ABV REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME PREVIEWS
02-22-2019
BY JACK BULLOCK
Here is a quick look at tonight's ABV Area Regional title games.
Best of luck to all of the one's left.
1A CARBONDALE SUPERSECTIONAL REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Altamont Sectional
At St. Elmo Regional
Altamont (20-11) vs. St. Elmo/Brownstown (21-12)
Indians won the regular season meeting 59-47 @ St. Elmo on February 8th. The Indians are looking for their third straight regional title. Altamont beat SEB at Hutsonville-Palestine last year for a regional championship.
At Neoga Regional
Nokomis (26-6) vs. Neoga (15-14)
The two teams didn't meet in the regular season. Nokomis is 13-0 vs. 1A teams. The Indians are 2-5 in February, with both wins coming this week.
At Edinburg Regional
Moweaqua Central A&M (28-3) vs. Buffalo-Tri City (14-14)
The Raiders, looking for a return trip to the supersectional, beat Buffalo-Tri City, 69-34 on the road on February 12th.
At Odin Regional
South Central (18-12) vs. Odin (18-14)
The Eagles have never won a regional title in boy's basketball. Odin topped South Central, 55-43 at home on November 30th. The Cougars beat North Clay twice in the seven days and are on a five-game roll.
1A Gallatin County Sectional
At Hardin County Regional
Hardin County (15-15) vs. Gallatin County (22-9)
The Hawks have two wins over the Cougars this season; 54-46 at Hardin County on January 9th and 51-40 at home on February 12th. The Cougars topped top-seeded Cobden in overtime Wednesday night. The Hawks struggled during the season but have won 12-of-14, including four-consecutive.
At Wayne City Regional
Woodlawn (24-6) vs. Thompsonville (30-2)
The Cardinals own a 69-43 win over the Tigers back on December 29th at the Sesser-Valier Holiday Tournament. Thompsonville hasn't lost a game since (16-0). Woodlawn has won eight regionals in the last ten years. The Tigers have never won a boy's basketball regional title.
At Sesser-Valier Regional
Sesser-Valier (23-6) vs. Steeleville (17-13)
The host Red Devils have won 10-of-11, with a lone defeat to Chester last Friday. S-V is looking for its fourth regional title in five years. Steeleville lost 5-of-6 games late in the year but have won two straight. The Warriors haven't won a regional since 2012-13. The two teams didn't meet in 2018-19.
At Goreville Regional
Goreville (18-14) vs. Cairo (14-17)
The Blackcats are looking for their second straight regional title, as are the Pilots. The two teams didn't meet this season. Coach Tripp is looking for his seventh regional crown for Goreville while Coach Woods is trying for back-to-back.
1A JACKSONVILLE SUPERSECTIONAL REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Lewistown Sectional
At Mason City-Illini Central
Concord-Triopia (29-3) vs. Springfield Calvary (20-10)
The Trojans have won 11-of-12 while the Saints have won six-straight.
At Peoria Heights
Glasford Illin—Bluffs (13-15) vs. Peoria Christian (17-13)
The Illini-Bluffs Tigers have won three-straight and they beat the Chargers, 60-48 back on November 24th. The Chargers are also on a three-game win streak. Both the Tigers (#6) and Chargers (#7) weren't expected to still be playing on Friday night.
At Monmouth United
Elmwood (25-2) vs. Abingdon-Avon (20-8)
The Trojans have won 20-consecutive games, including a 46-29 win over the Tornadoes at home on February 6th. The Tornadoes have won seven-straight since the loss.
At Payson-Seymour
Camp Point Central (23-9) vs. Payson-Seymour (23-6)
The Panthers own a 47-44 win over the Indians on January 6th. The regional hosts have won 6-of-7 coming into the final.
Okawville Sectional
At Hardin Calhoun
Madison (17-11) vs. Hardin Calhoun (22-7)
The Trojans have won 5-of-6 heading into the regional title game. They have zero losses to 1A teams. The Warriors are on a 10-game winning streak. This program pulled the same sort of upset over Madison at home in 2013-14.
At Carrollton
Jacksonville Routt (18-9) vs. Barry Western (19-10)
The Rockets hold a narrow 50-49 over the Western Wildcats January 14th at the Winchester Tournament.
At New Berlin
Winchester West Central (24-6) vs. New Berlin (14-17)
The Cougars have won 14-of-15 heading into the finale. The Pretzels lost four consecutive before the regional began and are 14-17 overall. The two teams didn't play each other.
At Marissa
Marissa/Coulterville (25-2) vs. Okawville (18-12)
Interesting matchup features the Meteors, who haven't lost since December 29 and are on a 14-game run, and Okawville who's tough schedule has made the won-loss mark not the usual pretty one.

2A CARBONDALE SUPERSECTIONAL REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Du Quoin Sectional
At Anna-Jonesboro
Pinckneyville (25-5) vs. Anna-Jonesboro (9-20)
The hobbled Panthers face the Wildcats on their home floor. Pinckneyville won both meetings this season in lopsided fashion. A-J bested Du Quoin in overtime to reach the final. The Wildcats are trying for back-to-back regional titles for the first time since 2002-03/2003-04.
At Piasa Southwestern
Alton Marquette (28-3) vs. Greenville (19-12)
The Explorers dropped back down to 2A for this postseason and have won 12-straight. The Comets are a battle-tested team that plays a tough non-conference slate of games.
At Carlyle
Nashville (30-2) vs. Trenton-Wesclin (16-15)
The Hornets are on a 15-game win streak and are top-ranked in the state and ABV. The Hornets beat the Warriors 46-12 back on November 28th at Wesclin. The Warriors have won 5-of-6.
At Chester
Chester (26-5) vs. West Frankfort (19-10)
The Yellow Jackets have won 17-straight heading into the regional title game while the Redbirds faced a tough schedule this year and are playing well at the right time.
Vandalia Sectional
At Harrisburg
Fairfield (30-2) vs. Carmi-White County (10-17)
The Mules have set all kinds of school records this season and they are on a 14-game run. They have three routs over the Bulldogs this season.
At Shelbyville
Pana (16-17) vs. Marshall (21-8)
Neither the Panthers or the Lions were expected to still be roaring on Friday night but they made their way into the regional title game with seeding upsets this week.
At Effingham St. Anthony
Teutopolis (26-5) vs. Effingham St. Anthony (20-10)
The Wooden Shoes hold a 64-37 win over the Bulldogs on February 1st and they have played a tough schedule. All of the St. Anthony losses are to large schools.
At Mt. Carmel
Mt. Carmel (13-15) vs. Red Hill (22-9)
After losing six-straight games to start the season short handed, the Aces are 13-9 since against a tough schedule. The Salukis own two tournament titles this season. Red Hill beat the depleted Aces 51-46 in the season opener at Red Hill.