Steve Dunford – franklincounty-news.com

THOMPSONVILLE, IL –  The Tigers are playing much better basketball as of late. I am going to bring you up to date.  Since a 50-27 loss at Hardin County, T’ville has been on a roll.

A week ago Thursday, the Tigers make the long trip to Tamms to play the Egyptian Pharaohs.   They come out of there with a 50-37 win.

Tyson Kessler led Thompsonville with 16.  Anthoney Darge came close to having a double double with 15 points and nine rebounds.

Corbin Fitch chipped in nine.  Jared Payne had seven points and rebounds as well.  Both Fitch and Payne had four steals.

Last Saturday night the Tigers go on the road Elkville to play another South Egyptian opponent, the Elverado Falcons.

Honestly I was leery making the trip over there after the Falcons upset Meridian the night before.  It is not the easiest place to play on the road either.

It was the Tigers who came close to pulling the upset, as they led most of the way, lost the lead and stormed back to go in to overtime tied at 51 .

Foul trouble and fatigue plagued the Tigers in the final frame as they lost 66-52.

Tyson Kessler had another good night with 18 points and four assists.  Corbin Fitch added eight.  Jared Payne also had eight on the night.  He had four assists and had five rebounds also.

Jake Dixon came off the bench and played well.  He scored six on the night and added four boards.

Last Tuesday night they played their arch rival Galatia Bearcats in a game that did not count in the GEC standings.  Tville picked up a 59-51 win.

It was Senior Night for Cory Wilce, Tyson Kessler, and Noah Summers, who got the start.

Cory Wilce came up big on the night.  He had 19 points on four threes and went 7-8 from the line.

Tyson Kesler added 15 and also went 7-8 from the charity stripe.

Jared Payne had 11 points and had five assists.

Corbin Fitch was the fourth Tiger in double figures with ten points. Something that jumped out at me was he was five for five from the field.

Luke Lawrence led the Bearcats with 15 points on the night, Kody Matthews 14, and Devin Verbeck chipped in ten.  This trio between them sunk eight threes on the night.

The Tigers go into tonight’s game with NCOE with a 7-16 record.  Two of those wins are against the Fighting Cardinals.   They will face the Woodlawn Cardinals Monday Night in the first round of the Wayne City Class 1A Regional.

I think Thompsonville will match up with Wollerman and Isaac well.  Jordan Hoppa’s strength and height might give the Tigers some trouble in the post.  It is a winnable game for T’ville in the regional Monday night the way they have been playing of late.

Galatia is 10-14 on the season.  They have a tough one tonight on the road at Carrier Mills.  They will play a familiar foe in Crab Orchard in the first,  The Bearcats dropped a 46-43 decision in the semi finals of the GEC tournament.

Let February Fever begin.