center – will be the most important player on the floor for Coach Ryan Haywood. If he can somehow contain O'Rear and allow his teammates to be able to play straight up against the other Nashville four – the Aces will have a shot.
If a gimmick defense is used – look for the Hornets to exploit this folly with outside shooting and drives to the basket by Reckmann and Matt Engele. Foul trouble on Friday night kept Nashville's Tommy Pelczynski off the floor most of the evening. I don't see that happening on Tuesday night and this sharpshooter will be yet another weapon at Coach Lee's disposal.
This group of Hornets – especially O'Rear – have been aiming at Peoria since they lost to Hales Franciscan back in 2005. They will be able to finish that mission after a win at SIU Arena.
ABV Projection – Nashville 61, Mount Carmel 49.
Charleston Class A Supersectional
Moweaqua Central A&M (18-14) vs.
Teutopolis (29-2)
The surprise team in the Class A state tournament this season has been the Raiders.
Having survived the OVC wars – Coach Himes has his club playing its best ball of the season.
No other team in the state won its sectional as convincingly as did Central A&M.
Topping Raymond-Lincolnwood and Nokomis by a combined 137-86 score – the Raiders are primed to pull another upset with a win over the Wooden Shoes.
Six-foot-five senior Ben Stringer is one of the leaders for the Raiders as is 5-foot-11 junior Tobias Bond.
Bond helped Central A&M crush Nokomis in the sectional final after building a big halftime lead and then going on a 12-0 run to put the game out of reach.
Tanner Sloan – a 6-foot senior guard – and 5-foot-11 sophomore Bryce Hogan chipped in points in the sectional final victory.
All four hit for double-figures in the Nokomis triumph and their balance will pose problems for Teutopolis.
The Wooden Shoes have gotten by without many minutes from their bench.
But Coach Crawford knows his team and what it is capable of.
He is one win away from his sixth “Elite Eight” appearance.
Jason Runde is another All-State candidate along with having a spot on the ABV First Team.
Rich Borries – a 6-foot-5 senior – came up huge with 12 points and 15 rebounds in the Wooden Shoes' 48-46 win over St. Anthony.
Wade Koester – the Shoes' 6-foot-3 well-rounded guard/forward – hit the game winning shot with :2.7 remaining to put T-Town in Supersectional title position.
OUTLOOK – A much as the Cinderella story gets tossed about each March – it only adds fuel to the teams that get sick of hearing about it. Teutopolis has a lot of emotions going for them with this being Crawford's “swan-song” and wanting to get back to Peoria where they were just a few minutes away from reaching the semifinals last season.
Central A&M has had a memorable postseason but it is time to close the book – or if you prefer eject the DVD.
ABV Projection – Teutopolis 56, Central A&M 47.
Jacksonville Class A Supersectional
Breese Central (22-10) vs.
Mt. Sterling- Brown Co.
(25-6)
Coach Stan Eagleson and his Central Cougars have worn out a path to Peoria from Clinton County in the past few seasons.
Whether it is Charleston or SIU-Edwardsville or now Jacksonville – Eagleson doesn't need Mapquest to chart a course on how to get up north.
Through tough defense and a difficult regular season schedule – the Cougars gear up in February and March for this mentor who is 383-218 in his 22nd year at Central.
Alex Reilman and Greg Schulte have hit some big shots this season for the Cougars and when you play the sort of schedule that these Purple clad warriors play – it equates good results late in the season.
The 6-foot senior guard Reilman earned ABV First Team honors this season while at 6-foot-6 Schulte added size that is a priority when tackling physical teams in the Cahokia Conference.
Both average around 14 points a night. Schulte tops the club with nearly seven rebounds a game.
Help comes from some seniors – 6-foot John Book averages 5.2 p.p.g. while 5-foot-11 junior Galen Gaffner chips in 7.9 p.p.g.
Nick Fischer is a 6-foot-1 junior who is in the five points per contest range.
Mount Sterling-Brown County have been at this part of the Class A bracket before – losing to Auburn in 2003.
But this season the Hornets have the skills to make it one step further.
Josh Babb – another ABV pick for the first team – is a 6-foot-4 senior forward who is just under 20 points per game while grabbing about eight rebounds per contest.
Babb put 26 points on Liberty Friday night in the title game at the White Hall-North Greene Sectional last Friday night as the Hornets won, 51-44.
Brian McNeff is a 6-foot-3 senior that adds some scoring punch to the Brown County squad while 6-foot-3 Nick Reynolds provides more size to an already big lineup.
OUTLOOK – Never underestimate the quality of basketball played in Clinton County. Boys or Girls – it doesn't matter – the talent pool is deep.
Coach Eagleson has been to Peoria three times without getting a win. This might be the year that they get to the final day.
Brown County has played some of the best teams in that Western Illinois area but I doubt they have come up against any team as solid and as physical as the Cougars.
Although I think this will be close – I like Breese Central.
ABV Projection – Breese Central 42, Brown County 39.

There are five other Supersectional's being played Tuesday night with several ranked teams involved.
Here is an ABV stab at projecting the 2007 “Elite Eight.”

Normal ISU Supersectional
Maroa-Forsyth (29-1) vs. St. Joseph-Ogden (23-5)
Look for Robert Kreps to get at least his scoring average (25.7 p.p.g.) in this one - getting his Trojans back to Peoria.
ABV Projection - Maroa-Forsyth 66, St. Joseph-Ogden 49.
Macomb (WIU) Supersectional
Farmington (29-1) vs. Monticello (26-4)
Another coach that knows the way to Peoria is Farmington head coach Tom Wierzba.
No team in the state will make a further trip to a Super than Monticello.
If the Sages can handle the road trip – Monticello could reach the “Elite Eight.”
But I like the Farmers in a nail-biting, knuckle-whitening, barn-burning, hair-graying, history-making contest.
ABV Projection – Farmington 71, Monticello 69 3OT.
Kankakee (Olivette Nazarene U.) Supersectional
St. Anne (22-5) vs. Chicago North Lawndale (22-9)
I don't know much about St. Anne other than Jack Sikma went to high school there back in 1973.
However I'm sure Chicago North Lawndale is itching to get back to Peoria after last season's quick exit.
ABV Projection – North Lawndale 85, St. Anne 72.
DeKalb (NIU) Supersectional
Byron (29-1) vs. Putnam County (29-3)
Granville Putnam County put defending champion Seneca out of the tournament and ABV doesn't see anyone or anything stopping the Panthers from making it down to Peoria. Six-foot-eight senior Carlton Fay is a SIU signee and some Salukis' fans will get a look at him Friday night at Carver Arena.
All I know about Byron is that they have a 6-foot-7 guard, a 6-foot-4 center and are stingy defensively. That is just too 'squirrelly' for me. I'll take the D-I guy in a 'three yards and a cloud of dust' game.
ABV Projection – Putnam County 35, Byron 31.
Moline (Mark of the Quad Cities) Supersectional
Monmouth-Roseville (24-6) vs.
Savanna-West Carroll (25-5)
Savanna-West Carroll hung tough with North Lawndale earlier in the season. That is enough to win this one.
ABV Projection – Savanna-West Carroll 63, Monmouth-Roseville 60.