St. Anthony moves up, Central stays put
Tuscola winning streak snapped, Unity stays undefeated
01/09/2024
BY JACK BULLOCK
CARBONDALE - The first week of the January brought a few changes to what's going on in southern Illinois.

Tuscola saw its undefeated record take a dive with a loss at Shelbyville on Friday.

The Warriors next five games are on the road, with the first four being against teams that are a combined 55-12 for Coach Bozarth and crew.

St. Anthony moves up on the strength of a tough non-conference, mostly large school, schedule for Coach Cody Rincker.

Goreville will get a supreme test at the Metropolis “Superman Classic” next week after taking on Sesser-Valier and Christopher this week.

Coach Tripp will have them ready.

Casey-Westfield is another of the programs that play a predominantly larger school schedule, including being the only 1A team in the Little Illini Conference.

If the winter weather doesn't ruin another MLK Shootout at Mounds Meridian, the host Bobcats will hook up with Waltonville on Saturday, January 13.

Coach David Davis continues to get the job done at MM while Coach Anthony Lowery has a young crew of Spartans with opportunities to make statements the rest of the season.

Altamont is another of the teams that shouldn't be counted out, especially once we get to February.

Coach John Niebrugge and his squad picked up a key NTC win at Dieterich last week.

The Movin' Maroons picked up a Monday night road win at Patoka/Odin for Coach Brent Bohnhoff and they will host South Central this Friday.

Arcola and head coach Greg Gisinger have key games coming up as they try to improve their stock for a potential high-seed in the state tournament.

Webber Township only has losses to Waltonville and they have the Wayne City Holiday Tournament championship in the trophy case.

Breese Central has just two losses to unbeaten 3A Centralia and 16-2 3A Richland County.

Coach Jeremy Shubert's club have more hurdles to clear in the next few weeks.

Tolono Unity remained undefeated after spanking Quincy Notre Dame at the SJO Shootout last Saturday.

Benton went to Kentucky to play three teams and came home with just one victory for Coach Ron Winemiller.

One of the losses was to 15-1 George Rogers Clark.

Pinckneyville started their weekend with a loss at Nashville before traveling north for a shootout win over host St. Joseph-Ogden on Saturday.

The Panthers are 14-4 for Coach Matt Laur as they prepare for a league game at home Friday against Benton.

SJO, with the loss to Pinckneyville, is now 13-3 and will travel to Teutopolis on Friday.

The Wooden Shoes added a pair of wins last week over Warrensburg-Latham and Monticello.

Coach Daryl Murphy and his Murphysboro Red Devils are always a threat and they lead the Ohio Division standings after picking up a win at Harrisburg.

Massac County head coach Joe Hosman moved into fourth place in the all-time wins list in IHSA history this past weekend with victories over Carterville and Hardin County.

Shelbyville, champions of the Vandalia Holiday Tournament, handed Tuscola their first defeat last Friday night.

The Rams host a sectional that feeds into the SIU Arena Carbondale Super-sectional.
1. EFFINGHAM ST. ANTHONY (12-4)
The Bulldogs picked up a pair of wins last week. They have only played four 1A teams (4-0).
2. TUSCOLA (15-1)
The Warriors finally tasted defeat @ 2A Shelbyville. The upcoming schedule looks tough.
3. GOREVILLE (15-1)
The Blackcats added three wins last week. Big test coming at Massac County tournament.
4. CASEY-WESTFIELD (10-6)
The Warriors are 5-1 vs. 1A teams.
5. MOUNDS MERIDIAN (10-4)
The Bobcats, weather permitting, will face Waltonville on Saturday.
6. WALTONVILLE (14-1)
The young Spartans keep winning, racking up three more wins last week.
7. ALTAMONT (9-4)
The Indians won @ Dieterich last week. Upcoming NTC tournament could be special.
7. DIETERICH (12-5)
Five game win streak snapped. The Movin' Maroons look to be an NTC factor.
9. ARCOLA (11-5)
The tough part of the LPC schedule looms for the Purple Riders.
10. WEBBER TOWNSHIP (12-2)
The Trojans' two losses came against Waltonville.
Knocking on the Door in Alphabetical Order: Century, Cisne, Crab Orchard, Grayville, Hardin County, Marissa/Coulterville, New Athens, Nokomis, Okawville, Red Hill, Steeleville, St. Elmo/Brownstown, Waterloo Gibault, Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg and Woodlawn.

1. BREESE CENTRAL (16-2)
Top-ranked Cougars added two more wins. Much work ahead.
2. TOLONO UNITY (16-0)
Unbeaten Rockets added two more victims last week. Host Tuscola this weekend.
3. BENTON (15-3)
Trip to Kentucky yielded a 1-2 result. Rangers @ Pinckneyville on Friday.
4. PINCKNEYVILLE (13-3)
Panthers lost @ Nashville then drilled SJO at a shootout on Saturday.
5. ST. JOSEPH-OGDEN (13-3)
Spartans beat Williamsville and lost to Pinckneyville. Travel to T-Town on Friday.
6. TEUTOPOLIS (11-5)
Wooden Shoes added two more wins last week. Big game with SJO weather permitting.
7. COLUMBIA (10-4)
The Eagles are on a six-game win streak. Travel to Vandalia on Friday.
8. MURPHYSBORO (10-6)
Big road win @ Harrisburg. The Red Devils lead the SIRR Ohio Division.
9. MASSAC COUNTY (12-5)
The Patriots added to Coach Hosman's win total by two last week.
10. SHELBYVILLE (13-4)
The Rams are riding an eight-game win streak. Took down Tuscola last week.
Knocking on the Door in Alphabetical Order: Alton Marquette, Anna-Jonesboro, Belleville Althoff, Breese Mater Dei, Carlinville, Carlyle, Carmi-White County, Carterville, Fairfield, Fithian-Oakwood, Greenville, Hamilton County, Harrisburg, Lawrenceville, Litchfield, Nashville, Newton, Red Bud, Sparta, Staunton, Vandalia, Vienna and Wesclin.