11/20/2023
BY JACK BULLOCK
CARBONDALE - The Midland Trail Conference in 2023-24 has a little bit of everything that a prep basketball league should have.

There are veteran players returning for teams along with some young kids that look ready to mature into standout players.

After last season's run by Christ Our Rock Lutheran, the MTC standings this season should look a bit more evenly matched.

Cisne has a good group of kids that are as experienced as any of the teams this winter for Coach Kevin Bowen.

Grayville also has everyone back including their top scorer for second year mentor Travis Thompson.

Webber Township is missing some pieces from last season's club that reached the 1A Sweet 16.

They will also have a new head coach in place as a former Trojans' player takes over.

Wayne City graduated one of the top players in southern Illinois last winter and he will be difficult to replace.

Woodlawn has some good players returning after a few down years as the Cardinals look to get back to winning basketball.

Red Hill has some experienced, multi-sport athletes returning for this season and the Patoka/Odin co-op is in Round Three of the agreement.

Sandoval has a new head coach and some young talent to work with while the Patoka/Odin co-op enters season number three.

But the team to really keep an eye on this season is Waltonville.

The Spartans have a unique mix of young and old with experience looking to improve off of last season.

It should be an interesting season and race to the top of the standings with several squads eyeing postseason success.

There is an excitement in the air for the fan base of the Waltonville Spartans as the young team from last season is now a year older with bigger goals set.

Why not reach for the stars, right?

Coach Anthony Lowery has a strong sophomore class that gave notice as freshman that the future looks bright in this part of Jefferson County.

The Spartans came close to beating eventual regional champion Webber Township in the semifinals on the Trojans' home court, losing 59-57 last February.

There were 17 players total on the varsity and junior varsity rosters last winter and none of them were seniors.

On top of that good news, one player who missed last season due to injury returns for his senior season.

Both will add to an already talented roster.

Six-five sophomore forward Gage Peterson is back after starting as a freshman and making an immediate impact.

Peterson was named ABV 1A All-South honorable mention.

The same can be said for 6-0 sophomore guard Kyle Cooper.

Both Peterson and Cooper had productive time during the summer and should be ready to go in 2023-24, according to their mentor.

Makabe Devor, a 6-2 senior, and 5-8 classmate Aiden Kretz have experience that will help lead the mostly young group.

Coach Lowery, who prepped at Waltonville, has other talented kids ready to move forward.

Brendan Klingler, a 5-10 sophomore, 6-0 sophomore Ryley Stewart, and 5-11 sophomore Jack Reynolds also have experience from this group that two seasons ago won the SIJHSA Class S state championship as eighth graders.

Coach Lowery added the names of Witten Devor and Jagger Mayville, both incoming freshmen, who will contribute to the depth.

The aforementioned player that returns off of the DL is 5-10 senior guard Seth Karnes.

He will add to the arsenal.

“We are legitimately 10 or 11 deep this year without a huge drop off. Gage Peterson and Kyle Cooper are worth the price of admission themselves and should garner some attention from the next level very soon,” said Coach Lowery. “We could potentially have four players hit the 1000-point club this year. Karnes, Devor, Cooper and Peterson.”

The players returning for Coach Kevin Bowen at Cisne have never faced a losing season in prep basketball.

The seniors and juniors who will suit up this year are part of back-to-back 20-win seasons (24-7, 22-9) that showed how well this group has gelled together.

For a small school like this one (96-students) that is quite an accomplishment.

Six of the top eight players from last season's regional semifinalist return as they continue the search for the one title that has eluded this program.

A boy's basketball regional championship.

Last season the Lions had a thorn in their paw.

State-ranked Centralia Christ Our Rock Lutheran took the measure of Coach Bowen's club three times, including a 61-49 defeat at the 1A South Central Regional that closed the book on 2022-23.

But the Silver Stallions are no longer a part of the Midland Trail Conference and the rest of the clubs in the league won't mind at all.

The players back for Cisne have a wealth of varsity experience.

Anden Atwood is the top scorer returning and his stock continues to soar.

The 6-1 senior is an 'old school' type player with a mid-range game not seen too often in the high school ranks.

Atwood will now be a four-year starter for the Lions and was first team ABV 1A All-South as a junior last season.

The other seniors back for Coach Bowen are 6-1 senior Kaden Baker and 5-11 senior Ty Mix.

The junior class has an equal amount of experience returning.

Cooper Bowen, a 5-10 junior, is also back after a fine sophomore year.

The same can be said for 5-7 junior Gavyn Harrell and 5-11 junior Kayden Dagg.

Coach Bowen has a pair of sophomores that should see plenty of PT.

Five-ten sophomores Hagen Howard and Kade Atwood are part of what appears to be a talented squad that might be ready for a big campaign.

This mentor has upped the ante for the regular season schedule as they will travel to a pair of shootouts (Mt. Vernon and Pinckneyville) along with tough games against 2A Mt. Carmel, Fairfield and Lawrenceville with the normally difficult MTC slate.

“We are excited to begin another year. As most years, I think our ability to defend and rebound will be the key to our success. Our schedule is the toughest it has been since I have been here with some additions that were made this year,” said Coach Bowen. “Hopefully that will help prepare us for the post season. Anden, Cooper and Gavyn have been starters their entire careers so we expect them to be leaders. I am also excited about other contributors with Kade, Kayden, Hagen and Kaden. They like to compete and will blend nicely with the other players.”

At Wayne City last winter head coach Jake Talbert's Indians put together a campaign to remember.

After producing 13-consecutive winning seasons that included multiple regional champions, four state tournament final four appearances and a state championship, the Cardinals have an 18-54 record since.

Last season under first year head coach Luke Cooper, Woodlawn went just 7-23 overall, 4-5 in the MTC and were eliminated by Webber Township 62-53 in the first round of the regional.

However there is optimism as the program looks to turn things around.

The Cardinals have three returning starters and an experienced transfer.

Wyatt Rollie, a 6-2 senior, returns for Woodlawn.

Rollie was the Cardinals' top gun last season (17.6 p.p.g.) and honorable mention ABV 1A All-South last winter.

Six-one sophomore guard Baylor Rolle and 5-8 senior guard Talen Lee also return for Coach Cooper.

Josh Lewis, a 6-2 senior, transfers in from Webber Township.

Lewis was a starter for a sectional finalist last March and he brings postseason experience to the squad.

Coach Cooper also has seniors Logan Palmer (6-0), Bowen Rollie (5-9) and Tate Bundy (6-1) ready to help out along with 5-9 sophomore Logan Heater and 6-3 freshman Tyson Frick.

“We are going to be a veteran experienced ball club, bringing back three starters from last year’s team along with three experienced varsity players that came off the bench for us last year. We have a great group of senior’s leaders this year,” said Coach Cooper. “We will be senior heavy with a nice mix of underclassmen. Lewis adds to our senior leadership and brings post season experience. Our guys have had a great off season and worked extremely hard in the weight room and on skill development. We're hoping for a great season!”

Grayville and head coach Travis Thompson have all five starters returning for a squad that played well enough against a tough schedule to finish 8-21 overall, 3-6 in the league race.

The Bison gave a tough game to eventual regional runner up Sesser-Valier, losing 55-45 to the Red Devils at the Webber Township Regional.

Coach Thompson enters his second season at the helm with the top guns back for more in 2023-24.

Ty' Zae Rowland, a 6-3 senior guard who was honorable mention ABV 1A All-South, is back for Grayville.

The top scorer has a chance to eclipse the program's all-time scoring mark of 1,989 points set by Josh Bell back in 2001-02.

Teammate and classmate 6-0 Kannan Worley also is back for Coach Thompson.

Two juniors; 6-0 Zach Leavens and 5-11 Canyon Neeley, also return for Grayville.

Sophomore Jake Hosman, a 6-4 forward, along with 6-0 freshman Ian Kleinschmidt, 5-11 freshman Zeke Roosevelt an 5-10 freshman Brennan Gibbs should step right into important minutes as the season begins.

“Every starter returning should lead to high expectations from the team. We took steps in the right direction last year under a new coaching style, and this year look to further improve on that,” said Coach Thompson. “The addition of Kleinschmidt lengthens our bench for sure. We should be able to play with everyone on our schedule.”

Red Hill and head coach Bryan Havill are the only school in the Midland Trail that participates in football.

The gridiron Salukis, many of which play basketball, are coming off of their second consecutive playoff appearance since going Independent in just football.

Seven of the kids returning for the hoop's season are seniors and four of the players are returning starters from a club that ended up dead last in the MTC with an 0-9 mark, 4-28 overall and a quick out in the 1A South Central Regional with a loss to CORL.

One of the returning starters is 5-10 senior guard Hayden Arbuckle.

Another senior, 6-5 forward Lance Moore, also returns.

Two sophomores; 5-10 guard Avery Arbuckle and 5-10 guard Ozzy Ash, were starters as freshman last winter.

Coach Havill will call on some letter winners from last season to fill in the blanks.

Five seniors return for the Salukis, including 6-4 forward Colin Laakman and 5-10 guard Reece Ralston.

Six-two forward Gage Jones, 5-11 guard Payton Seaney and 6-0 guard Isaiah Stitt gives Red Hill a veteran look.

Sophomore Abram Clark, a 6-2 forward who transferred in from Monticello (IN.) Twin Lakes, should also help out as will Brennan Potts, a 5-10 sophomore.

“We should be much improved this season. Our beginning schedule is very difficult, so we will be tested early. We have seven seniors on the team. We should have pretty good depth. Hayden will be our team leader. He will be a three-year starter so he has the experience. Sophomore's Ash and Avery Arbuckle will need to score, help handle the ball, and ultimately play well for us,” said Coach Havill. “Moore and Laakman give us good size inside with needed post play. They should provide rebounding and hopefully control the paint. Seniors Stitt, Ralston, Jones and Seaney will provide needed depth along with sophomores Potts and transfer Clark. We expect to be in the top half of the MTC this season.”

Sandoval will have a new head coach in place when the season starts as Don Shaffer takes over from former head coach Tyler Mitchell.

The Warriors went 8-22 last season, 2-6 in the Midland Trail and also 1-3 in the Egyptian Illini Conference as they are dual members of the two leagues.

Last season the Patoka/Odin club had just two seniors so the remaining kids plus some new additions to the roster should help make things stronger this winter.

Four of the returning players were starters on the squad that lost to St. Elmo/Brownstown at the Nokomis Regional.

Coach Joe Eddy is now in his 20th season as head coach at Patoka and he is hoping the third time (year) is the charm of the co-op.

Five-ten senior Owen Landreth averaged 18.1 points a game for the Warriors as a junior.

He was the only double-figure scorer last winter and he will need some point production help this season from his teammates.

Coach Eddy mentioned three juniors who started as sophomores.

Tyler Huffman, a 5-11 junior, 6-0 junior Landon Robb and 5-10 junior Kaden Williams will give Patoka/Odin a mostly experienced starting lineup as the Warriors start the season at the Mulberry Grove Thanksgiving Tournament.

There will be suitors for the fifth starting spot and minutes off of the bench.

Six-two senior Braden Meyer, 5-9 senior Wade Voelkel and 5-8 sophomore Lincoln Roberts were mentioned by Coach Eddy as potential minutes.

The Warriors will have some depth with 5-10 senior foreign exchange student Lis Tokubaha, 5-7 junior Jace Bodine, 5-9 junior Reed Jourdan, 6-0 junior Camden Parrish, 6-0 sophomores Easton Johnson and Ben Spencer along with 6-1 freshman Brady Cain.

“I feel that if we want to be successful this year we need to have a more balanced attack. We return a lot of players who had their first taste of varsity last year. They know what to expect this time around. We should have decent depth this year going into the season. If we can make a few strides individually this team could make a giant leap in the win column,” said Coach Eddy, who led Patoka to its only sectional championship back in 2016.