Steve’s Bracketology: The Eldoroado Holiday Tournament

By Steve Dunford 

The parings for the EHT will be coming out in the next couple of days.  When I am asked by people in Franklin County, what is my favorite gym in Southern Illinois, Max Morris or Rich Herrin?  I say neither.  Duff-Kingston is my favorite gym.

It is on my bucket list one day to be at Eldorado for the 8:30 a.m. breakfast special all the way up to the 10:00 p.m. graveyard game.  When I still lived at home, I would make the rounds across Southern Illinois.  I would be at Eldorado at least one day for every game.  I am sure my top seed will cause a little controversy right off the bat.

Harrisburg (#1 6-1) – Randy Smithpeters has been waiting for this club to become seniors for a long time.  They might be as good as Pinckneyville.

Eldorado (#2 8-0)  – It could be a rivalry game between the two heavyweights in Saline County for the championship.  Eldorado barely got past West Frankfort on Tuesday.  The Bulldogs gave the Redbirds a shellacking on Friday.  Harrisburg has played a much tougher schedule so far.

Anna-Jonesboro (#3 6-1) –  The Wildcats lost big at Nashville on Friday night.  I had them as a three seed before them and still giving them the three

Carmi-White County (#4 5-2) –  The Bulldogs are a veteran club.  I know the pairings will probably be out before then, but I will be keeping an eye on their game with Benton on Tuesday to get a better read of the Bulldogs.

Union County KY (#5 3-2) –  Thanks for all the information I received on Facebook.  The Braves always seem to get in four games each year.  If they were in Illinois, they would be a 3A school.

Fairfield (#6 4-4) –  The Mules had a very good Thanksgiving tournament in Lawrence County. They have been upset prone over the last few years.  Gallatin County has their number.

Hamilton County (#7 3-3) – I know Oakley Dial has graduated.  The rest of the Foxes seems like they have been in high school for seven or eight years now.  This is a team that could be in double digits in wins.  Hamco is heading in the right direction after a long dry spell.

Herrin (#8 2-5) –  It was a dilemma to me what to do with this group of SIRR-Ohio teams.  I put the Tigers at the top of the heap.

Gallatin County ( #9 5-2) –  The Hawks can slow it down against teams they are overmatched against and pull out a W.  They have been giant slayers at the EHT in the past.

West Frankfort (#10 0-5) –  The Redbirds playing Eldorado close bumped them up over Massac.  They have a big weekend coming up against Benton and Goreville.   Kevin Toney will have his troops well prepared.  I am sure he has several yellow legal pads on each team in the tourney.  It is on my bucket list to go with him when he scouts.

Massac County (#11 1-6) –  Joe Hosman knows his way around the EHT.  They have the potential to be a dangerous first round opponent for someone.  I would not be one bit surprised if they play four games.  Taking a beating from Sesser-Valier knocked them down a couple of notches.

Hardin County (#12 2-5) – Other than against Benton, they hung around with everyone at the Goreville tournament.  The Cougars crossed the Ferry and picked up a nice win over Crittenden County KY last night. Rodney Lane’s bunch has the potential to make some noise in the post season.  They play a brutal schedule.

Vienna (#13 4-3)  –  They are above .500 but their wins are over Century, Galatia, Carrier Mills and Z-R.  They are pretty deep and could cause some matchup problems for teams in the field.

Edwards County (#14 2-5)  –  The Lions are in a rebuilding mode.  They will most likely be two and out.

NCOE (#15 1-5)  – The Fighting Cardinals are a totally different animal.  Their goal is to put up 80 shots a game and half of them threes.  If their press is broken, they have no problem to give up an uncontested layup.  They shot close t0 50% behind the arc against Thompsonville earlier in the year and still got beat.  They hung around with Carmi for a while on Tuesday night. On the other side of the coin New Athens beat them by 25 in the consolation championship of the Christopher Tournament.

Carrier Mills (#16 1-7) –  No matter who they play, the Wildcats will struggle.  They own a 25 point win over winless Dongola.  I watched them against Thompsonville on You Tube this week.  T’ville beat them by 30 with Pete Gordon subbing liberally in the first half.  Coach Keil Peebles misses Will Gibbs bad, who is suiting up for Harrisburg now.