The sports website that hosts "The Sports Couch" local talk show plus your source for southern Illinois scores, team photos, & Live video stream of area sports.
Great season, Nashville. Congratulations on a superb season. We still consider you the PUBLIC school State Champions. It’s time for
@ihsa
to fix the Chicago-wide recruiting debacle.
It's gonna be Christopher vs Okawville for the girls state championship. How cool is that? Two PUBLIC southern Illinois schools to battle it out for the 1A Title.
If the pandemic was really a serious threat for HS athletes, wouldn't they have already shutdown sports in Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Kentucky, Missouri, and Ohio? It's amazing that the virus stops at the Mississippi River, Ohio River, and Wabash River.
#LetThemPlayNow
How often has a first-year head coach won a State Championship at a public high school? Rare feat. Congratulations Coach Patrick Weathers and the Nashville Hornets. Class 2A State Champs following a 32-31 victory over Monticello. You've set the bar high.
The only other time I recall a southern Illinois school playing for BOTH the basketball and football State Championships in the same Calendar Year, was in 2015, when Belleville Althoff was in both title games. But they aren't a PUBLIC school. Nashville is. Good Luck Hornets!
Wanna learn how to play team defense? Watch The Nashville Hornets. Teams struggle to get a quality shot against them, and seldom get an offensive rebound. Defense + Rebounding = Victory. Equation for success.
Talking about the upcoming Jay Shidler event tonight on the Woodlawn broadcast when Blake McKay interrupted our discussion with this MONSTER DUNK. Well done!
Normally today we would be all fired up to begin Thanksgiving Basketball 🏀 Tournaments in the area. Instead, we sit here & wonder if high school basketball & football will ever be played in Illinois again.
#LetThemPlay
Coach Rich Herrin was second all-time in victories at SIU with 225 in his run from 1985-1998. All of that came after accumulating 670 high school wins during stops at Benton, Okawville, and Marion. At SIU, he sent four players to the NBA. A first-class gentleman, kind to media
BREAKING: Tonight Mt Vernon Twp High School accepted the resignation of Doug Creel as grad basketball 🏀 coach and AD. Creel is the winningest coach in Rams history. He will stay on staff for roughy 120 days to help with the transition to a new AD. Rams were 23-6 this year.
Southern Illinois is proud of your effort and accomplishments, ladies. They play some good basketball in Washington County. Way to go!
*Okawville (1A) State Champs
*Nashville (2A) 2nd Place
It's not often that you see Jr High Boys dunk the basketball. David Barnes threw it down with authority tonight for the Casey Jr Rams of Mt Vernon during their win over O'Fallon Carriel at the Class L State Tournament.
IHSA Board of Directors meet on Wednesday. Speculation is that they will announce a proposed timetable for sports to include BB/SB/VB/Soccer/Track in March/April (6 weeks + postseason). FB/BKB/Wrestling/Tennis in May/June (5 weeks + postseason. Don't shoot the messenger.
The NFHS and IHSA is trying to eliminate local broadcasters who do the games and cover the kids for the right reason, promoting the program. Local broadcasters know the kids, know the parents, coaches & school history. An NFHS sterile video stream WITHOUT audio pbp is mindless.
BENTON beats Byron 50-42. The Rangers will face Chicago Phillips for the Class 2A State Championship on Saturday. This is the first time in school history that Benton will play for the Big Trophy 🏆
Marion hits a trey at the buzzer in Overtime to beat East St Louis 71-68 to advance to the Elite-8. Congratulations to Coach Gus Gillespie. Marion HS needs to be smart and hold on to him. The Flyers had two legit D-1 players but it didn’t matter in the end. Well done, Marion.
Gotta love nostalgia. This is a photo of the late Kobe Bryant together with St Peters coach, Shaheen Holloway, when they played together in 1996 at the McDonalds All-American Classic. Incidentally, Holloway was named MVP of that game.
A tremendous run by these Seniors at Nashville. Established a new benchmark school record of 35 wins while finishing as the 2A runner-up. Thanks for representing southern Illinois so well.
The feat by Nashville to reach the State Championship game in BOTH basketball & football, was also accomplished by another public school, Carlyle, in the 1988-89 school year. The Indians won both Titles. Hoops coached by Brad Weathers, Pigskin coached by Gary Wheeler. Awesome!
Eldorado will not be playing Mt Carmel in basketball on Tuesday as previously scheduled. They will have a special board meeting on Tuesday. Here is the agenda.
Every Rebound is a Posession, and Posession of the basketball is vital. To be a good rebounder, you gotta Want the ball more than your opponent, it takes effort, work, and position. If you WIN the rebound battle, you WIN the game 95% of the time. I like those odds. Rebound!
Nashville sets a new school record tonight with win
#34
as they improve to 34-2 after eliminating Teutopolis 41-28 and head to Peoria to face Gibson City in the Final Four of 2A Basketball.
Playing great defense (without fouling) is missing from many of the HS games we see today. It's not glamorous, might not be as fun, it doesn't show up as easy in the newspaper headlines, video highlights, or stat-lines, but it still wins ballgames, if executed properly. Play D.
Nashville never led in this game until the second overtime, but they beat heavily favored Chicago DePaul 31-24. Hornets play for the 2A Title on Saturday.
The numbers are growing! The high school board & administrators at Altamont, Effingham St Anthony, Mount Carmel, and Hutsonville/Palestine have all voted "YES" and plan to participate in basketball this winter. That's 4, how many more will join them?
Baseball today in St Peter Missouri during COVID. Umpire behind the pitcher, extra space between catcher & batter, fans six feet apart, only 3 players in dugout, no handshakes, nice day in the sunshine.
#PlayingSafely
Final: Nashville over Pinckneyville 52-25. Hornets are the real deal. Will we see them in Peoria? There is a strong possibility. Fairfield, Casey-Westfield and T-Town all in the house to scout. They saw a defensive show.
Rend Lake College has tabbed Brian Gamber to be the coach of the Warriors Men's team. Gamber led Woodlawn to a 31-4 record this season, was 96-34 over a 4-year span, a winning percentage of 74% including 3 Regional Titles and a Sectional Title. Gamber played college hoops at RLC.
How about Murphysboro? The offensive line took over on an impressive 11-play drive to score with :47 seconds left and defeat Kankakee McNamara 35-27. Red Devils are headed to the FINAL FOUR! Congratulations!
Textbook defense by Nashville holds off Gibson City 47-45 to advance to the 2A State Title Game on Saturday against Chicago Orr. The Hornet's win, snaps a 31-game winning streak by the Falcons. Defense wins Championships.
If you have never attended the Eldorado Holiday Tournament, this is what you are missing. It’s a basketball jewel in southern Illinois. Great atmosphere, talented pep band, loud crowd, and competitive 🏀 basketball
@EHT1965
@section618
From the IHSA. If you temporarily suspend your high school spring season, your athletes should not practice or compete with their non-school (club/travel) teams or they will be ineligible for the high school team if and when the suspension is lifted.
Prayers go out to the Danny Anselment family today as we lay Danny to rest. His efforts through will carry on as Randy Olson and Billy Rockett will be in Flora Friday night to stream the Foxes and Wolves basketball 🏀 game. That’s what Danny would want.
Mt Vernon pushed the AP
#1
ranked Kankakee Kays to the limit, falling 16-14 on the road in the 5A Playoffs. Tremendous turnaround by a Rams football program that was 0-9 last season. Second most points given up by the Kays all season long. Rams finish 5-5, (7-3 without forfeit)
Tip of the cap to Coach Sayler Shurtz
@shurtz10
of the Herrin Tigers. His team competes hard, wins a lot , and he sets a good example for his players by the way he handles himself. He is respectful to coaches, officials, media, fans, and opposing players. Herrin is fortunate.
When we arrived to broadcast the BIT games tonight at Benton High School, there was a table and chairs waiting for us with this nice banner in memory of Danny Anselment. Thank you!
Congratulations to Weston Brockhouse
@weston_brock1
who threw a no-hitter against Belleville Althoff enroute to a 9-0 win for Mount Vernon. Brockhouse fanned 8 batters along the way, while only walking two.
These two gym rats used to climb through the gym window when they were young, just so they could practice the game they loved. More than 25 years later, Kent Williams and Jon Knoche are Missouri High School State Basketball 🏀 Champions after guiding DeSmet over Jeff City 75-56.
Everyone was expecting Travis or Flanagan to get the ball, but instead Quinn Miller is the hero as he scores with :01 second left to lift Olney to a 52-51 upset win over Fairfield
Very cool that Salem HS opened up B.E. Gumm gym to enable Central A&M to drop in for a shoot-around on their way to SIU Arena. That's a good way to break up the long 161-mile bus trip to Carbondale. Kudos to
@acfehrenbacher
and
@StewardStewards
After a great lunch at Joe's in Salem, Raiders are having a shoot-around in the iconic gym at Salem High School. We thank the fine folks at Salem for their hospitality.
@Salem_HS
@acfehrenbacher
@StewardStewards
The Mt Vernon basketball program was recognized before tonight's game by the Illinois BKB Coaches Assoc (IBCA) for being one of the premier Top 5 programs in Illinois. The Rams have amassed 1,919 career wins, which ranks
#5
among all schools in the State (includes 4 State Titles)
From Summersville Grade School, to Mt Vernon High School, to Rend Lake College, and now to Indiana University. Read our exclusive story about Jackson Creel becoming the latest Indiana Hoosier Basketball player.
Visit THIS LINK on our website:
Congratulations to Cade Carter of Fairfield, for committing to the SIU Salukis football program. Great to see another area athlete join the Dawgs rising program. Work hard, Cade.
@coachjtown
The
#2
Ranked Nashville Hornets will square off against
#22
Fairfield Mules on Saturday afternoon at 4:00pm in the Rich Herrin Classic Shootout at Benton. Hopefully, you will be in attendance. If you cannot make it, we will bring the game to you Live on
Congratulations to SIU Saluki and Mt Vernon Ram Hall of Fame player, Kent Williams, who coached St Louis DeSmet to a 75-56 victory in the Missouri Class 5 State Championship. They never trailed in either State Tourney contest.
Career Rankings for Albert Pujols:
* 2nd All-Time in Total Bases: 6,194
* 2nd All-Time in Intent. Walks: 316
* 3rd All-Time in Home Runs: 700
* 3rd All-Time in RBI's: 2,208
* 3rd All-Time in Sac Flies: 123
* 3rd All-Time in Extra Base Hits: 1,401
* 5th All-Time in Doubles: 685
Congratulations to the Nashville Hornets, who have reached the Final 4 in the Class 2A Football Playoffs. Even
@CoachHarre
is excited, although it makes basketball practice tough right now.
IHSA has released the SEEDS for Sub A that feeds into the Class 2A Hamilton County Sectional:
Sub-Sectional A
1. Nashville
2. Pinckneyville
#3
. Murphysboro
4. Freeburg
5. Belleville Althoff
6. Chester
7. Columbia
8. Trenton-Wesclin
9. Sparta
10. Trico
11. DuQuoin
#12
. Red Bud
Wow! The IHSA actually showed some Cahoonas today, stating that Basketball can begin as scheduled with practices November 16, and games begin Nov 30, despite what Pritzker said on Monday. Masks required. Play in your Covid Region. Each school makes their own determination.
After the dust has settled on all the Holiday Tournament’s, the Pinckeyville Panthers begin 2020 as the
#2
Ranked team in Class 2A across Illinois. Impressive resume for
@PCHS_Hoops
thus far, but a lot of big games to come.
The MVP of Black Diamond Conference, Kane Hixenbaugh, of Fairfield is headed to Rend Lake College to play for Coach Gamber. He helped lead Fairfield to a 60-8 record over 2-year span. Hixenbaugh was also named to the All-South Team, was also Special Mention All-State
@fchsmules
Let this sink in. The Fairfield Mules have won 19 of their last 20 football games. They won’t be intimidated by Williamsville. Rumor has it that additional trains might be rolling through the Train Yard on Saturday.
#PlayoffFootball
Closing seconds of the 68-60 Meridian victory over Chicago Hope. Big comeback win for the Bobcats who will play for the Class 1A State Championship on Saturday. Congratulations to Coach Davis and his crew!
If you missed the epic ending to the Meridian/Wayne City game, here it is. 7.1 seconds left and Roderick Gatewood Jr defies all odds by nailing a deep trey from the corner at the buzzer with 3 defenders on him. Wow!
Many area school Superintendent’s received an aggressive letter from the ISBE on Thursday siding with the Governor. For the record, back on July 24th they said they had no authority over HS sports. The plot thickens.
Congratulations to Dre Scott of Pinckneyville, Landon Zurliene of Fairfield, Evan Wermert of T-Town, Kaleb Applebey & Beau Stipp of Mt Carmel, Eli Downen of Carterville, Isaac Turner of Nashville, and Reece Johnson of Benton for being named to the IBCA Class 2A All-State BKB Team
Scales Mound is trending big on twitter and Google today after their David vs Goliath moment last night over Chicago Marshall in the 1A Super. The Hornets continue their quest to be the smallest school to win a State Title as they head to Champaign in the 1A State Tourney.
After winning the Prairie Farms Holiday Classic for the first time in fifteen years, the Collinsville Kahoks are still ranked
#1
in the latest Class 4A Rankings to begin the new year. The Kahoks are still undefeated at 13-0. A team on a mission
@kahokmenshoops
@KahokAthletics
How do you play TEAM defense? Look at this photo from the Nashville win over Gibson City. All 5 Hornets within reach of the Falcons player. The other GCMS players are not in the vicinity, so they are no threat to score.