Archives for 2013

Football teammates, basketball rivals meet

January 5, 2013 By Leave a Comment

STAFF REPORT

Fans at the Christopher / Zeigler-Royalton basketball game Friday should have felt right at home sitting together.

After all, in football and some other sports, the two schools co-op to field a team made up of athletes from both schools. In high school basketball, they divide back into geographic rivals. Friday night, fans and parents sat together again – just on separate gymnasium sides as the two teams squared off.

Both teams came into the game with a modest amount of momentum. Christopher had won 5 of their past 7 games. Zeigler-Royalton  was on a 3-game win streak themselves.

Early on, Eric Stallman’s Bearcats decided to go inside against the Tornadoes. In the first quarter, Christopher received 8 of their 16 points inside the paint. ZR would score 8 points total for that quarter. And, just three minutes into the second quarter the Bearcats achieved their first double digit lead. They never looked back easily outscoring the Tornadoes in each second half quarter as well.

Echoing that early inside attack, big men Kevin Mercks, and R.J. Kuh paced the home team with 16 points apiece. Adding depth and balance, Towers broke double digits as well with 11. Matt Morgan’s ZR squad was paced by Weddle’s 11 points.

With the win, the Bearcats move to 9-3 overall, and back to .500 in the conference with a 2-2 mark in the Black Diamond West.

With the loss, Zeigler-Royalton drops to 13-5 overall, and the same 2-2 even water mark in the BDW.

Filed Under: High School Sports, Sesser-Valier High School Sports, Zeigler-Royalton High School Sports Tagged With: , , , , ,

Thompsonville beats Hardin County

January 5, 2013 By Leave a Comment
STAFF REPORT
The Thompsonville Tigers and Hardin County Cougars appeared to be locked into a four-quarter struggle Friday night. After one period, seeing considerable offensive success for both teams, the hosts led by two buckets, 17-13.
In quarter No. 2, the Tigers put some distance between themselves and their opponents based on a 16-5 advantage in the second eight minutes. That halftime edge of 15 points propelled them on to a win by virtually the same margin 51-38.
Ryan Darnell blistered the nets for 16 points, and Lance Darnell nearly matched it with 11 as the only Tigers in double figures.
Hardin County had the game high scorer in Austin with 17 points on the night.
With the win, Thompsonville ran their record to 9-6 for this season.
Filed Under: High School Sports, Thompsonville High School Sports Tagged With: , , , , ,

Rangers lose at home to Massac County

January 5, 2013 By Leave a Comment
STAFF REPORT
In essence saying “do the math,” Benton Ranger coach Ron Winemiller pointed out something following Benton’s 66-46 loss at home to Massac County Friday night.
Winemiller said, “We played three good quarters of basketball. But as we all know, the game is four quarters long.”
What the Ranger head coach was referring to was a huge first quarter deficit that his club could not make up. After one quarter, Massac County did what every visiting team sets as a goal: survive and thrive the opening of the game in front of their opponent’s home crowd. At the end of the first quarter, the Patriots led 28-6.
For the next three periods, the Rangers played almost even basketball with Massac, even outscoring them in the second frame, 12-11. However, giving up 39 first-half points proved to be too much to overcome. Winemiller pointed to a problem for his club being confidence. “We needed to see the ball go into the hole more often.”
The Rangers, pressured by the Joe Hosmon-coached  signature defensive intensity, felt pressure from the opening tip. Another signature Patriot calling card is their ability to shoot behind the arc. Massac hit six 3-pointers while Benton could only manage three ( Higgins 2 and Head 1).
Massac was led in scoring by emerging star Daz Nickerson with 13 points. The Patriot offense featured balanced scoring with four players in double figures.
Game high-scoring honors went to Nathaniel Higginson with 17 points. Other Ranger output included: Sheeks 9, Forby 8, Head 3, Ward 3, and Hughes 2.
The Rangers fell to 5-9 for the season and to .500 in the conference splitting four league games.
Up next for Benton is undefeated Harrisburg at 15-0 for the season. The Bulldogs are looking for a sweep of Franklin County as they knocked off West Frankfort Friday night.
Filed Under: Benton High School Sports, High School Sports Tagged With: , , , , ,

West Frankfort man arrested on drug charges

January 5, 2013 By Leave a Comment

By BRUCE A. FASOL

Marion police have confirmed that a West Frankfort man was arrested on drug charges in Williamson County.

According to a list of recent arrestees from Chief John Eibeck’s office, 40-year-old Dennis Bowen was arrested Dec. 23rd.

Marion Kroger pharmacy employees are believed to have called Marion Police to report Bowen attempting to buy a methamphetamine precursor without a prescription. He was arrested and taken to the Williamson County Jail.

Eibeck told FranklinCounty-News.com that he is currently out of the city, and could provide no immediate details.

Filed Under: Franklin Co. News, More Featured Articles, West Frankfort News Tagged With: , , , ,

Redbird boys drop 2013 opener

January 5, 2013 By Leave a Comment

By BRUCE A. FASOL

The second meeting of the Harrisburg Bulldogs and the West Frankfort Redbirds was quite similar to the first meeting between the two clubs. The first meeting came in the second round of the Eldorado Holiday Tournament. That game was won by Harrisburg 72-41.

Game One began with the Redbirds aggressively attacking the Bulldog defense, and holding a first quarter lead. But, Harrisburg came storming back to put the game out of reach by halftime.

Friday night, Dan Dewerff’s team stayed with the same battle plan. Early, that plan worked. At the high point of  the first quarter the ‘Birds held a 10-4 lead over their visitors. But, following a time out, and lecture by Harrisburg Coach Randy Smithpeters, the Bulldogs refocused, regrouped and went on a 12-0 run to end the quarter with a 16-14 lead.

Much of the first half momentum for the area’s best team came from a stifling full-court defense. The Redbirds wilted under the press, with frequent turnovers and mistakes.

At the half, the game was not in doubt as Harrisburg led 46-25 having doubled up their opponent’s second quarter scoring 30-15.

That second quarter pull-away for the Bulldogs was punctuated with three 3-point shots from Ryne Roper who had 11 in that frame alone.  By third quarter’s conclusion, Harrisburg was cruising 63-41.

Going into the final quarter, Harrisburg had cleared their bench leading 63-41 . The end result was another lopsided Bulldog win of 76-54.

Harrisburg remains unbeaten 15-0. The Redbird record is now 3-9. The ‘Birds are winless in the Ohio Division with a 0-4 mark.
Harrisburg placed all of their five starters in double figures. They were lead by the14 points of Tyler Smithpeters and 14 for Ryne Roper, 12 for Eli Taborn-Scott, 11 for Dakota Upchurch, 10 for Capal Henshaw.
The Redbirds had one player in double figures with 5-8 Senior Trenton Easley scoring 16 points. This was followed by:  Williams 9, Dunning 8,Fort 7.Koel 5,Sisk 4, Maller,Bartoni and Keller with 2 points, each.
Harrisburg completed the sweep of the night on the road having won the JV game easily crushing the Redbirds 75-35.
Tuesday, the Redbirds play host to Hamilton County in a non-conference game at Max Morris Gym. The JV game begins at 6:15 pm.
Filed Under: High School Sports, West Frankfort High School Sports Tagged With: , , , ,

Lady Redbirds to play 2013 calendar opener Saturday

January 5, 2013 By Leave a Comment

By BRUCE A. FASOL

A reminder, the West Frankfort Lady Redbirds will open the 2013 portion of their schedule this afternoon. Matt Hampleman’s Lady Birds will try to improve on 2012 as they head to Eldorado.

Tip-off at Duff-Kingston Gymnasium is set for 1 p.m. this afternoon against their Black Diamond Conference foe. Ohio Division play resumes for the girls Tuesday, at Massac County.

Filed Under: High School Sports, West Frankfort High School Sports Tagged With: , , , , ,

Bulldogs come to West Frankfort

January 4, 2013 By Leave a Comment

West Frankfort senior Trenton Easley dribbles past Harrisburg defenders during the team’s Dec. 29 match-up at the Eldorado Holiday Tournament. Harrisburg travels to Max Morris Gymnasium on Friday night to take on the Redbirds in the first game of 2013.

By BRUCE A. FASOL

The West Frankfort Redbird boys varsity basketball team believes that they are an improved ball club over the course of the season. and, they believed that they showed some of that improvement in the just completed Eldorado Holiday Basketball Tournament. The Harrisburg Bulldogs say: “Prove it.”

The champions of the recently concluded EHT invade West Frankfort’s Max Morris Gym Friday night as both teams get the 2013 portion of their schedules underway. They have one meeting already under their belts as Harrisburg pulled away from the ‘Birds for an easy win in the EHT second round. The Redbirds actually led by a bucket at first quarters end in that game.

The JV game begins at 6 p.m., and the varsity contest starts at approximately 7:45 p.m. Friday. It is an Ohio Division ballgame.

The Redbirds open 2013 with a 3-8 record, and are winless in the conference so far.

Filed Under: High School Sports, West Frankfort High School Sports Tagged With: , , , , , ,

One arrested, one sought in W.F. metal thefts

January 4, 2013 By Leave a Comment

By BRUCE A. FASOL

West Frankfort Police Chief Jeff Tharp has announced that one arrest has been made in a theft from an industrial business, and authorities are seeking a second suspect.

Ronald Pulliam

The thefts were reported in mid-December from Coal Age Industrial, located in the Industrial Park, west of the West Frankfort.  At that time, police began surveillance of the business, and video evidence was collected at the scene from security cameras.

On Jan. 3, West Frankfort Police arrested 24-year-old Ronald R. Pulliam of Johnston City. He was charged with theft over $500.

Steven Pulliam

Pulliam is accused of stealing large fabricated pieces of metal, which investigators believe he resold. Coal Age Industrial told investigators that since the thefts began, they have lost $30,000 in metal products.

Tharp said an arrest warrant has been issued for Steven Pulliam, 22, of Johnston City, as well. He is the brother of Ronald Pulliam Jr.  More arrests could be forthcoming, according to WFPD.

Filed Under: Featured, Franklin Co. News, West Frankfort News Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Franklin County man arrested for arson

January 4, 2013 By Leave a Comment

By BRUCE A. FASOL

Franklin County State’s Attorney Evan Owens has confirmed to FranklinCounty-News.com that an arrest has been made in a New Year’s Eve fire that was allegedly intentionally set.

Cary L. Price, 60, of Franklin County was taken into custody, according to sources, after law enforcement officials followed snow tracks from 415 Franklin Ave. in Orient. West Frankfort fire fighters were called to that home just before midnight on New Years Eve. A small fire appeared to have been deliberately set near the back door of the home. It was quickly extinguished. Earlier reports say that there had been an altercation between the home’s occupant and Price.
No official details have been released, other than confirmation of the arrest.
Price has been charged with felony arson and residential arson class one felony.
A preliminary hearing has been set for Jan. 16 at 1:30pm at the Franklin County Courthouse.
Filed Under: Franklin Co. News, More Featured Articles Tagged With: , , , ,

Walk-in, sign up for spring classes at Rend Lake College

January 3, 2013 By Leave a Comment

STAFF REPORT

Rend Lake College’s spring semester starts Jan. 14, and college officials are making it easy for students to enroll.

Not through Jan. 11, prospective students can take advantage of the college’s walk-in period at the Academic Advisement Center, located in the Administration Building.

Walk-in hours are from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Jan. 4 and 11, and extended hours from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Jan. 7-10. The college’s phone number is 618-437-5321.

Filed Under: Franklin Co. News, More Featured Articles Tagged With: , , , ,
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