01/06/2025
BY JACK BULLOCK
CARBONDALE - Coach Tom Brannan and his Casey-Westfield Warriors picked up a big win over previously undefeated Tuscola on Saturday, 58-55 at home to make a case for a very high seed when the postseason process begins in February.

With most of the other teams not starting back yet, C-W gets a boost in the ABV list with a key home victory.

Tuscola will need to regroup quickly as they face rival Arcola this week.

Most of the rest get back into action, if the weather cooperates, in the next few days with some key games on the docket.

Waltonville will host Crab Orchard on Tuesday before traveling to 11-2 Webber Township on Friday.

The Spartans and Trojans split two Midland Trail Conference games last season with Webber winning the annual league tournament and Waltonville taking home the regular season honors.

Waltonville also won a game at the Christopher Thanksgiving Tournament last winter over Webber as both teams won regional championships in 2023-24.

Goreville picked up a huge win over rival Vienna to take a hold of the Black Diamond Conference West Division race.

The Blackcats will be a factor the rest of the way.

Effingham St. Anthony take an 11-game win streak into the second half of the season when they host Robinson and Decatur St. Teresa.

The Bulldogs losses were to Edwardsville and Breese Central.

I'm not sure why 4A Edwardsville is wanting to play 1A teams but they played Dieterich on January 2nd and only beat the Movin' Maroons 47-39.

Dieterich has a bad loss earlier to St. Anthony but they could see each other again at the annual National Trail Conference Tournament later this month.

Mounds Meridian has proven over the years that they're willing to hop on the bus and take on whomever will play them.

The Bobcats have four road games coming up, including a trip to 2A Carterville on Tuesday if Mother Nature is okay with it.

Woodlawn will also need a big effort this week as Webber Township comes to town.

The Cardinals have been more than respectable this season.

Okawville's schedule does the Rockets well in that they should be battle tested by the end of the season.

Eleven of the fifteen teams Okawville has faced are 2A teams.

Belleville Althoff schedule has mostly 3A and 4A teams for Coach Greg Leib.

They do get a few carbs to lap up with smaller schools in the Gateway Metro Conference but most of the slate is a big test.

They play both Alton and Edwardsville this week.

Benton is looking like they have what it takes to make a big postseason run as they have yet to taste defeat.

The Rangers huge win over Pinckneyville in the title game of the Duster Thomas happened as all-stater Docker Tedeschi was fouled on a long shot in the back court in the final seconds.

Tedeschi toed the line and sank three free throws and the Panthers in a 51-50 win.

Breese Mater Dei might not get much respect from around the state but the Knights 10-6 mark heading into the second half of the season was against teams who were a combined 53-games over .500.

They beat crosstown rival Breese Central to win the Mater Dei Holiday Tournament.

The games won't get much easier the rest of the way.

Central took out some frustrations of that championship game loss on Freeburg last week as the Cougars stay in control of the Cahokia Conference Mississippi Division.

They're favored to win their fifth consecutive division title.

Murphysboro played a close one with Benton before losing to the Rangers in the semifinals at Pinckneyville.

The Red Devils have the athletes and the coaching to be a real threat in the postseason and they will hone their skills against a pretty strong River-to-River Conference schedule.

Carlyle won their own Kaskaskian Classic and have just losses to Wesclin and Murphysboro as the Indians will have some chances the rest of the season to improve their postseason position.

They host one of the regionals in a the loaded sub-sectional they're in.

Pinckneyville picked up a conference road win and have finished second in both of their tournaments so far this season.

They will play Benton twice more this season, with the next one coming January 17th at Rich Herrin Gym with a shot at redemption.

Nashville has an early season win over Breese Mater Dei but have struggled against the best ones on the schedule, including a loss to Benton last Friday.

The Hornets will be dangerous in the postseason, as per usual.

Columbia is the team everyone is trying to figure out as the talented Eagles have four really bad losses, by a combined 81-points.

Included in the defeats is a 76-35 shellacking they took on Saturday at the Highland Shootout to unbeaten Principia (MO.).