East St. Louis pulls away to beat Centralia plays Marion for a sectional final on Friday

Don’t look now, but here come the East St. Louis Flyers.

East Side, under first-year coach Mark Chambers, reeled off another memorable victory Wednesday as it surged past the Centralia Orphans 62-50 in the semifinals of the Class 3A Centralia Sectional.

After he took over the coaching reins from Fernando Stevenson in January, Chambers said it wasn’t about how the Flyers were performing then, but how they would play in March.

“I think it was Jan. 9,” Chambers said, recalling the Flyers’ 69-61 victory over Alton, his first as coach. “I talked about being more concerned about how we were going to be playing March 9. Fortunately, we’re going to be playing on March 9. The guys have really worked hard. They’re very resilient and do everything I ask them to do. I’m very proud of the guys.”

Please click on the link for the full story from David Wilhelm of the Belleville News-Democrat.

http://www.bnd.com/sports/high-school/prep-basketball/article203874059.html

 

Organization led by Adam Wainwright to host Marshall Co. victims at Busch

DRAFFENVILLE, KY – Big League Impact, along with the St. Louis Cardinals, will host all of the Marshall County High School shooting victims and their immediate families at Busch Stadium on April 10-11.

According to the nonprofit organization, the Cardinals will participate in the event and bring an additional 800 people from the community.

They said Adam Wainwright and his wife Jenny “did not flinch when this arose,” and that it was “his idea to host them.”

Please click for the full story and video from KFVS-TV.

http://www.kfvs12.com/story/37682282/wainwright-organization-to-host-marshall-co-school-shooting-victims-families

 

 

Webb, Taylor, Parr, Attebury, Saulsberry, and Jausel AP all staters..

.. Sesser-Valier’s Tyler Winchester Honorable Mention

From the Illinois High School Association 

CLASS 1A FIRST TEAM
Jake Wolfe, Aurora Christian (6-4, Sr., G) 95
Owen Landwehr, Annawan (6-3, Sr., G) 81
Devon House, Sterling Newman (6-7, Soph., PF) 62
Braden Webb, Goreville (5-11, Sr., G) 57
Damarius Taylor, Cairo (6-0, Sr., G) 54

CLASS 1A SECOND TEAM
Justin Myers, Colfax Ridgeview (6-0, Sr., G) 53
Kyle Ottens, Milledgeville (6-2, Sr., G/F) 47
Dylan Patrick, Newark (6-1, Sr., G) 37
Trevor Voss, Payson Seymour (6-5, Sr., G/F) 31
Deion Jackson, Providence-St. Mel (6-3, Jr., G) 28

Sesser Valier’s Tyler Winchester

CLASS 1A HONORABLE MENTION
Noah Blue, Urbana University (6-2, Sr., G) 21; Connor Heaton, Moweaqua Central A&M (6-4, Soph., PG) 20; Devin Yocum, Bushnell-Praire City (6-4, Sr., G/F) 19; Cade Chitty, Champaign Judah Christian (6-6, Sr., F) 17; Ben Buresh, Annawan (6-3, Sr., F) 15; Mitchell Stevenson, Altamont (5-11, Sr., G) 14; Darian Drake, Mt. Sterling Brown County (5-10, Sr., G) 13; Rahim McKee-Strong, DePue (6-6, Sr., C) 13; Carter Sabol, Nokomis (6-8, Soph., F) 13; Peyton Taylor, Mount Pulaski (6-8, Sr., F-C) 13; Jacob Thompson, Milford (6-8, Sr., F) 12; Cade Schave, Milledgeville (6-3, Sr., G/F) 10; Avierre Ross, Peoria Quest (6-3, Sr., F) 9; Jacob Schwerbrock, Kewanee Wethersfield (6-8, Sr., F) 9; Jonah Hopper, White Hall North Greene (6-4, Sr., F) 8; Layne Boyer, East Dubuque (6-3, Jr., G) 6; Jacob Donaldson, Colfax Ridgeview (6-2, Sr., F) 6; Briar Greenman, Ridgewood (6-4, Sr., F) 6; Luke Hensler, Okawville (6-7, Sr., F) 6; Eddie Moreno, DePue (6-0, Sr., G) 6; Ryan Radloff, Dieterich (6-1, Sr., G) 6; Terrell Walker, Peoria Quest (6-2, Sr., PG) 6; Tyler Winchester, Sesser-Valier (Jr.) 6; Manny Winfert, DePue (6-0, Sr., F) 6.

CLASS 2A FIRST TEAM
George Conditt, Chicago Corliss (6-10, Sr., PF) 95
Andrew Morrissey, Winnebago (6-9, Sr., C) 80
Raekwon Drake, Chicago Orr (6-5, Sr., F) 74
Lamar Lillard, Momence (6-4, Sr., F) 64
Fred Cleveland, Chicago Leo Catholic (5-8, Jr., PG) 54
Jake Parr, Anna-Jonesboro (6-2, Sr., F) 54

CLASS 2A SECOND TEAM
Braden Attebury, Eldorado (6-5, Sr., F) 44
Dannie Smith, Chicago Orr (6-5, Sr., F) 38
Isaiah Saulsberry, Harrisburg (6-3, Sr., G) 34
Grant Jausel, Pinckneyville (6-2, Sr., G) 29
Malcolm Miller, Shelbyville (6-4, Jr., G) 28

CLASS 2A HONORABLE MENTION
Tyson Magee, Cumberland (6-3, Sr., G) 27; Austin Rager, Mount Carmel (6-4, Jr., G) 27; Logan Dorethy, West Hancock (6-7, Sr., F) 24; Jack Gilmore, Bloomington Central Catholic (6-3, Sr., F) 21; Calvin Fisher, Monticello (6-6, Sr., F) 18; Chase Adams, Chicago Orr (5-8, Sr., G) 15; Alex Deters, Effingham St. Anthony (6-2, Sr., G) 15; Lamarius Lillard, Momence (6-8, Jr., F) 15; Nick Cohorst, Newton (6-5, Sr., F) 14; James Morris, Bloomington Central Catholic (6-3, Sr., F) 10; Jordan Brooks, St. Joseph-Ogden (6-0, Sr., PG) 9; Lee Hardiek, Teutopolis (6-2, Sr., G) 9; J.C. Moll, Pinckneyville (5-10, Sr., G) 8; Ty Waller, Winnebago (6-2, Sr., PG) 8; Kale Barnett, Bureau Valley (6-0, Jr., G) 6; Luke Richards, Casey-Westfield (6-6, Jr., C) 6; Kavon Russell, Kewanee (6-2, Soph., G) 6; Walker Sandschafer, Robinson (6-5, Sr., F) 6; Levi Scheuermann, Deer Creek-Mackinaw (6-2, Jr., G) 6.

GEC Boys Basketball All Conference Team Released

FIRST TEAM 

Audie Gobel – Gallatin County (MVP)

Corbin Fitch – Thompsonville 

Austin Stevens – Galatia (Captain)

Levi Vinson – Crab Orchard

Jamison Hicks – Hardin County

SECOND TEAM 

Cameron Stevens – Crab Orchard

Robbie Prince – Gallatin County

Tyson Kessler – Thompsonville 

Anthony Darge – Thompsonville 

Brandon Skaggs – NCOE

SPECIAL MENTION

 

Jaron Austin – Hardin County

Sabastian Fasolo – Pope County

HARRY STATHAM CONCLUDES SERVICE AS MCKENDREE MEN’S BASKETBALL COACH

From McKendree University Athletics 

LEBANON, IL —Chuck Brueggemann, McKendree University director of athletics, has announced the decision that Harry Statham will conclude his service as the men’s basketball coach effective at the end of his current appointment, May 31, 2018. The University has extended Statham the opportunity to continue his current faculty appointment as assistant professor of physical education for the 2018-19 academic year.

Statham, a 1960 graduate of McKendree, the all-time wins leader in college basketball history at the four-year level, amassed 1,122 victories over 52 seasons at his alma mater. He surpassed the late Pat Summitt — who held the all-division record for wins by a college basketball coach, men’s or women’s – with victory No. 1,099 in a 92-84 triumph at Maryville University on Feb. 6, 2016. In addition to being the all-time leader in coaching victories with 1,122, Statham coached in a record 1,635 collegiate games, all of which came on the sidelines for the Bearcats.

McKendree Athletics Photo

Statham served a dual role as athletic director and men’s basketball coach at McKendree for 44 years, which spanned his return to campus in the fall of 1966 until May 2010. Statham also coached baseball and track and field during the early years of his tenure at McKendree. Under Statham’s leadership as athletic director, the number of athletic programs offered at McKendree grew from a handful to 24 sports. He was honored as the NAIA Central Region Athletic Director of the Year by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) in 1998-99. Statham was also recognized as the American Midwest Conference and NAIA Region V Athletic Director of the Year in 2007-08.

“For more than half a century, Harry has represented himself, his student-athletes and McKendree University with the utmost professionalism and class,” said Brueggemann. “Harry built a winning culture by attracting talented student-athletes who excelled on the basketball court and in the classroom. He also prepared them for life after basketball, as scores of his players have gone on to give back and teach the game and life lessons that Harry bestowed upon them. We will long celebrate the body of work that Harry Statham has assembled over his career at McKendree University.”

From his first game at McKendree, a 90-78 win over Westminster College back in November 1966, Statham helped lead the Bearcats’ program into the conference, regional and national spotlight. Statham led the Bearcats to the post-season 41 times and guided McKendree to 15 appearances in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Division I Men’s Basketball National Championship. The Bearcats reached the national quarterfinals three times under his tutelage, including an NAIA Fab Four berth in 2003. Six times in his career, Statham led McKendree to at least 30 victories in a season, including a school-record 35 wins in the 1987-88 campaign. Overall, the Bearcats won 20 games or more 35 times in Statham’s 52 seasons at McKendree.

Harry Statham‘s contributions to McKendree University both on and off the court are extraordinary.  He is a prominent figure in the history of McKendree University athletics,” said James M. Dennis, president, McKendree University.

In conference play, McKendree won 11 regular-season and six tournament championships with Statham at the helm. For his efforts, Statham was an eight-time conference Coach of the Year honoree. He also collected NAIA District 20 Coach of the Year accolades eight times. The Illinois Basketball Coaches Association (IBCA) recognized Statham’s coaching accomplishments with IBCA-NAIA Coach of the Year honors on 12 different occasions.

Statham coached hundreds of players in more than half a century on the sidelines for McKendree. Of that number, a total of 73 Bearcats earned post-season honors. That includes 10 players who received first-team All-America honors. Of the 51 McKendree players who have scored at least 1,000 points in their playing careers, Statham coached all but five.

In his storied career, Statham has earned several national and regional accolades. He was named the NAIA Division I Men’s Basketball Coach of the Year following the 2001-02 season. That made Statham the first McKendree coach to receive national Coach of the Year accolades. In 2005, he was recognized by two different national organizations for his coaching accomplishments. At the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) national convention in St. Louis, Statham was honored by his coaching peers with the Guardians of the Game Leadership Award.

Later that summer, Statham was named as the winner of the Distinguished Service Award from the United States Sports Academy. The award is given annually to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to national or international sports through education, research or service.

Statham has also earned induction into four different Hall of Fame classes. The first came in 1987 when he was inducted into the IBCA Hall of Fame. In 1998, Statham was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame. Statham was honored in 2012 by his alma mater with induction into the McKendree Sports Hall of Fame. He is also a 2014 member of the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame class.

Many McKendree basketball fans have witnessed several of Statham’s milestone coaching victories inside the facility that bears his name, the Harry M. Statham Sports Center. In addition to collecting career wins No. 500, 600, 700, 800, 1,000 and 1,100 at the facility, Statham earned other victories at home which garnered national media attention. On Nov. 15, 2002 in an 88-87 triumph over Mountain State University, Statham passed former Winston-Salem State University (N.C.) coach Clarence “Big House” Gaines as the all-time wins leader in NAIA history.

The second, and perhaps more memorial moment, came in Lebanon on Dec. 1, 2004 against Maryville. That night, Statham earned career win No. 880 when the Bearcats defeated the Saints 83-72. That pushed Statham past former University of North Carolina coaching legend Dean Smith for the all-time wins lead among men’s college basketball coaches at the four-year level. Nearly five years later on Nov. 13, 2009, Statham became the first men’s college basketball coach to record 1,000 wins when the Bearcats rolled past East-West University by a score of 79-49.

Statham began his coaching career while an undergraduate at McKendree. He guided the boys basketball team at O’Fallon Junior High School while taking college courses at night. After graduating from McKendree in 1960, Statham moved on to the University of Illinois, where he was a graduate assistant for the men’s basketball and track teams. He completed requirements for a master’s degree in physical education before embarking on a high school coaching career. Statham coached at Manito Foreman High School from 1961-63 before moving to Dwight High School. He stayed at Dwight three years before returning to McKendree.

Brueggemann said that a national search for Statham’s successor will begin immediately.

Marion advances to sectional final with win over Columbia

CENTRALIA — When it mattered most, Marion’s defense rose to the occasion.

The Wildcats trapping 1-2-2 zone seemed to keep Columbia off balance all night, resulting in 18 turnovers and a 49-41 win over the Eagles in the Centralia Class 3A sectional.

“We haven’t played that way for 10 or 12 games, but we felt like that was the best plan against them, to go 1-2-2 and trap them a little bit more,” said Marion coach Gus Gillespie. “We go from game-to-game, I’m glad our kids were very active in it.”

Please click on the link for the full story from Les Winkeler from the Southern Illinoisan.

http://thesouthern.com/sports/high-school/basketball/boys/boys-basketball-marion-advances-to-sectional-final-with-win-over/article_25ae13ab-1ff0-56aa-96ae-a1e4ce67d860.html

 

SIU pitching nearly perfect in 5-0 win at SEMO

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Brad Harrison threw eight dominant innings and led the Southern Illinois baseball program to a 5-0 win over Southeast Missouri on Tuesday night. After SEMO hit a leadoff single in the first inning, Harrison (8.0 IP) and Trey McDaniel (1.0 IP) essentially threw a perfect game the rest of the way–SEMO went 0-for-28, with its only other base runner coming on a dropped third strike.

SEMO only hit one ball out of the infield all game, a third-inning fly out to left field.

“That’s about as dominating as I’ve ever seen, and it was against a club that can swing it,” SIU head coach Ken Henderson said. “It’s a great pitching performance at a time when we really needed it.”

Harrison (3-0) threw a 2-hit shutout at Belmont last week and has an active streak of 18 consecutive scoreless innings. He retired the final 17 Belmont hitters last week—from that point through the end of tonight’s game, Harrison struck out 23, walked none, and limited opposing batters to 1-for-43 (.023).

“That’s a pretty amazing baseball game,” Henderson said. “I don’t know if I’ve seen two performances back-to-back that were that dominating against good clubs.”

Southern had the lead before Harrison threw his first pitch. Addison FugittConnor KopachLogan Blackfan, and Hunter Anderson strung together four-straight hits, followed by a Jared Kengott sacrifice fly to take a 3-0 lead. SIU played without Alex Lyon and Kenton Crawford, who regularly hit in the heart of the lineup, and still pounded out 11 hits after hitting .367 over the weekend.

“We were without our 3-hole and 5-hole hitters, and we still did a phenomenal job offensively all game long,” Henderson said. “We didn’t score several innings, but we had good ABs and got guys on. I’m really proud of our offense. We got on a roll last weekend offensively and certainly carried that into today.”

The Salukis played error-free and expanded the lead with a run in the second and another in the eighth. SIU (4-8) had base runners in seven of the nine innings. Blackfan went 3-for-4 and stole his first career base. SEMO fell to 3-10.

“That was a complete game,” Henderson said. “Our hitters were as good as we’ve been. We did a great job hitting balls where they were pitched. We barreled a ton of balls up in tough hitting conditions. I’m extremely proud of our entire ball club. That’s the club I keep saying we’re going to be, and tonight, we were that club.”

SIU travels to Murray State on Wednesday. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. (SCHEDULE NOTE: Wednesday’s game at Murray State was originally scheduled for 4 p.m. but was moved up one hour due to weather concerns.)

Miners Sign Four From California Winter League

From the Southern Illinois Miners 

MARION – The Southern Illinois Miners announce that they have signed four players from the California Winter League to their 2018 roster, welcoming infielders Jake Willsey and Cletis Avery along with pitchers Kyle Brown and Noe Arteaga to the club.

Willsey is coming off a four-year collegiate career at Tulane University in New Orleans, where he was an outstanding defender and reliable hitter at second base. He clubbed nine homers as a senior in 2017 and put up a .983 fielding percentage, making just five errors in over 300 chances in the field while also turning 53 double plays in just 58 games. As a junior, he made Second Team All-American Athletic Conference for the Green Wave, batting .265 with 10 homers and 31 RBIs in 2016 while committing just six errors in over 250 chances defensively. For his career, the Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts native batted .256 with 19 homers and 70 RBIs in 204 games, and turned 139 double plays to rank second in program history.

While playing for the Palm Springs Power in the CWL, Willsey batted .375 in 40 at-bats while leading the team with 15 runs scored and tying for the team-best with 11 RBIs in only 15 games.

Avery is coming off an outstanding senior year at Presbyterian College in NCAA Division-I, batting .265 with four homers, 34 RBIs, 19 doubles and 19 stolen bases in 26 attempts while starting all 61 games for the Blue Hose in 2017 along with a .942 fielding percentage in over 250 chances in the field. A middle infielder who played shortstop and second base at Presbyterian, Avery batted .269 with five home runs, 30 RBIs, 14 doubles and 15 stolen bases in 57 contests as a junior in 2016 after helping lead St. John’s River State College in Florida to back-to-back conference titles in 2014 and 2015.

Also playing for the Power this winter, Avery batted .341 with 10 runs scored (ranking second only to fellow Miners signee Jake Willsey), 11 RBIs (tying with Willsey for the team lead), three doubles and a pair of triples in 15 contests.

A tall left-handed pitcher from Arroyo Grande, California, Kyle Brown comes to the Miners after finishing his college career at Cal State – Monterey Bay, where over 17 appearances he struck out 25 while walking only nine in 25 1/3 innings. The 6’6″ southpaw was outstanding at Long Beach State as a junior as well, posting a 1.50 ERA as a reliever over 17 appearances with 11 strikeouts and only four walks in 2016. He also played two seasons at the College of Southern Nevada.

With the Power in the CWL, Brown was outstanding on the hill, going 3-0 with a 0.70 ERA in seven games, six of which were starts. In 20 innings, he allowed just 14 hits and six walks with 22 strikeouts.

Arteaga, a Chicago native, comes downstate to start his pro career with the Miners after pitching two years at Chicago State University. In 20 games as a senior, Arteaga struck out 34 batters in 43 2/3 innings. The 6’2″ right-hander also played two seasons at Danville Area Community College in Virginia after a high school career at Gordon Tech in his hometown.

Arteaga was a strikeout artist while pitching for Palm Springs this winter, fanning 20 batters in only 13 innings on the mound over seven games while also making four starts. He finished the CWL season with a record of 2-1.

“It was a pleasure managing and evaluating Noe Artega, Cletis Avery, Kyle Brown and Jake Willsey,” said Miners Scouting and Player Acquisition Coordinator Casey Dill, who managed all four with the Palm Springs Power in the CWL. “Mike (Pinto) and I began the scouting process on these players once the Frontier League season ended. They are all players that attended our tryout in Southern Illinois- they all stood out and showed very well, and we wanted to see them play more before making any decisions. The CWL provided a platform to see how these players compete on a daily basis, get to know them as men, and compare their ability with other players in the league.”

“I was able to provide Mike and the rest of the Miners’ coaching staff with in-depth scouting reports and even video to better help us make our decision as a group,” Dill added. “What we concluded was that these four players could all potentially have roles that would help the team win baseball games, as well as represent the organization to the standard that is required by all Miners players.”

Be sure to follow the Miners on Facebook, Twitter (@SIMiners), Instagram and Snapchat, and also online at southernillinoisminers.com as they prepare for the 2018 season at Rent One Park!

The Southern Illinois Miners are the Frontier League’s winningest franchise since debuting in 2007, winning the 2012 Frontier League Championship as well as division titles in 2010, 2014, 2015 and 2016. They have been awarded the Frontier League Organization of the Year award three times since their inception, and also set a new Frontier League attendance record in their inaugural season. For ticket information, contact the box office at (618) 998-8499. For additional information, visit our website at www.southernillinoisminers.com.

Class 1A/2A State Final Parings

Class 1A Elite Eight

AT DE KALB

Sterling (Newman Central Catholic) 61

Chicago (Providence St. Mel) 60

AT NORMAL 

Annawan 39 Colfax Ridgeview 32

AT JACKSONVILLE 

Okawville 65 Peoria Quest Academy 64 – 2OT 

AT CARBONDALE 

Goreville 74 Moweaqua A & M 61 

Class 1A State Finals

FRIDAY MARCH 9th:  SEMI-FINALS

GAME 1;  Sterling Newman Central Catholic vs Annawan 11;15 a.m.

GAME 2:  OKAWVILLE vs. GOREVILLE 1:00 p.m

CHAMPIONSHIP 

Game 3:  Third place game  11:15 a.m.

Game 4:  Championship 1:00 p.m.

Class 2A  Elite Eight

AT CARBONDALE 

Pinckneyville 60 Mt. Carmel 47 OT

AT DE KALB 

Winnebago 58 Chicago Corliss 55

AT JOLIET 

Chicago Orr 74 Chicago Hope Academy 64

AT SPRINGFIELD 

Bloomington Central Catholic 47  Deer Creek Mackinaw 46

Class 2A State Finals

FRIDAY MARCH 9th:  SEMI FINALS 

Game 1:  PINCKNEYVILLE vs. Winnebago 5:30 p.m. 

Game 2:  Chicago Orr vs. Bloomington Central Catholic 7:15 p.m.

SATURDAY MARCH 10th:  CHAMPIONSHIP 

Game 3:  Thrid place game 5:30 p.m.

Game 4:  Championship 7:15 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Four teams square off for the right to go to Peoria at the SIU Arena tonight.

CARBONDALE –  Goreville (22-11) will square off against Mowequa Central A & M (22-8) in Class 1A for the right to move to the state finals in Carver Arena in Peoria.

In 2A Pinckneyville will square off against Mt. Carmel for the chance to move on in the “Original March Madness” in Peoria.

Here are some links to media sources to preview the games.

Joey Wagner of the Decatur Herald and Review previewing the Class 1A game

http://herald-review.com/sports/high-school/basketball/paradee-brothers-lock-down-on-defense-for-central-a-m/article_7b596b27-4e87-5911-aee4-02a6555d992d.html

Scott Mees of the Southern Illinoisan previewing both games.

http://thesouthern.com/sports/pinckneyville-goreville-look-to-advance-to-state/article_98807e20-d4bb-594b-ac49-1a0626425d90.html

Jack Bullock of A Baseline View previewing both games 

http://abaselineview.com/abv2018supersectionals.html

Paul Wilcoxen of the Mt. Carmel Register

http://www.mtcarmelregister.com/sports/aces-win-robinson-sectional/article_e0294cfb-81d5-5440-9b11-3196188d0c23.html 

 

 

 

 

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