By Jim Muir

Through the generations Franklin County rivals Benton and West Frankfort have gotten together for some memorable match ups in multiple sports and many times on the line was a conference title, a regional championship or a chance to advance down the post season trail.

And for more than 70 years it was a holiday tradition as both schools celebrated their respective homecomings at Thanksgiving and then battled in the 2 p.m. Turkey Day football game. Alumni from both schools still point out that the Thanksgiving Day match up was more than a game, it was ‘the’ game. Forget the season records, the team that won the Thanksgiving Day classic had a great year, period. In 1983 the Thanksgiving game was stopped because it interfered with post season football. During the past decade the two school began playing the game on Saturday afternoon with a traveling trophy on the line each year. An indicator of how competitive the football games have been through the years is evident in the overall record that shows through 99 years Benton leads 50-47 with two games ending in a tie.

But of course, even when absolutely nothing is on the line when these two rival communities – separated by only six miles – get together, plain old braggin’ rights is always a big part of the equation.

After a century of competing against each other a new dimension to the rivalry will be added on Monday, Dec. 22 when Benton’s Rangerettes, unbeaten at 10-0 and West Frankfort’s Lady Redbirds, also unbeaten at 11-0, renew old acquaintances at Rich Herrin Gym.

Aside from the rivalry and unblemished records for both teams, also factor in that this is an important conference match up, both teams hail from the SIRR Ohio Division, and both coaches have ties to the opposing community – Benton coach Andy Sloan is a West Frankfort High School graduate where he was a multi-sport standout and West Frankfort coach Matt Hampleman is the nephew of Harry Stewart, the late legendary coach who played and coached for Benton, the first of three generations of Stewarts who competed for Benton in the annual Turkey Day game.

And just for good measure add in that local sports historians from both communities can’t recall any match up between Benton and West Frankfort in any sport when both teams entered with unbeaten records.

Still, both coaches are playing down the hype – or at least trying to play it down.

“We know all the intangibles, the rivalry, both teams unbeaten and it’s a conference game,” said Sloan. “But, we have really preached to our kids that this is just another game on our schedule. We have told them over and over that in the conference it is really important to take care of business at home. It’s an important game but it’s not a regional championship or anything like that. This is our eleventh game overall and only our second home game, so we’re glad to be back home as much as anything.”

Hampleman echoed similar sentiments.

“We talk all season about taking things one game at a time and this is really no different than any game on our schedule, but it just happens to be Benton and West Frankfort and both teams are undefeated,” said Hampleman. “It’s a conference game and we just have to worry about taking care of our business.”

Both coaches agreed that from top to bottom the SIRR Ohio Division is as solid this year as any year they can recall, which adds even more importance for Benton in trying to defend its home court.

Hampleman said he felt the early portion of Monday’s game will be very important to his team.

“We have a lot of respect for Benton and what they have accomplished,” said Hampleman. “The biggest key is that we have to get off to a good start and keep our confidence up early-on. They (Benton) are pretty much bigger than us at every position and we definitely have to try and counteract that somehow.”

Hampleman said putting pressure on Benton’s guards and keeping the inside tandem of Cali Carney and Makala Abney in check will be keys for the Lady Redbirds.

“We have to put pressure on the ball, but Carney and Abney are a load down low,” said Hampleman. “But, they are a well-rounded team, they go deep down the bench so shutting down one or two players is not going to stop them.”

Along with Carney (5-foot-7 senior) and Abney (6-foot sophomore) the Rangerettes will start Katie Sandusky (5-foot-7 senior), Ali Gischer (5-foot-4 sophomore) and Marcela Mendez (5-foot-4 junior). Sloan has used a nine-person rotation with key reserves Taylor Mosley (5-foot-8 junior), Cassandra Johnson (5-foot-9 junior), Haley Ing (5-foot-7 junior) and Kaylee Pedigo (5-foot-8 sophomore) all contributing valuable minutes.

Hampleman said he sees the game as a plus for both communities.

“I don’t think either coach planned on this happening this particular way,” said Hampleman. “It’s good for both communities, it’s good for both programs and it’s good for girl’s basketball. It’s a key conference game for us on the road in a hostile environment. It should be a great atmosphere and a lot of fun.”

Sloan said the Rangerettes strong suit this season has been its defense and noted that it will take a big defensive effort from his team to slow down the Lady Redbids.

“I think we have to control the tempo and be good in the half court,” said Sloan. “Defensively for us, Kiarha Wilce and Morgan Griffith are both very, very good players so we have to try and keep them in check. As the point guard Wilce has the ball in her hands all the time so we are going to have to do a really good job of containing her and keep her from penetrating where we have to come off Griffith to guard her. That’s when she really causes problems. We’ve got to do a good job on those two kids and force somebody else to beat us. We’re allowing 34 points a game and they are scoring 56 points a game, so something has got to give.”

The Lady Redbirds, along with Wilce (5-foot-4 senior) and Griffith (5-foot-10 sophomore) will start Terrilynn Summers (5-foot-6 junior), Hannah Melvin (6-foot-1 junior) and Emily Stewart (5-foot-10 junior). Key reserves for West Frankfort are Lindsey Williams (5-foot-4 senior) Bobbie Jo Wegrzyn (5-foot-6 senior), Jaidon Sailliez (5-foot-10 junior) and Cali Wright (5-foot-7 freshmen).

Sloan, who has the distinction of seeing the hotly-contested rivalry from the unique perspective as a player for West Frankfort and a coach for Benton, said the familiarity that players have through social media has added a new dynamic.

“It’s all strange with the social media,” said Sloan. “I’ve had kids come to me and say they heard this on Facebook or something on Twitter or that Frankfort is bringing a pep bus. It’s definitely added a new component to the rivalry. It’s funny that we are both 10 games in and you’re playing a big game. I’m trying not to put too much pressure on my team, I just want them to go out and play and have fun. At the same time I’m not going to lie to them and tell them that this game doesn’t matter because it does and they know that.”

The Monday night match up will be played at Rich Herrin Gymnasium with the JV game starting at 6:15 p.m. and the varsity contest getting underway at approximately 7:45 p.m.

 

 

By Jim Muir

Last year as a junior Nick Marlo led the Sesser-Valier Devils to a memorable post-season run and a Final Four appearance at Carver Arena in Peoria.

While some athletes might count last year’s March Madness experience as the exclamation mark of their high school career, Marlo is heading into his senior roundball season with an unwavering determination of putting an even bigger exclamation point behind his final year of high school basketball.

“Every year at the start of basketball we have a cookout at Coach (Shane) Garner’s house and he has us write down our team goals on a sheet of paper,” said Marlo. “I wrote down that I want to win a Class 1A state championship. That’s my only goal for our team this season.”

Considering the start that Marlo has had less than a month into the season – a start that includes a 51-point outburst against Du Quoin and hitting the winning shot on the road at the buzzer against state-ranked Okawville – don’t be surprised if Marlo and teammates are in the hunt again next February when post season play begins.

A three-year starter for the Red Devils, Marlo said the amazing post season success of the 2010 S-V basketball team made him realize that small town dreams really can become a reality. Marlo was an 8th grader during that memorable run when the Red Devils made their first-ever trip to the state tournament and brought back a second-place trophy.

“When I was younger I would dream of playing in the state tournament, but seeing that group of players – TJ Eubanks, Justin Matyi, Dane Eubanks, Myles Tinsley and Kendall Gibson – make it to Peoria made it real for me and made me know it was possible,” said Marlo. “And it has motivated me and made me work harder.”

Last year’s team, the first for Garner as head coach, adopted the theme of ‘we believe’ and Marlo said beating Christopher on their home floor in a regional semi-final was a huge step in “really believing” it could be a stellar post season. He said a victory in the regional final over perennial powerhouse Woodlawn two days later solidified the belief that it not only could be, but would be a special year.

“The entire team just started believing that we could do it and we just stuck together with that belief,” Marlo said. “I give a lot of credit to Coach Garner too, he made us believe in ourselves and in our team that we could do great things.”

After cruising through the sectional with a 75-70 victory over Goreville and a 58-49 win over Cairo the Devils beat Dieterich 57-48 in the super sectional to gain a trip to Peoria last year.  A pair of disappointing losses at Carver Arena resulted and S-V brought home the 4th place trophy in the 2014 Class 1A state tournament.  Marlo had sub-par shooting performances in both games, something he said it took him a couple months to resolve in his mind.

“I really feel like I got caught up in the hype of the state tournament and wasn’t focused on the game like I should have been,” said Marlo. “I think I learned last year what it takes to win at Peoria … and I really want that chance again.”

Garner said Marlo’s scoring gets a lot of attention but said the 5-foot-10 guard brings much more to the team and the program than the ability to shoot a basketball.

“Nick just brings so much to the team in so many different areas. He works tremendously hard and spends so much extra time to make himself a better player,” said Garner. “But as good as he is on the court, he is even a better person off the court. Nick is just special, he’s a special player and a special person.”

Garner, an outstanding basketball player and scorer himself during his playing days at S-V, said Marlo has the ability to rise to the occasion when the game is on the line and used the game-winning basket against Okawville as an example.

“Nick was driving to his left and went up and shot a runner with his right hand with three people guarding him. It was a very difficult shot, but one we’ve seen him make before and one he practices all the time,” said Garner. “He wants the ball in his hands when the game is on the line, that’s just the type of kid he is.”

Marlo, a prototypical point guard, said he grew up honing skills that he felt would serve him well as a quarterback on the basketball court.  He emphasized that developing his offensive skills took a back burner, because of that.

“It’s funny, as a kid all I worked on was ball handling and defense, I thought as a point guard that was really important to my game,” Marlo said. “When I got into high school we have shooting three mornings a week before school and I am there every morning and I stay after practice to work on my shooting. We have a gym in Sesser where the old high school used to be and it’s open on Thursday and Sunday nights and I go there and shoot for a couple hours. I knew after my sophomore year that I was going to be counted on to score and I have really worked on my shooting.”

Marlo said he relishes moments when winning or losing comes down to a single shot.

“It’s just a confidence that I have that I want to be in that position. I have a cool, calm feeling that just comes over me,” Marlo said. “I know my coach and my team have confidence in me and that gives me even more confidence.  I’ve taken so many shots during all the years I’ve played that I have a mentality that I think every shot is going to go in every time I shoot it. Every morning when I go in to shoot, or every time I stay after practice I just tell myself that this is what’s going to make me better when that type of situation comes up and we need a basket.”

The 51-point scoring binge by Marlo on December 6 at the Du Quoin Tip-Off Classic fell three points short of the school record of 54 held by Scott Burzynski, who is now head basketball coach at Carterville. He is also closing in on all-time record for most three-pointers made.  While Marlo admitted it would be “neat’ to get those personal records his main focus is winning games and being a good teammate.

On his 51-point outing – a disappointing 74-70 overtime loss to Du Quoin — Marlo said there really is such a thing as “a zone” for athletes.

“Before most games I’m a little nervous with butterflies but that game I just had a real peace before the game,” Marlo said. “My first shot went in and I just got on a roll. My teammates were getting me the ball and coach was calling plays for me. I really did get in a zone that game, it was an amazing feeling.”

Marlo noted that it is easy for him to get revved up for every game he did admit that there are specific venues and teams that make his motor run a little faster.

“I love playing in the Benton Invitational Tournament,” said Marlo.  “That is one of my favorite places to play because of the great atmosphere. And you know the competition is going to be good every night. We have also got to play in the Pinckneyville Shootout and I love playing in Duster Thomas Gym.  I also love playing against Christopher regardless of where the game is at. I love the rivalry between Sesser-Valier and Christopher, it’s always a crazy atmosphere.”

Marlo stressed that there are three important ‘F’s’ in his life – faith, family and friends.  The talented S-V senior, who has also been the starting quarterback the past two years on the gridiron, is not bashful when talking about his faith, both as an athlete and in his every day life.

“My faith in Jesus Christ means everything to me,” said Marlo. “I know that everything I accomplish on or off the court comes from Him. I just try to honor Jesus in everything I do and I want everybody to know that.”

With a last name that has been a fixture in Sesser for multiple generations Marlo is very aware of his heritage, the ties to his extended family and the tight-knit bond of his immediate family. He is the third of four children of David and Cathy Marlo and grew up in a very competitive family with older brother Joseph, 21, and sisters Rachel 19, and Paolina, 14, a freshman at S-V.  Rachel was the leading scorer on last year’s SV girls’ team that advanced to sectional tournament play and Paolina is currently playing varsity basketball as a 9th grader.  Last year Rachel, Nick and Paolina all played on regional championship teams.

“My older brother used to beat up on me and I think that made me tougher,” Marlo laughed. “And my sister Rachel is the most competitive person in the family.  She would come in from a game and tell me what she scored and of course I would try and beat that. I can’t explain how much I love my parents for the support they’ve given.”

Marlo said he also has an extended network of family members in Las Vegas, Springfield and St. Louis that stay in touch with him weekly.

“I am very blessed and the great thing is that I know no matter where my family is at they are supporting me,” said Marlo. “My uncles Ron and Dale live away from here and they send me text messages after games and try to get here to see me play when they can. They were all at the Du Quoin game when I had 51 points and that was very special. I’m so blessed to have that kind of support and love from my parents and all the rest of my family.”

Marlo said growing up in a small community has afforded him the joy of forging relationships with his teammates that started even before he began kindergarten.

“I’ve known Luke (Thompson), Kaleb (Miller) and Jacob (Vanwey) forever and they are much more than a teammate … they’re my brothers. I go to their house and call their mom ‘mom’ and they come to my house and call my mom ‘mom.’ And Logan (Barrett) moved here when he was a freshman and we have a great relationship. We say all the time that we’re not just a team, we’re a family and that really is special for all of us. When basketball is over we’ll have memories and friendships that will last forever.”

The official website for the 2015 Illinois Inauguration was launched today, offering interested individuals an easy to navigate guide to January’s inaugural activities and ceremony.

Visitors to IllinoisInauguration.com can access the schedule of events, the majority of which are free and open to the general public. Notable events in Springfield will include:

• Free daytime admission to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum on Sunday, January 11
• A free “Celebrate Illinois” event at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library on the evening of Sunday, January 11
• Free ticketed admission to the Inaugural Ceremony at the Prairie Capital Convention Center on Monday, January 12
• Free “Open House” with the Governor and First Lady at the Old State Capitol on Monday, January 12
• Inaugural Concert at the Prairie Capital Convention Center on the evening of Monday, January 12

The Inaugural Concert replaces the traditional Inaugural Ball and will feature a famous musical act to be announced at a later date.

Additional major events, activities and information will be announced in the dates leading up to the Inauguration.