by Steve Dunford

Coach Eric Stallman will have Bradley Young who is averaging 15 a game, and Gabe Schimpf has been shooting the lights out and been in double figures the last few games.  He has signed a letter of intent to play baseball for SEMO.

Last night was the first time I watched the Eldorado Eagles play live last night.  I watched them on video from the Eldorado Holiday Tournament.

Instead of writing a preview, I am going to share what coach Josh Bradley shared about his team:

Steve Dunford

There will be an outstanding girls basketball game on tap this evening in the second round of the West Frankfort midwinter classic between West Frankfort and Sesser-Valier-Waltonville at 7:00 p.m.

I am encouraging everyone from Christopher to go watch this game before the boys game with Eldorado.

The Redbirds feature the top scorer in the state Morgan Griffith averaging around 35 ppg.  I tell people all the time the only girls player I know all time better than her is Tyra Buss.  They also feature sharp shooter and zone buster Cali Wright.

Megan Beery handles the point sometimes for WF when Griffith goes in and posts up.  She was her dads manager, football coach Brian Beery during football season.  During the Redbirds playoff run, I told the Canton press several times, she is like having another assistant coach on the sidelines.  She is like that on the floor for West Frankfort.

On the other side of the ledger, I watched Hannah Garascia grow up.  She was one heck of a running back on my sons flag football team several years ago.  She is one of the better players in Southern Illinois.  She can play the one through the five.

Jaylyn Haley can shoot the lights out and has over 1,000 points in her career.  She comes from a rich basketball tradition in Waltonville.  Sami McCowen from Waltonville is a scorer too.

I have watched post player Taylor Frank grow up as well.  She has a twist as well in the co-op.  She went to grade school at Waltonville and high school at Sesser.  She is from Valier and her mom Lori is a teacher at Waltonville Grade School.

I have watched Red Devils, Spartans and Cardinals in football mesh into Red Devils and Spartans.  It is a beautiful thing.  High School co-ops give the kids a chance to play that never would.

There are two veteran coaches on the sideline.  Rick Metcalf for S-V-W has over 500 wins between coaching the girls and boys head coaching jobs at Joppa, Vienna, and a long time at Sesser-Valier.  He was Herrin’s volleyball coach this fall.   Coach Metcalf did a huge favor for me when I was a young man.  I will be eternally grateful.

On the other sideline is Matt Hampleman.  He was my HS team mate at Thompsonville.  He grew up like a brother to me.  He has spent his whole coaching career at West Frankfort.  He has been at the helm over 20 years.

This is my first girls game preview and prediction that I have written.  I apologize if I was sentimental and places.  The Redbirds are down two post players and dressing eight.  The Devils in numbers look like an arena football team on the sidelines.

Rick Metcalf uses his bench.  S-V was in a barn burner with Herrin, which beat WF by 15.  I am going with the Devils by seven.  You will see me rooting for both teams tonight as I am torn.  Go Redbirds and go Devils.