Austin Wills will be playing, and Ron Winemiller and Wade Thomas will be coaching, for the South 3A/4A Illinois Basketball Coaches Association  All Star Boys Basketball game in Pontiac.

Game time for the 1A/2A game is 4:00 p.m., for the 3A-4A game, it will tip off at 6:00 p.m.

Playing for the 1A/2A South team in our region are Jared Cain of Patoka, Seth Ramsey of Gallatin County, Trevor Davis of Waterloo Gibault, Justin Carpenter of Mt. Carmel, and Shane Ganz of Okawville.

Along with Wills, Jack Strieker of Breese Central, Javon Pickett of Belleville East, Thomas Bell of Cahokia, Dawson Berry Centralia, and Tyler Dancy of Belleville West will represent the 3A/4A South squad from the 618.

The full roster is listed below:

CLASS 1A-2A NORTH

Malik Parker (Chicago Christian)

Kelvin Cortez-Harvey (Elgin St. Edward)

Gentry Whiteman (Rockridge)

Will Clausel (Newark)

Justin Fox (Dwight)

Taylor Bruninga (Illini Bluffs)

Jordan Doss (Chicago Hope)

Jameel Alausa (Chicago University High)

Juan Contreras (Kewanee)

Tyler McCormick (Colfax Ridgeview)

Nathan Schroeder (Watseka)

Chaz Sardin (Peoria Charter Quest)

Carson Frakes (Rockridge)

Cameron Myre (Newark)

Head Coach – Bill Sambrookes, Hinckley-Big Rock

Assistant Coaches – Dick Rink, Hinckley-Big Rock;  Tyler Nauman, Hinckley-Big Rock; Brett Moore, Hinsdale South

CLASS 1A-2A SOUTH

Brandon Trimble (St. Joseph-Ogden)

Max Muller (Porta)

Cory Miller (Mendon Unity)

Justin Botorff (Quincy-Notre Dame)

Jered Cain (Patoka)

Korbyn Personett (Pittsfield)

Dylan Dirks (Robinson)

Drew Gibson (Effingham St. Anthony)

Seth Ramsey (Gallantin County)

Trevor Davis (Waterloo Gibault)

Connor Toennies (Carlyle)

Justin Carpenter (Mt. Carmel)

Carter Cramsey (Quincy Notre Dame)

Isaac Collins (Pleasant Plains)

Shane Ganz (Okawville)

Head Coach Jeff Johnston, – Athens

Assistant CoachesCurtis Dion, Athens;  Mike Smith, Athens

CLASS 3A-4A NORTH

Cameron Krutwig (Jacob)

Jaylen Jones (Oswego)

Jimmy Sotos (Conant)

Jamal Nixon (Fenwick

Jack Nolan (Benet)

Elyjah Williams (Evanston)

Garrett Fant (Lake Park)

Jamal Thomas (Grayslake North)

PJ Pipes (Lemont)

Ramar Evans (Loyola)

Cameron Gross (Oak Park River Forest)

Jared Scott (Oak Park River Forest)

Frankie Mack (Prospect)

Rashaad Williams (St. Rita)

Rod Henry-Hayes (Zion Benton)

Christian Negron (Elgin Larkin)

Head Coach –  Tom McCormack, Conant

Assistant Coaches – Tom Anstett, Lincoln-Way East; Pat McCormack, Conant

CLASS 3A-4A SOUTH

Yaakema Rose (Springfield Lanphier)

Javon Pickett (Belleville East)

Devin Whitelow (Washington)

Grant Wolfe (Effingham)

Brandon McCombs (Jacksonville)

Thomas Bell (Cahokia)

Dawson Berry (Centralia)

Marco Pettinato (Lincoln-Way West)

McKyron Tucker (Ottawa)

Trevyon Williams (Springfield Southeast)

Tyler Dancy (Belleville West)

Austin Wills (Benton)

Jack Strieker (Breese Central)

Jeffrey Boyd (Homewood Flossmoor)

Jose Grubbs (Joliet Central)

Mark Smith (Ewardsville)

Oliver Stephen (Ewardsville)

Head Coach – Ron Winemiller, Benton

Assistant Coach – Wade Thomas, Benton

http://www.bentongazette.com/sports/robinson-hired-as-new-ranger-wrestling-coach/article_a62ef728-4262-11e7-97aa-9f7fc2daad20.html

BENTON, IL – (Ian McMahon – The Benton Gazette.  Please click on the link above for the full story.  Here is an excerpt below.)

The BCHS school board made the decision to hire Benton alumni and former wrestler Aaron Robinson as the head coach to replace the recently retired head coach Duane Bean.

“I see a positive future for the program. Aaron is coaching for the right reasons, and knows what it means to be a Benton wrestler,” said Bean.

He made a huge splash in Southern Illinois high school wrestling scene boasting a 130-29 career record with various post season accolades such as: four time all SIRR-Conference, four time all South selection, and a three time state qualifier.

In Robinson’s three trips to Assembly Hall (State Farm Center) he placed one time earning third place. After his high school career Robinson went on to wrestle for McKendree University; a division II school in Lebanon, Illinois.

http://www.bentoneveningnews.com/sports/20170518/patience-at-the-plate-ends-pitchers-duel-for-benton

BENTON, IL – (Michael Dann – Harrisburg Daily Register – Please click link for the full story above.  Here is an excerpt below)

The pitchers duel between Eldorado’s Max Kasiar and Benton’s Zach Avery was everything fans were hoping for during Wednesday’s IHSA Class 2A Regional semifinal at Harrisburg’s Jay Thompson Field.

Holding a 2-1 lead through four innings, Benton, the No. 1 seed, couldn’t seem to put Eldorado away.

And then the fifth inning happened.

The Rangers (27-6) put up seven runs, blowing the game open and walking out with an 11-3 win over Eldorado (7-18), putting themselves in Saturday’s championship game.

http://www.bentoneveningnews.com/sports/20170516/benton-bounced-by-bulldogs

WEST FRANKFORT, IL – (Amanda Jarzynski – Benton Evening News.  Please click on the link to read the full story above.  Below is an excerpt)

The Harrisburg Lady Bulldogs pulled together as a team Tuesday to take a 7-5 victory over the Benton Rangerettes in the first round of the IHSA Class 2A West Frankfort Regionals.

After taking an early lead, the Lady Bulldogs maintained their defense to bring the Rangerettes’ late rally up short by just two runs.

“We didn’t get out of the gate very well and made a few mistakes,” said Ryan Miller, Rangerettes’ coach. “We never really put much offensive pressure on them. We got down from the start and then it was a constant battle. We finally got it going towards the end, but it was just a little too late.”