Here’s the link to the story.

(Editor’s Note:  I saw a couple of posts on Facebook today that mentioned January 16 as the birth date of J.B. Kearney, who passed away a few years ago. Kearney served as mayor of West City back in the late 1970s and early 1980s and led the village into a new and modern era. I was a resident of West City in those days and watched closely the valiant effort that he fought against sometimes great odds to keep his campaign promise and get the job done.  I wrote this column back in September 2010, the day after Kearney passed.  There are some topics from the past worth revisiting, this is one of them. I hope you enjoy.    JM)

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I read the obituary and then I read it a second time more slowly. The name of the deceased was J.B. Kearney and as is always the case the obit told a brief chronological story about his life.

The obituary painted a picture of a good life, a talented man who was an outstanding musician, a gifted painter, a man that served his country in the military and worked hard as a public servant. The obit also clearly indicated that Kearney’s legacy will live on through his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. We should all be so lucky, I thought, to live a long life that full and rewarding.

While I read the entire obit with interest I was particularly drawn to two sentences that read:

‘During his life, he (Kearney) was involved in local politics and served as mayor of West City in the 1970s. He was instrumental in bringing business to West City and helping to form the municipality it is today.’

While those two sentences are concise and accurate they stop far short of telling the entire story of what J.B. Kearney accomplished as mayor of West City.

Let me explain.

Only a few days after my 18^th birthday I went to work at Old Ben Mine 21 near Sesser and shortly after that I bought a house in West City. The house, located on Blakely Street, was an old ‘fixer-upper’ and I tackled the renovation a little at a time with absolutely no experience as a homeowner but with a lot of enthusiasm.

The purchase of the house also provided me with my first-ever experience with septic tanks. And nearly 40 years later my reaction when even thinking about septic tanks is – ughhh! There is nothing quite as frustrating as paying $150 to have a septic tank pumped out and then three days later see raw sewage bubbling up in the yard in that spot where the grass is always greener.

J.B. Kearney

You see, I grew up in Sesser, which had a sanitary sewage system, so making the move to West City in the early 1970s provided me with somewhat of an education. Words like ‘sewer-ditch,’ ‘honey-dipper,’ and ‘out-house’ were soon added to my vocabulary. And let me tell you there is nothing quite like the smell of an outdoor ‘john’ on a hot July night.

It was during this time that I met J.B. Kearney. He stopped by that old Blakely Street house one day and introduced himself as a candidate for mayor. He got my attention quickly when he said that if he was elected he would fight for a sanitary sewer system for the village. Well, needless to say he got my attention, along with my vote and support, in a hurry.

Kearney won that election, unseating a mayor who had held the position for three decades and unlike many candidates these days who provide lip service during a campaign and then run and hide once they’re elected he immediately began the arduous task of keeping his promise about a new sewage system.

Looking back, I can’t imagine, particularly in that era before all-things-electronic, what went in to getting a mammoth project like that off the ground. Think about it, state and federal permits, government bureaucracy and red tape, snail mail and then dealing with every single residence and business in West City that would be affected. It still seems somewhat mind-boggling to me.

But perhaps the biggest obstacle that Kearney faced was a small faction of naysayers within the community who fought him every step of the way. To this day I still don’t understand the logic of those that battled against Kearney’s effort to move the village to a modern era and at the same time change the aroma of the air.

And it was that side of Kearney – the dogged determination, quiet leadership and unwavering perseverance – that prompts me to string some words together today to honor a man that I believe was a visionary and far ahead of his time. To say that Kearney left an impression on a then-20-year-old the way he forged ahead with the project would be an understatement.

Certainly, West City has been blessed with several progressive and forward-thinking public officials since Kearney ended his time as mayor in 1984 but when I look at West City today, the paved streets, outstanding emergency services and the tremendous economic growth (not to mention a sanitary sewage system) I always think of J. B. Kearney. I was there nearly 40 years ago and I know what he went through, saw how hard he worked and I’m still inspired by what he accomplished.

Obituaries are adequate and purposeful when describing the highlights of an individual’s life but they fail to reveal the real fabric of that person.

Today I would like to add a footnote to J.B. Kearney’s obituary.

Along with the relevant facts that were listed Kearney should also be remembered as a man of integrity, a man who was quiet, dignified and reserved but certainly not afraid of a fight and a man that stood up against loud and sometimes ignorant voices to do the right thing. Perhaps the greatest compliment I can pay to him today is to simply say he was a good man that kept his word.

As I stated earlier Kearney’s legacy is intact through his children, grand-children and great-grandchildren but another part of his legacy will also live on forever in a small and now-thriving village that he fought like a champion to guide into a new and modern era.

Rest in peace Mayor Kearney … you fought a good fight.

By Mike Thomas

Talent seems to run in families.  A family with one outstanding musician will often boast a number of other talented vocalists or instrumentalists spanning several generations.  Cooks, seamstresses and even dairy farmers with locally famous reputations are numerous under one family name.  Athletic talent also runs in West Frankfort families, as a study of West Frankfort year books will quickly reveal.  The Broy family of West Frankfort is synonymous with baseball, and incredibly, three of them from this community reached a professional level playing baseball in the St. Louis Cardinals organization.

Dan Broy, Jr.

Dan Broy Jr. signed with the Cardinals in 1946 when he was 21 years old.  He was married to his wife Leada and they had two children, Sally and Danny. Sally was Dan’s stepdaughter. Her father and Dan’s cousin; Robert Chance, had died in a coal mine accident near Taylorville when Leada was only three months pregnant with Sally.

Dan Broy, Jr. spent three seasons in the St. Louis Cardinals baseball organization.

In March of 1946, Pete Mondino, a part-time Cardinals scout from West Frankfort, took Dan to a tryout at Sportsman’s Park in St. Louis.  Leada went along to the tryout.  Close to 100 young men were at the tryout. After watching Dan smoothly take ground balls at first base and then watching him hit four balls onto the right field pavilion roof during batting practice, they signed him to a pro contract.  He was the only player at the tryout that was signed that day.

While Dan was getting dressed in the locker room and before he was taken to the General Manager’s office to be signed, a Cardinals official escorted Leada to the GM’s office to meet the Cardinals General Manger Bill Walsingham and the Cardinals head scout Joe Mathis.  While Leada spoke to the two men she waited for Dan and Pete Mondino to meet her there.

On the way up to the office Pete told Dan that the Cardinals were going to sign him and that they might be able to get more money if he lied about his age.  He told Dan to tell the General Manager and head scout that he was only 20 years old instead of 21. Since the scout got a certain percentage of money for any players that they helped get signed, Pete had a vested interest in the deal.

When the pair walked into the GM’s office, Leada was already sitting there. She had no clue that Walsingham was a powerful person in major league baseball.  He told Dan that they were going to sign him and then started asking him questions.  One of the first Walsingham asked was, “how old are you, Dan?”  Remembering what Pete Mondino had told him, Dan falsely answered, “Sir, I just turned 20 years old.”  Leada, quickly said, “Jr., (that’s what everyone called him) what’s wrong with you?  You know you’re not 20.  You’re 21.  Dan turned beet red, and said, “That’s right, I forgot.”  The Pete Mondino plan about Dan’s age failed because Pete and Dan neglected to fill Leada in on their little white lie. But Dan still signed a contract.

The left-handed hitting first baseman was sent to their Class B team in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Growing up during the Great Depression, Dan had not traveled much. He took the train to Allentown where he was assigned a roommate by the name of Johnny Klippstein, who was also making his first big trip away from home. But the similarities between the two ended there. Johnny was 18, single, and from a middle-class Jewish family in Chicago. Dan was from the economically depressed rural coalfields of southern Illinois, 21, and married with two kids. Despite their differences, the two became best friends and Dan took the younger player under his wing, even showing him how to write a check and pay bills.

Johnny Klippstein went on to have a very successful 18-year major league baseball career with several teams from 1950-67, mainly as a relief pitcher.   He won a World Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1959 and had an even more significant role with the Minnesota Twins when they won the American League pennant in 1965.  He never forgot Dan helping him early in his career and they stayed in touch for years.

Dan showed promise at Allentown, and the Cardinals rewarded him by moving him up in 1947 to Class A at Winston -Salem, North Carolina. The 1988 movie, Bull Durham, starring Kevin Costner, was filmed at the old Durham Stadium, which was home to the Durham Bulls, one of Winston-Salem’s opponents.  When the movie came out and Dan watched it, he excitedly called his children to tell them, “Hey, you have to watch the movie Bull Durham! I played in that stadium for the Winston-Salem Cardinals in 1947.”

Dan’s final year with the Cardinals was at their Class AA affiliate in Houston, Texas.  His manager at Houston was Johnny Keane, who would later manage the Cardinals 1964 World Series championship team.   Keane was a great teacher of the game and Dan later remarked he learned more about baseball and life than any other coach or manager that he ever had.

A serious coal mining accident in the winter of 1948 ended Dan’s pro career. He left the mines and worked as a truck driver for Bonifield Brothers Trucking for 30 years.  He also coached youth baseball for several years and lived the rest of his life in West Frankfort where he passed away in 1997.

Charles Broy

Charles Broy first played pro ball for the St. Louis Browns Class D affiliate in the Kitty League at Mayfield, Kentucky in 1938.  At 19 years old Charles was signed to play at Mayfield by former Major League player Bennie Tate.  But Charles career with Mayfield only lasted a few weeks.

One Sunday, several Broy family members overloaded in an old vehicle and went to Mayfield to see Charles pitch. It was the first time they had seen him play and Charles did not disappoint them, pitching a nine inning complete game 2-1 victory.  After the game, he went over to see his family members and—after a few hugs and congratulations—threw his glove and spikes into the car and jumped in. “I’m so homesick I can’t stand it any longer,” explained Charles to his bewildered family.  “I’m going home right now.  Let’s get out of here before they stop me.”

Charles Broy

Nine years later Charles would get another chance to play pro baseball with the Cardinals Class D affiliate team here in West Frankfort.  Charles had a good year in 1947 and began the season with the team in 1948.  After just a few weeks of that season, his career ended because of foot and leg problems that were attributed to acquiring trench foot while fighting in the Battle of the Bulge during World War II.   One of Charles’ teammates on the West Frankfort Cardinals 1948 team was MLB Hall of Fame manager Earl Weaver, who led the Baltimore Orioles to the World Series title in 1970.

Charles worked as the Street Superintendent for the city of West Frankfort for several years.  He also coached youth baseball for several years. He lived in West Frankfort his entire life and passed away in 1988.

Dennis (Dink) Broy

In the spring of 1973 while attending an SIU baseball game, Dink’s dad, Dan Broy Jr., ran into Joe Mathis, the Cardinals head scout who had signed Dan in 1946.  Dan told Mathis that his son, Dink had been home for three of four years after serving two tours of duty in Vietnam. Dink was now 25 years old, but he was a very good left-handed hitting shortstop and that if given a chance he could play pro ball.

As he approached Dink, McCarver had a strange look on his face and said, “Hi, young man.  I hear that you just got signed to a pro contract and that you’re a Vietnam veteran.”   “Yes sir Mr. McCarver that’s true.”

McCarver then said, “Well I have a question for you before I shake your hand and congratulate you.  I saw you taking batting practice and you have a really good stroke.  My question is this.  Are you a left handed hitting catcher like me?  If so, I’m not sure if I want to shake your hand or not.”  Then with a big smile on his face McCarver said, “You may be taking my job.”

Dink replied, “No sir, Mr. McCarver. I’m a left handed hitting shortstop.”  McCarver wiped his brow, started laughing loudly and replied, “Good, I’ll shake your hand.” He congratulated Dink for signing a pro contract and thanked Dink for serving our country in Vietnam.  It was one of the few times during the 1970’s or since then that anyone sincerely thanked him for serving in Vietnam

Dink played one year for the Cardinals Rookie League team in Sarasota, Florida, but his pro career ended because of a shoulder injury.  His manager at Sarasota was former Cardinals great Kenny Boyer.  Boyer’s assistant coach at Sarasota was Lee Thomas who had a long major league playing career.  He would go on to be the General Manager of the Philadelphia Phillies from 1988-97.

Like Dan and Charles before him, Dink coached youth baseball for several years. He also served as the commander of the West Frankfort VFW for several years. He worked 22 years for the Illinois Dept. of Corrections and is now retired and living in Orient, IL.

Broy baseball talent didn’t stop then. The family boasts of three others who played baseball for Frankfort Community High School who then went on to play college baseball: Davy Broy, Bobby Broy and Steve Broy. It’s a good bet that the family baseball legacy will continue in future years. After all, it’s in their blood.

KUTTAWA, Ky. — A 7-year-old girl who survived a plane crash in Kentucky that killed her parents and two other family members has been released from the hospital, an official said Saturday.

Here’s the link to the story at CBS.com.

Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-New York, said Democrats have enough votes to support the president if he vetoes a bill to begin construction on the Keystone XL pipeline.

Here’s the story.

By Jim Muir

Dakota Young, a reserve basketball player at Fairfield High School, hit a long three-pointer in the closing seconds of a 72-43 victory over Johnston City on Saturday night.

That fact in itself might not raise an eyebrow to the casual observer looking over the box score of the lopsided Fairfield victory in the Black Diamond Conference match up, however those who know the details of the past three months of Young’s life understand that what they witnessed was nothing short of miraculous.

A senior at Fairfield and a three-sport athlete, Young’s life changed forever on Sept. 21 – four weeks into his high school football season where he was a starting tight end for the then undefeated Mules.

Dakota Young pictured on the bench during a Fairfield Mules game.

Young recalls every detail of that fateful day.

“I was driving a Razer (four-wheel all-terrain vehicle) and I was going way too fast,” Young said. “I turned too sharp and it rolled and I came out on the first rotation and when it came back it landed on my right leg and broke my leg.”

Young said in the early hours after the accident doctors thought that they would be able to save his leg but a potentially deadly infection set in the open wound on the severely injured limb.

“They (doctors) did everything that they could to save my leg, but the infection just kept spreading,” said Young. “They basically gave me the option that they had to take the leg off or it could potentially kill me.”

Young’s leg was amputated on Sept. 30 – nine days after the accident – and he began the long and difficult rehabilitation process less than six weeks into his senior season. Young said his family, faith and friends from the tight-knit community of Fairfield helped strengthen him through the difficult mental process.

“I had a tremendous amount of support through my family and friends, I can’t say enough about how much they helped me,” said Young. “I understood what had to happen and everybody rallied around me and helped me get through it.”

Young spent 18 days in the hospital and underwent seven surgeries and extensive physical therapy and occupational therapy. Showing the resiliency of youth, Young wasted no time in getting acclimated back into his high school routine, which of course included sports.

“I was in a wheel chair and I was on the sidelines during football supporting my team,” said Young. “It was tough at first … but I was still there at practice and games and that was important to me.”

Young was fitted for a prosthetic on Dec. 9 and dressed for a game that night. He walked through warm up drills but did not play in any games – that is until Coach Scott McElravy came up with an idea about Saturday night’s game against Johnston City.

Knowing it was Young’s 18^th birthday McElravy came up with a plan to try and get Young back on the floor. Knowing that his team was playing a rebuilding Johnston City team, McElravy hoped the Mules would have a sizable lead so he could give Young a special birthday present – some playing time in the waning moments of the game. McElravy shared his idea with Young’s parents and his assistant coach and nobody else, including Young.

Everything fell into place for McElravy’s plan but not even Hollywood could have written a script like the one that played out.

“I was really surprised when coach came up and told me I was going in the game,” Young said. “My first thought was, ‘holy crap.’ I was nervous and I was just concerned with getting up and down the floor.”

“The Shot”

McElravy, a veteran of more than 20 years in the coaching ranks, said with about three minutes remaining he walked to the end of the bench and told Young he was going in the game. He said the expression on Young’s face was priceless.

“His eyes just literally lit up,” said McElravy. “I asked him how many trips up and down the floor he could make. His first comment back was that he was worried how good he would be on defense.”

So, with 90 seconds remaining Young entered the game and walked on to the floor to a standing ovation — on a prosthetic leg he had been fitted for 11 days earlier. But, that emotion-filled entrance was nothing to what would take place in the coming moments, In fact, what took place next might forever be known as ‘The Shot’ in the legend and lore of Fairfield Mules basketball history. It was also a moment that left those in attendance with tears in their eyes and searching for adjectives to describe what they witnessed.

“First, I didn’t even think I was going to get in the game and for sure didn’t think I would be shooting the ball,” said Young. “We were just passing the ball around running out the clock and I got the ball four or five feet behind the three-point line and everybody was yelling for me to shoot. So, I just took two dribbles and shot.”

Young said given his usual style of play – he’s 6-foot-3 and an inside player — he believes there was definitely divine intervention with the shot.

“I am not a three-point shooter,” said Young. “My game was to beat and bang under the basket and try to score in the paint. Everybody that saw the shot said it was the most perfect shot that they had ever seen. I felt better about the shot than I do about shooting a layup. I just knew it was going to go in.”

McElravy gave high marks to the Johnston City coaching staff and team.

“The Johnston City player just sort of backed off a little,” said McElravy. “And he shot it from about 22 feet and it was nothing but the bottom of the net. I looked over and one of the refs was crying, all my players were crying, the opposing players and coaches were crying, fans were crying. It was just an unbelievably special moment, one I will never forget.”

With one arm around the game ball and the other around his girlfriend Kylar Slover, Dakota Young savors the moment after the game.

The referee that McElravy referred to is longtime official Bobby Blondi, who has officiated nearly 40 years.

“In all the years I’ve officiated and gone to basketball games I have never seen anything like it,” said Blondi. “When he came in the game and then when he made the shot it was like a chill went through the gym. It was like something out of a movie, it made you ask yourself, ‘is this really happening?’ I really think it was meant to happen just like it did.”

Watch the video here.

McElravy said the moment certainly put high school sports in perspective.

“We’ve won regionals and we won the Eldorado Holiday Tournament and that is great,” said the longtime Fairfield coach. “But, something like this touched so many people. We gave him the game ball and it happened on his 18^th birthday. This really deserves to be a national story, it was just really emotional for everybody. Sometimes in sports we get caught up in the moment … but this was a moment really worth getting caught up in.”

Even the day after his remarkable shot Young was still searching for words to describe what took place.

“It was a great feeling when the shot went in, I was just at a loss for words and I really still am,” said Young. “Again, I can’t thank my coaches, my family and my teammates enough for all the support they have given me. It wasn’t enough but all I knew to say was ‘thank you … thank you.’ I will never, ever forget my 18^th birthday, it was a moment that will be forever in my mind”

Young said after graduating high school he plans to go to a four-year university and major in athletic training and become a certified athletic trainer.

Given what Young has accomplished in the past three months, that’s a hill that he will easily climb.

The Benton Police Department is asking for help in locating a issing Benton man.  Ira Goff , age 59 of Benton, IL. was reported missing by family members on Dec. 18, 2014.  Anyone with information to the whereabouts of Goff are asked to contact the Benton Police Department at 618-435-8131.  The Police suspect no foul play at this time.

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.

Benton Rangerettes Coach Andy Sloan

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.”

West Frankfort Coach Matt Hampleman

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.

Nick Marlo, left, and Sesser-Valier basketball coach Shane Garner, right, show off last year’s fourth place trophy from the Class A state tournament. (Photo by Amy Galloway/PF Photography of Sesser)

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.”

Sesser-Valier guard Nick Marlo  (Photo by Amy Galloway/PF Photography of Sesser

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.”