by Steve Dunford

There are four HS boys basketball games that I will preview tonight.  All three of the county BDC West schools are in action and Thompsonville makes the 10 mile trip down Route 34 to take on their arch rival Galatia Bearcats.

VIENNA (9-3)(3-0) vs SESSER-VALIER(5-7)(1-1)

After watching the Eagles a couple times from Eldorado, I was thinking these two teams match-up well.  The both have a good inside-outside game, and the both have deep benches.  

Here is what Devils Coach Shane Garner has to say about tonight’s game, ” They are a very hard nosed playing team, very fundamentally sound and tough on defense. We will have to handle their pressure and be strong when attacking the basket. They are a very good penetrating team on offense and containing the dribble will be our main concern on the defensive end.”

Here is what Vienna coach Cory Waters had to say about making the bus trip from Johnson County tonight, “Sesser is a good team that plays hard and with a lot of energy. We will have to match their energy and play well if we want to go on the road and win.  Playing in the EHT was a good experience. We didn’t compete as well as we would have liked, going 1-2 but we are using that experience to learn and get better as a team.”

The Eagles have a very good back court consisting of Ben Daine and Lucas Strickland, and Brandon Casey is a nice post player.  This will be one of those series in the conference that I can see being a split.  I am going with the Devils by two at home.

THOMPSONVILLE (3-7)(1-2) at GALATIA (4-7)(2-3)

For the Tigers this is the second meeting of the row against the Bearcats.  Galatia knocked off T’ville 64-50 in the consolation quarterfinals of the Sesser-Valier Holiday Tournament.  Galatia was beat in the next round by two points by Century.

This is what Thompsonville coach Pete Gordon had to say about tonight’s game, “Twenty five turnovers, that’s how many we had last time we played Galatia.  If we can cut that in half I like our chances we have to somehow learn to value the basketball.

There were gaps in the video from last week, but here are a few things that I picked up on.  What I saw in the second half, was the run and gun style of play is how Rod Wallace likes to play and led to a lot of Tiger turnovers.

 Galatia controlled the tempo, and won the basketball game.  T’ville is going to have to find the three point stroke again to win to bring Galatia out of that 2-3 zone.  I don’t have official stats, but it seems like the Bearcats won the battle of the boards.

I am going with Galatia by five.  It seems like since the beginning of time, those two schools split their home and home’s every year.

CHRISTOPHER (7-4)(1-0) vs TRICO (4-8)(0-1)

Christopher cut down the nets at Sesser last week.  Trico had a very tough time of it at the DTHC.

I am not that familiar with the Pioneers.  I know that Justin Bauersachs was looked at on having a bright future.  Myerhoff and Compton, who are appearing in some box scores saw some time off the bench.

With Bradley Young getting his 15-20 a game, him along with Jared Curry and Kaelab Pedigo will be a force to be reckoned with during the second half.

I am going with the Bearcats by 10.  They are poised to get a number one seed at Crab Orchard.  Wayne City is the other regional host.

CHESTER (9-4)(1-2) vs ZEIGLER-ROYALTON (1-6)(0-1)

I watched some film this afternoon when the Yellowjackets played Goreville at the Sesser-Valier Holiday Tournament.

My conclusion is that Chester causes Z-R more match-up problems than any team in the conference.

I am going with Chester by 25.  It might be a long night for the Torndadoes, but things are looking up.  Giving Woodlawn all they wanted in the first round of the SVHT says volumes.  They will give some teams some scares in the second half and maybe pull off an upset or two.  I have a feeling it will not be tonight.