by Steve Dunford- franklincounty-news.com

About five years ago, there was something that started to bother me.  You did not see the big crowds at high school games.  Living in Sesser at the time, it was jammed packed at Sesser-Valier.  It was in the middle of their post season runs, finishing second in Class 1A in 2010.

Becasue of health, there was one year I did not darken the door of a high school basketball gym.  It was also the year that video streaming came about.  I watched a lot of games from Goreville, on blackcatsnetwork.com, and I became very familiar with the Hamilton County Foxes on FoxesFans.net. I spent a lot of time listening to games on the radio and audio streaming.

There was a sellout crowd at Benton High school this week in the BIT for the Pinckneyville/Benton game, as Pinckneyville is ranked 7th in the state in class 2A and Benton is 6th in class 3A in the AP Statewide Poll this week.  Benton had a big lead in that game and Pinckneyville made a huge comeback.  Benton ended up holding them off 52-42 to run the table in the BIT at 5-0 

I have heard several people mention it reminded them of the epic battle in 1984 between Benton and McLeansboro.  I was in the 8th grade, and I was there that night.  Every crook and cranny was filled that night in Rich Herrin Gym.

David Lee’s Foxes were state champs in Class A that year, going undefeated.  Rich Herrin’s Benton Rangers were Class AA that year, by about 20 students.  With an enrollment barely over 700, the Rangers gave Evanston, a school over 3,000, all they wanted in the quarterfinals of the AA state tournament losing in overtime.

Being a 14 year old kid I loved the Foxes and Rangers.  Jerry Warren was my Social Studies teacher and Basketball Coach during that era.  We would get him off subject talking about the Foxes and get out of work some days.  The rides home from basketball games were about the Foxes.  We even stayed in a classroom after a ball game at Logan (they did not have locker rooms) listening to the game with Evansville Bosse.  The bus driver, as well as the cheerleaders, and a few parents. gathered around this new fandangled invention called a boom box.

I loved the Rangers too during that era.  I asked my mom and dad for a Foxes hoodie and a stitched Rangers jacket from the defunct Hub store in Benton.  My brother beat me up and asked where my Tiger Pride was.  He was right, and I had received a stitched Thompsonville Tiger jacket for Christmas.

The 1980’s was the golden era of High School  Basketball in Southern Illinois.  There were a slew of Division 1 Basketball players throughout that era and a lot of them are coaching.  Several came from Franklin County.  There are over a dozen that came to mind across , but I am afraid I will miss one.

It seems like the D1 players have slowed down.  SIU has always had a guard that came from Southern Illinois.  First was Carterville Coach Shane Hawkins, then Missouri State coach Kent Williams, and now Tyler Smithpeters.

I don’t see a Division One basketball player coming out of Southern Illinois,  but a lot of kids that can play at the Division II or III level or in the NAIA.

The crowds are though like the ’80s.  When I was at the Christopher Turkey Tournament, fans began to file in during the consolation championship game between Thompsonville and Z-R.  It would take a shoe horn to fit one more person in “The Cave” in Christopher, which I think should be named Tom Wheeler gymnasium.

There were great crowds at all the Thanksgiving tournaments and Holiday Tournaments this year. I was not able to attend any this year, but the attendance at Sesser-Valier and Pinckneyville was outstanding from what I hear.  I watched a lot of the Eldorado Holiday Tournament on Foxes Fans. net and the crowds were outstanding as well.  There were even decent crowds at the 8:30 a.m. breakfast special and the 10:00 midnight special.

I either watched all or parts of games but two from the Midwinter classic.  Like at Benton, the student sections were great, especially Marion and Herrin.

Several regular season games, especially against rivalry schools are well attended.

I was watching the Marion/Herrin game with my son at the top level chair seats in Max Morris gym.  He asked if all 3A games were like this, with the kids getting into and more physical that the BDC West. I said yes the game is more physical, but the student sections were awesome.

Several have enlisted me in the Big Red Army and, I am not getting onto the students, but here are some things to consider.  I want to compliment you on your big turnout against Eldorado.  The Redbirds played their guts out against the Class 3A team in the state.  Most of you were incognito against Herrin.  I also want you to consider this, chanting “Bull Ship” at the officials when you don’t  sounds like something else.  It does not look good.

I am going to gripe at you about something else.  The student section was empty against the West Frankfort, Herrin game.  Shame on you.

Yes, there was a good crowd though.  Most of the fans from Sesser-Valier hung around and there was a good crowd for the game though.  Not only Pitchfork Nation support their Devils, they are basketball fans in general.

I am issuing a challenge tonight.  I would love to see that student section full tonight.  The Redbirds will be playing that maroon team six miles to the north tonight.  I would love to see a loud student section filled with red on one side and maroon on the other.

Listen, it is Benton and West Frankfort.  I have always said that if there is two tom cats one from Benton, and one from West Frankfort, fighting in 18 bottoms it would draw a crowd.  The girls play hard, and deserve your support.  I will be an impartial bystander, as I cover both teams.  Please come out. and see a good girls high school basketball game.

If you cant make it to Max Morris gym, tune in to Q 106 and listen to Jim Muir and Michael Marlo.

I don’t preach much anymore but I was a long winded preacher.  I have turned into a long winded writer.  I try to keep it around 500-750 words.  I am at 1120.  Bear with me, I am trying to get better at cutting it down.