Instead of breaking down each individual regional, I shall just do the sectionals.  Here is how we will play: I will place who I think will win their respective Regionals in their respective slots, then so on and so forth.  First, 1A:

Junction (Gallatin County) Sectional

Tue., Feb. 28

Game 1 at 7:30 pm: Winner Norris City (N.C.-Omaha-Enfield) Regional Gallatin County vs. Winner Mounds (Meridian) Regional Mounds Meridian

Wed., Feb. 29

Game 2 at 7:30 pm: [Winner Marion (Crab Orchard) Regional] Goreville vs. [Winner Steeleville Regional] Sesser-Valier

Fri., Mar. 2

Game 3 at 7:30 pm: Mounds Meridian vs  Sesser-Valier.  That’s right, I’m predicting a rematch of the 2010 Eldorado Sectional Championship, but with a different outcome.  Mounds Meridian will not fall to the Red Devils this time around. Over the past two years, the Bobcats have made it a step further, going to the Sweet 16 in 2010, the Elite 8 in 2011, and in my opinion (and many others), the Final 4 this year.

The winner of this Sectional will play the winner of the Sectional at Red Hill.  Here are my predictions for the Red Hill Sectional:

Tue., Feb. 28

Game 1 at 7:30 pm: [Winner Strasburg (Stewardson-S.) Regional] Dieterich vs. [Winner Hutsonville Regional] Hutsonville

Wed., Feb. 29

Game 2 at 7:30 pm: [Winner Altamont Regional] Altamont vs. [Winner Wayne City Regional] Woodlawn

Fri., Mar. 2

Game 3 at 7:30 pm: Dieterich vs. Woodlawn

I am saying that for a fourth year in a row, the Woodlawn Cardinals will be going to the Elite Eight.

IHSA Class 1A Super-Sectional @ SIU Arena

Tue., Mar. 6 @ 6:30 PM

Mounds Meridian vs. Woodlawn

This game will be a rematch of last years deep south Super held at Salem.  Since this rematch will be on a college floor, which is larger than a high school floor, this match-up favors the Bobcats.  I foresee the Bobcats heading to the State Finals for the first time since 1972 when they were the state runners-up.

I will be posting the 2A breakdowns and predictions later!

Bucket Hat OUT!

In our area (the deep, non-Metro East part of the 618), we have three Sectionals going on this week, here is the break down of those mentioned Sectionals.

1A

Gallatin County Sectional

Mon., Feb. 13

Game 1 at 7:30 pm: Louisville (North Clay) vs. Goreville

Tue., Feb. 14

Game 2 at 7:30 pm: Golconda (Pope County) vs. Centralia (Christ Our Rock Lutheran)

Thu., Feb. 16

Game 3 at 7:30 pm: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2

The winner of this sectional (Goreville is HIGHLY favored to win this sectional without blinking) will play the winner of the Hume (Shiloh) Sectional Monday night at B.E. Gum Gymnasium in Salem in the Super-Sectional.

2A

Sesser-Valier Sectional

Mon., Feb. 13

Game 1 at 7:30 pm: Nashville vs. Sesser-Valier-Waltonville Coop.

Tue., Feb. 14

Game 2 at 7:30 pm: Breese (Central) vs. Metropolis (Massac County)

Thu., Feb. 16

Game 3 at 7:30 pm: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2

The winner of this Sectional will meet the winner of the Fairfield Sectional, which includes the following match-ups:

Fairfield Sectional

Mon., Feb. 13

Game 1 at 7:30 pm: Pana vs. Newton

Tue., Feb. 14

Game 2 at 7:30 pm: Mt. Carmel vs. Teutopolis

Thu., Feb. 16

Game 3 at 7:30 pm: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2

Needless to say, if you aren’t doing anything on the night of Monday the 20th, go to Salem.  You’ll be able to take in two great basketball games for much cheaper than the price of a movie ticket.

I will just lay it out there, Goreville will win the 1A Super, and Nashville will win the 2A Super.  Both of these teams are extremely good, and their records (as well as their coaching) reflect that.

Later today, I will go in depth with the boys 1A/2A (with a bit of 3A) state series and break down the regional pairings and sites.

Yes, the name of my blog is clearly aimed towards golf, but I’m not JUST a golf fan, but a fan of most all sports at all levels.  So, everyday, sometimes multiple times a day, I will be talking about various sports at various levels; but mostly prep sports and here is why: If you want to read about the Blues, Cardinals, the Illini, or the Salukis, where are you going to go? Most likely the people and the organizations that get paid to cover them, and them only.

So please, check back here often for the latest updates on things going on in the world of sports, mainly Illinois Prep sports and if you have anything to say, comment and let your opinion be heard!

Bucket Hat

The days of sneaking up on opponents are long gone for Jerry Johnson, Jr. Meridian’s standout senior swingman is now a focal point of opposing defenses, which scheme game plans to squelch his improved scoring skills.

The added attention hasn’t slowed Johnson down a bit. “I work a lot,” he said. “I practice a lot on my own and really worked on my offense over the summer. I’m stronger on defense but not really too good on offense.”

Johnson may be underselling his skills with the basketball, possibly still trying to sell that underdog role. Meridian Athletic Director Mitch Haskins, who helps with the basketball program, has seen Johnson improve his offensive game by leaps and bounds.

“This summer, he worked really hard on his ball-handling and extending his shooting range,” Haskins said. “You can see obvious skill improvements over the course of the season so far. He’s a threat to shoot the ball, much more than he was a year ago.”

Numbers Game 

The proof is in the numbers for Johnson. He averages 15 points and seven rebounds per game for the up-tempo Bobcats, who routinely put 70 points on the scoreboard.

His Eldorado Holiday Tournament statistics were even better – 17 points and eight rebounds per game – as Meridian defeated three 2A River to River Conference schools on its way to a third-place finish. He was named to the all-tournament team for the third straight season and reached 1,000 career points during the tourney.

As Johnson’s scoring stats continue to pile up, he is most proud of his 4.5 steals per game this season. “I really have worked on my timing,” Johnson said. “I try to anticipate what the other guy will do with the ball to help get steals. We do a lot of little drills in practice to help with that.”

“He’s a real defensive presence,” said longtime Meridian coach Jeff Mandrell. “He blocks a lot of shots and can intimidate with his aggressiveness and rebounding. It seems like whenever you need a key rebound, you look up and he’s got the ball.”

Meridian starting point guard Cameron Ballard says the Bobcats aren’t worried about getting burned by whoever Johnson is covering on game night. “He blocks a lot of shots,”

Ballard said. “You can see that a lot of players are discouraged about brining it inside against him. A lot of players stay away from him.”

Shooting for State 

Johnson’s dependable rebounding and defense, coupled with a new emphasis on shooting accuracy, might give the Bobcats a boost in the postseason. Meridian is certainly battle-tested after last year’s surprise run to the 1A super-sectional championship game, which it lost, 50-41, to Woodlawn.

It was the Bobcats’ upset of Trico a game prior that really gave the squad momentum heading into this season. Meridian grabbed an early lead over Pioneers – then ranked fourth in the state – and used its length and full-court pressure to earn a spot in the title game.

Johnson scored 11 points in the win over Trico to help end Meridian’s nearly four-decade absence from the Elite Eight. The Bobcats are now focused on trying to make the state tournament for the first time since 1972. Meridian finished second that year under coach Jim Byassee, ending their 30-2 season with a 63-57 loss to Lawrenceville in the title game.

The Bobcats started this season by ripping off wins in 13 of their first 15 games, and were ranked fifth in the state in mid-January. They were well on their way to securing their seventh straight 20-win season.

“We’re trying to go as far as we can,” Johnson said. “I think we have more depth than in recent years and that pays off.”

Always a Bobcat 

Johnson was destined to succeed as a Bobcat. His father, Jerry Johnson, Sr., played for Meridian and has now been an assistant for the team for more than a decade. His older brother, Marland, was a standout 6-foot-6 forward for the Bobcats who finished with more than 1,500 points in his career. He also served up plenty of growing pains for his younger sibling during many backyard brother battles.

“Oh, man. Playing against him helped me learn what it would take to guard bigger guys,” the younger Johnson said. “Marland is still a huge influence. He helps me a lot. He’s always calling with advice from things that he’s hearing about the way I’m playing.”

Johnson said he rarely hears comparisons to his older brother anymore, mainly because of their size difference.

There is one common trait that Meridian fans have surely recognized. “Aggressiveness. No matter what, he always played aggressively,” Johnson said of his older brother. “I really never had that part in my game but I’ve always tried to imitate the way he played. I try to take little pieces of him and his style and put them into me.”

Johnson has formed his own legacy at Meridian by shifting into a premier shooter. He has scored more than 20 points in a game multiple times this season.

“He will step out and hit the 3,” Mandrell said. “He’s not the primary ball-handler for us, but he is capable of scoring if he gets the ball on a fastbreak.”

Mandrell, who has coached at Meridian since 1998, says student-athletes like Johnson are what make his job so enjoyable. “He’s just a great kid to coach,” he said. “He shows up every day to work and does the best he possibly can. He’s one of those players that you feel fortunate to get the chance to coach.”

Haskins, who has been at Meridian for 20 years himself, calls Johnson a model student and ballplayer.

“Jerry is an outstanding individual with very high morals,” he said. “He works very hard at his game and is a very good student…he doesn’t waste any opportunity to gain from educational or extra-curricular activities, whether that’s in the hallways, on the baseball field or in the basketball court.”

Joe Szynkowski is a freelance writer for SISC. He can be reached at joeszynkowski@hotmail.com.

“He went from being a scrawny little kid our freshman year into what he is now,” said fellow senior and Red Devils starting point guard Greg Jenkins. “He can shoot, play defense and rebound with anybody. He has worked really hard to improve.”

The 6-feet-5-inch Witcher is an inside-outside threat for the Red Devils. The extra bulk has helped him in the paint, but hasn’t hindered his exceptional 3-point range. His versatility is one of the reasons S-V has high hopes for the upcoming postseason.

“He’s having a great season so far,” said Red Devils coach Chip Basso. “Coming out as one of our main scoring leaders last season, he has really stepped up into an even bigger role.”

Witcher averaged 13.7 points and 7.5 rebounds per game as a junior and is on pace to better those marks this season.

Witcher is pleased with his offensive progression, but says the Red Devils win and lose with their defensive effort. “I definitely wasn’t the best player on defense last season,” Witcher said. “I wasn’t able to help the team out that much. This year, I’m getting more steals and more blocks.”

“We talked in the off-season about him getting stronger and being able to elevate his game,” Basso said. “He is a pretty complete basketball player any way, but he put in a lot of extra work in the weight room.”

Witcher was a sophomore when the Red Devils finished second in the IHSA state finals. They lost in the 1A regional final last season and hope to make it back to Peoria this March.

But, first things first which is trying to claim the competitive Black Diamond West. Witcher, who finished first-team all-conference as a junior, helped his team take a big first step in accomplishing that goal with its 54-44 win over rival Trico in early January.

S-V’s senior leader hit clutch free-throws down the stretch to take down the Pioneers. Witcher and fellow big man, 6-feet-6-inch Justin Kulich, held Trico standout Chase Heins to just six points in that game. Witcher hit a late contested shot and free throw, and added three more from the charity stripe to seal the victory.

It was a big performance for Witcher in a statement game against Trico, which handed the Red Devils their only two conference losses last season.

“Down the stretch, he wants the ball in his hands,” Basso said. “He is a very good shooter from the free-throw line, which makes him even more of a threat late in games.”

Witcher knows that high-intensity free-throws could make the difference come postseason time. He is ready.

“I just try zoning in on the rim and not pay attention to the crowd noise,” he said. “I just try to have fun and not put too much pressure on myself.”

Witcher’s strong supporting cast of experienced teammates also helps keep the pressure off the big man. Kulich has improved his game and contributes strong inside play with Drew Dorris for the Red Devils. On the outside, Greg Jenkins, John Vercellino and Kyle Stanley provide solid guard play and strong defense.

Witcher and Jenkins have played together since pee-wee basketball, and the two have developed a powerful on-court bond. Jenkins says Witcher has been S-V’s go-to guy for as long as he can remember, including in the team’s eighth-grade state championship game, when Witcher hit two clutch 3s down the stretch to claim the title.

“It’s always been fun playing with him since we were little,” Jenkins said. “It’s great for me because I know when I throw it in to him, it is almost a guaranteed assist.

“He is a great teammate. He is always willing to take the shot but he also trusts the rest of us to make baskets, too.”

S-V started the season off on the right track at the annual Christopher Turkey Tournament, falling just short of the title with its loss to Egyptian. The Red Devils are a perennial powerhouse in the tourney, claiming the consolation title last season and winning it in 2009.

Early-season success is great for the Red Devils, but not what matters to Witcher. He remembers vividly being handled by Pinckneyville’s Brueggeman to the tune of 17 points in the Panthers tight win over the Red Devils last season. “He pushed me around and I couldn’t do anything on him,” Witcher said. “That was the most physical game I’d ever been in.”

Witcher is hoping his off-season addition of more muscle will pay dividends when the intensity heats up. “I really wanted to get stronger so I could be more of a force down low,” he said. “I just lifted. I didn’t play football so I worked on gaining strength.”

Basso has already noticed the difference.

“Defense is the one thing we talked about him being able to get better. He has really improved his defensive presence and done a great job defending,” said Basso. “Offensively, teams are definitely focused more on him this season, but he has done a great job of knowing when he needs to shoot and when he needs to find the open teammate.”

Joe Szynkowski is a freelance writer for SISC. He can be reached at joeszynkowski@hotmail.com.

It doesn’t have the razzle-dazzle of the breakaway dunk or the electrifying effect of the nothing-but-the-bottom-of-the-net three-pointer, but an astounding number of basketball games are won and lost at the free throw line.

And while the art of shooting a free throw seems so simple, it remains so very complicated and in some instances downright mind-boggling. Two of the most dominant players to ever play in the NBA – Wilt Chamberlain and Shaquille O’Neal – both shot a meager 50 percent from the charity stripe for their careers, making them two of the worst free throw shooters in the history of the NBA. During the 1967-68 Wilt shot 38 percent from the line for the season and in his career made 6,057-11,862. That’s 5,805 missed free throws. And opposing coaches developed what became known as the ‘Hack-a-Shaq’ defense, fouling O’Neal in the closing minutes of a tight game knowing that there was a 50-50 chance that he would miss.

Think about it for a second: a person stands alone toeing a straight painted line with basketball in hand and the goal only 15 feet away. There’s no defense in your face, no attempt to block the shot – only player, basketball and goal. And keep in mind that the word before ‘throw’ is ‘free’ for gosh sakes!

In the course of broadcasting and watching scores of games this basketball season  and reading box scores in newspapers religiously I’ve noticed more this year than ever a dramatic decline in free throw shooting – and certainly that decline means the difference in a ‘W’ or an ‘L’ in many instances.

I’ll not name the schools (or the bricklayers involved) but a couple of recent box scores shows a team loses by three points and shoots 5-14 from the charity stripe while another team loses by two points and shoots 9-17 from the free throw line. While I’m not a mathematician I can ‘cypher’ those numbers and easily see that shooting even 70 percent from the free throw line would have meant the difference between winning and losing those particular games. And who knows if one of those losses caused by missed free throws might mean the difference in winning or losing a conference title or a lower seed in regional pairings?

So, what has caused a decline in free throw shooting?

Former Benton and SIU coach Rich Herrin believes the concentration on the three-point line has added to a decline in the dedication that goes in to being a good free throw shooter.

“The three-point line has taken the dedication away from free throw shooting,” Herrin said. “Everybody wants to shoot threes and there is no doubt about it that it is a big weapon, but it has overall hurt the game of basketball and particularly free throw shooting.”

Herrin emphasized a good three-point shooter does not equate to being a good free throw shooter.

“Some people will say that if a player is good three-point shooter they should also be a good free throw shooter but it’s a different shot totally,” said the legendary coach. “It’s a jump shot from behind the arc and a free throw is like the old set shot where the feet don’t leave the floor.”

Greg Starrick, former Marion and SIU basketball star, led the nation in free throw percentage during the 1970-71 season when he hit an incredible 342-375 free throws (92 percent). Starrick had a career record of 91 percent that stood for more than 30 years and was finally broken by J.J. Reddick, of Duke.

Starrick, who teams with Mike Reis on SIU basketball broadcasts, credits his dad, the late Wendell Starrick, for his free throw shooting success. The elder Starrick was a longtime basketball coach at Marion and his son would be at practice most days. Always a ‘gym rat’ Starrick said it became a game with him and his dad that he had to make a certain number of free throws in a row before they could leave.

“We just spent a heck of lot of time shooting free throws. This was back when I was in the fourth and fifth grade and I would have to make 10 in a row before we could leave and then we got it up to 15 and then 20 in row,” said Starrick. “We knew what time dinner was going to be ready and there were a lot of times when dinner had to wait because I didn’t leave the gym until I made 20 free throws in a row.”

Starrick said he took a lot of “pride” in becoming a great free throw shooter.

“I don’t see that same pride today from young people who want to spend the time to become a good free throw shooter,” Starrick said. “Good shooting fundaments aren’t stressed enough. Repetition is the key and I don’t think players get enough shots to become good at free throws.”

Starrick said his dad helped him at an early age develop a routine and that routine didn’t change from grade school until he led the nation in free throw shooting.

“I always felt like when I went to the free throw line that the trademark of the basketball had to be facing me where I could see it,” said Starrick. “My stance was always the same, my left foot was a little bit behind my right foot and my feet were the same distance apart as my shoulders so I had good balance. I always tried to focus on the back of the rim and always focused there. And I always felt like having a good arch on the ball was a key in being successful from the line.”

Aside from a ‘routine’ Starrick said the mental aspect and concentration involved is as equally important.

“From the second I was fouled, it didn’t matter if it was the first 30 second of the game or in a tight game in the final seconds of double overtime, I immediately erased all thoughts from my mind about everything, how hard the foul was, what part of the game we were in,” Starrick said. “The only focus I had was making that free throw. I see guys go to the line now and I know they are not ready to shoot a free throw. I had the ability to really, really focus on the free throw opportunity. The mental aspect of shooting free throws is very, very important.”

Herrin pointed to another legendary high school coach, Virgil Sweet, as the best free throw shooting coach he had encountered in his long association with high school and college basketball.

Sweet, who is now retired, coached more than 25 years at Valparaiso (Indiana) High School. Sweet developed what is still known as “The Valpo Free Throw Method’ a 20-point system that Sweet says is guaranteed to bring free throw shooting percentages up. The success that Sweet’s teams had at the free throw line certainly back up his claim. For a 15-year stretch, Sweet-coached teams shot no less than 70 percent as a team from the free throw line. Sweet’s 1963-64 team shot 80 percent as a team which is still a national record.  Mike Copper, a member of that team, also set a national record by making 409 consecutive free throws without ever leaving the line.

Herrin said he helped conduct a basketball camp with Sweet and legendary UCLA coach John Wooden back in the 1960s. Herrin said Sweet simplified free throw shooting and took a lot of ‘joint’ movement out of the shot.

“He (Sweet) was the best free throw shooting coach I’ve known,” Herrin said. “His teams always shot better than 70 percent and won a lot of games down the stretch because they were such good free throw shooters. When you over-bend your knees, your hips, your elbows and shoulders, it’s hard to shoot the same way every time. What he did was put most of the weight on your front foot and the player shoots it with as little movement as possible.”

Herrin said it is important for a player to get comfortable at the line and not tinker with his shooting style every time a misfire occurs.

“You can’t change your style if you miss a few free throws,” said Herrin. “The two key ingredients in shooting free throws are concentration and repetition and doing it the same way every single time. I think there is a lot of pride and self motivation in being a good free throw shooter. The teams that win close games down the stretch hit their free throws.”

Chase Heins can post you up, back you down and overpower you to the bucket. The fact that he doesn’t have to may be the most powerful part of his game.

Trico’s 6-foot-7, 240-pound senior has implemented facets of finesse into his highlight reels, including a graceful hook shot that he can knock down with either hand. He is also shifty enough to go up and under his defenders and skilled enough to swish a spot-up jumper over them. This array of options makes Trico one of the top 2A teams in the region.

“He has great post moves,” said Pioneers coach Shane Hawkins. “A lot of high school basketball players don’t have the moves that he has. He’s always had a very soft touch. First we worked with the right-handed jump hook. Now I think the left-handed jump hook may be his best move.”

“That’s what they’ve been telling me,” Heins said of his left-handed hook. “We practice it every day. It’s something that I’ve been doing since I was a freshman.”

Steady hands and quick feet make Heins a mismatch under the rim. He averages nearly 13 points and nine rebounds per game – nearly identical numbers from last season (14.5 points and 7.5 boards). His power game has progressed tremendously from his freshman season.

“He came in and started as a freshman, probably around 6-foot-4, 260 pounds,” Hawkins said. “He really couldn’t go chest to chest with people. A lot of people were blocking his shots.”

That’s where the hook shot came in handy.

“He was very good at it, but maybe didn’t have the confidence to do it in a game,” Hawkins said. “Once he got a few in some games, we kept harping on him to work on that hook shot.”

Heins started as a freshman, experiencing a type of “baptism by fire,” according to Hawkins. The bulky center has also gained invaluable experience in AAU basketball, playing in 120 games one summer for the Illinois Bears. “It gives you the competition against the bigger, stronger people to go up against,” Heins said. “We get to travel to Chicago, Indianapolis, St. Louis, and Kentucky.”

Heins played AAU ball again this summer, but also poured sweat in the Pioneers weight room. He gained 15 pounds of muscle in the offseason to help handle the constant double-teams that his opponents use against him.

“I think he saw some success in the weight room from the early goings, and when you see those results it becomes enjoyable to you,” Hawkins said. “He’s been our leader in the weight room. He never cheats on sets or reps. He always gives maximum effort.”

Trico senior guard Dylan Witthoft can second that notion. Heins’ lifting partner throughout the summer says, “He pushes me like crazy.”

“He’s a load down low,” Witthoft said. “We don’t have anybody in practice who can even guard him … I get stuck on him every now and then, and when I do, I’m calling for help.”

Witthoft isn’t the only one calling for help, especially in games. Heins has been drowned in double-teams down low all season. The end result has been more open shots for Wiffhoft, Daron Meyerhoff and George Kuhlman.

“It can be frustrating sometimes, especially if they’re taller than you, longer and facing up,” said Heins, who scored his 1,000^th career point early in the season. “I’ve tried to get better at seeing the whole floor and getting the ball to the open man.”

Hawkins says the size of Heins’ muscles matches the power of his mind. “He has a very high basketball IQ,” he said. “And he’s blessed with good size and very good strength, but he just has a very good understanding of how the game is played.”

While Heins was bulking up this summer, it was announced that Trico’s postseason schedule would do the same. The IHSA moved the school’s boy’s basketball team from Class 1A to 2A, which will probably lead to tougher competition come regional time. After a record-setting mark of 30-3 last year, Trico would have been one of the favorites to go to state this season in 1A.

“I think it may have affected our guys in the summer because the announcement from the IHSA kind of came out of nowhere,” Hawkins said. “It just took us aback a little bit.”

Not much has changed during the regular season for the Pioneers. They still loaded their schedule with 2A schools and tough tournaments, including the Carbondale Holiday Tournament at SIU Arena that they won last season. Trico won three out of its four games against bigger schools at this season’s edition of the long-running tourney, including its fifth-place game victory over Hazelwood West.

“Those tournament games help us immensely,” Hawkins said. “We’re not used to playing those types of teams that are so long and quick. It kind of takes us out of our comfort zone and we learn how to handle different situations.”

Heins averaged 13 points and 12 rebounds per game during the Carbondale tournament.

“It helps him to go against guys more his size, who are maybe a little longer or stronger than him,” Hawkins said. “If he has a fault, it may be that he is a little too unselfish. You get him the ball down low and he wants to kick it out and get everybody else involved. Sometimes he just needs to get a little more selfish with the ball.”

When Heins plays well, the Pioneers usually win. He was limited to six points earlier this season in a loss against Black Diamond West rival Sesser-Valier.

“He makes everybody else’s jobs easier,” said Witthoft, who has been playing organized basketball with Heins since they were six years old. “You know that if you get the ball down to him, he can go one-on-one with anybody.”

The Pioneers have lost in the 1A sectionals to Meridian in each of the past two seasons. The early exits from the postseason motivated Heins, and pushed him during his long workouts and countless hook shots over the summer. With the upgrade to 2A playoff competition, this year’s finish may ultimately rest on Trico’s ability to control the clock and win the battle under the basket. If it does, the Pioneers say they have their man.

“As a four-year starter, people aren’t going to do anything to him that he hasn’t seen before,” Hawkins said. “He understands that everything we try to do on offense is from the basket out.

“He’s also just an unbelievable kid to coach. He comes from a great family and he works very hard in the weight room, in practice and in games. You make a suggestion and he goes out there and tries it on the next possession or the next play in practice. A lot of kids in today’s society don’t like to be told what to do but Chase bought into our system from day one.”

Joe Szynkowski is a freelance writer for SISC. Send him a story idea, read more of his work or contact him through his website at www.joeszynkowski.com.

With thousands of high school basketball fans throughout the area still recovering from the many holiday and invitational tournaments held in southern Illinois, there’s still visual evidence that once upon a time, a hundred spectators may have been a capacity crowd.

That would have been almost 100 years ago when Du Quoin High School’s basketball team played in a gymnasium now known as the “old Lyric Theater.” The gym located in downtown Du Quoin on the second floor of the Emling and Hoffman CPA office building and was home for Du Quoin’s basketball team for several years in the early 1900s – the teens to be more exact.

Reports are relatively easy to find of high school games being played in the Lyric Theater. Printed reports occasionally tell of visiting teams being forced to stay overnight in the old St. Nicholas Hotel in downtown Du Quoin before returning home the following morning on the first Illinois Central train headed in its direction. That’s what Herrin’s high school team was reported to have done following a loss to the Indians the previous night.

Actually, the time coincided with one of the wildest happenings in Du Quoin High School basketball history.

It was state tournament time in 1916.  Du Quoin had never qualified for the state finals.  However, led by a “giant center” by name of Raymond Harrell, the Indians won the Southern Illinois championship meet (comparable to today’s super-sectional) held at Carbondale and were scheduled to play at the state meet being held in Decatur the following weekend.

However, a complaint filed by an opposing principal that Harrell was too old was upheld 36 hours after Du Quoin fans were well into celebrating the victory.  The charge was upheld by the Illinois High School Athletic Association’s vice-president Jesse Newton.  Du Quoin officials were told to return the championship trophy and that the Indians were being replaced by Carbondale University High at the state tournament.

The Carbondale Free Press, in its Monday, March 6, 1916, edition, reported:

“. . . Prof. McAndrew (William McAndrew who was SINU’s athletic director and tournament manager at the time) received a call Sunday morning that at a meeting of the IHSAA Saturday afternoon it upheld a charge that Du Quoin’s center Raymond Harrell was ineligible due to his age.  Carbondale, rather than Du Quoin, was declared tournament champion.”

The story went on to say:

“As a result, Du Quoin is in a cloud of gloom, her honors are gone. That team of huskies from their high school who for so long held the honors in this section of the state, did not long keep the laurels that they took from University High here.

For many years Du Quoin has held this lanky center of their team in honor.  He has been the guest of honor at dinner parties.  He has ridden through the streets of his fair Perry County city in the choicest seat of a luxurious automobile and carried on the backs of his fellows.  He has played great basket ball, his name has been heralded from all corners of the state as a great hub.  Never again will he be held in honor in high school circles . . . because he posed to be within the age limit.”

What happened then is best told in a story running four days later in the Decatur Review.  It said:

“New and convincing documentary evidence showing beyond question that Raymond Harrell is not yet 21 years of age prompts this board (the IHSAA) to rescind its decision of March 4 and to declare Harrell eligible to represent Du Quoin in interscholastic activities.”

The team was reinstated and scheduled to play Shelbyville in the second game of the tournament.

The Decatur story continued and it’s interesting – almost hilarious. It read:

“The IHSAA decision rewarded Du Quoin for three days of the hardest detective work that town has engaged in – from a Presbyterian minister down to the night watch in the livery stable.

“Maybe you think it hasn’t been work to gather the proof, said the spokesman of the eight Du Quoin delegates to members of the state board of appeals at the special hearing. When we learned of the state’s ruling, we went to work. We found that Harrell was born near Harrisburg and we went down there on passenger and freight trains. We found no birth records there but learned that the county treasurer in Eldorado might know something.  We hired a buggy and drove over impossible roads only to have the buggy break down miles from anywhere. We unhitched the horses and rode them bareback for some five miles.”

Once there, the Du Quoin delegation located an ‘old-fashioned school master’ named A. O. Boatman who provided them with evidence that Harrell had graduated from grade school in 1912 when 16 years of age which meant he was eligible for high school play in 1916. An aunt and a Bible even figured into the findings.

The Du Quoin group returned home, made their way to Decatur after being assured of a hearing and won their case.

The paper even quoted Newton, the IHSAA official of saying following the hearing, “Here’s to Du Quoin.  Long may she wave.”

Du Quoin did not win the state title, but defeated Shelbyville in the first round and Moline in the second before losing to Robinson by a single point in the semifinals. The Indians then defeated Springfield for third place and its only state finals basketball trophy to this day.

And, it all started in its home gym located in a building, first known as “Elston’s Opera House.” It actually had many names in its long history before now simply being known as “the old theater above Emling and Hoffman’s CPA offices.”

“Harking Back” columns carried in the Du Quoin Evening Call have long documented many of the events held there.

For basketball games, spectators sat in one row of wooden chairs placed around the playing floor and in the balcony which is still in place.

Silent movies, professional plays, graduation exercises, church services, and, of course, sporting events were regular events.

We remember fairly well that when we were in the seventh and eighth grades we would hustle to the hall and shoot baskets for a short time before the “big boys” from high school would get there and take over.  At that time – the early 1940s – the high school had its own gymnasium, but the old opera house was still a popular hangout for non-players who were there to participate in basketball, ping-pong or boxing – or just plain loafing around.

To be asked to fill in on a basketball “team” would be the highlight of our afternoon.  Even though it was a seldom happening, it was major, playing on a wooden floor with real baskets with nets.  Our grade school was without such facilities in those early years.

Harold Emling of the Emling and Hoffman business has been the leader in the building’s restoration since he and his partner, Hoffman, purchased the location in 1985.

“You might say that we fell in love with the old theater upstairs and decided to renovate it to the best of our ability,” Emling said.  “I was told by workers that they had to scrape 12 layers of paint off the walls before they got down to the original surface.  And, we’ve touched it up a couple of times since then to give it it present appearance.”

Although rarely seen by citizens today, it’s still a landmark in downtown Du Quoin.

Lance Jolly just wants to be a kid again.

Nothing about the past seven months of his life – the lengthy hospital stays, the excruciating treatments and the painful side effects – have typified the normal existence of a sixth-grade boy. He misses interacting with friends at New Hope Grade School in Fairfield. He wants to lace up his cleats and work on his baseball swing over the winter.

But those things will have to wait.

Jolly was diagnosed in April with severe aplastic anemia, a rare blood disorder that occurs when the body stops producing enough new blood cells. Jolly has undergone several rounds of transfusions and immunotherapy, which produces side effects similar to chemotherapy. He has experienced sores on his body, darkened skin, excessive hair growth and a high susceptibility to infection. He is now awaiting a bone marrow transplant that could potentially take place this spring. His parents, Randall and Susan, and his three siblings are waiting, too.

“Initially you’re just kind of numb. You don’t really know how to react or respond,” Susan said. “But just getting all of the support from the school, our church and our community have been amazing. If not for all of that, I probably would have crawled up into a hole somewhere.”

The News

One day in April, Lance came home from school with red spots on his forearm. Susan had recently switched laundry detergents, and thought nothing of the marks. That weekend, Lance stayed with his uncle. He had fun at a motocross event and checked out a museum. When he returned home, Lance’s legs were covered in soft-ball sized bruises. His uncle guessed that the bruises came from Lance crawling around the interactive displays in the museum.

The final red flag came on Monday morning when Lance woke up with a fever. Susan took him to a local doctor in Fairfield. Lance’s blood counts were drastically low and he was eventually transferred to St. Louis for blood transfusions. Doctors initially suspected leukemia, and the Jollys spent the next 22 nights in the hospital while a brutal battery of tests was performed on their oldest child.

The diagnosis of aplastic anemia shocked the Jollys.

“We had never heard of it,” Susan said. “And Lance was a very healthy, an-apple-a-day type kid. He’s always been very athletic and very healthy.”

The Jollys were told that Lance’s diagnosis was within the 75 percent of aplastic anemia cases that are idiopathic – doctors could identify no known cause. “His doctors have told us that if the bone marrow transplant doesn’t work that we have other options for treatment,” Susan said. “They have been fantastic. They love him like he’s their own son.”

Doctors recently found spots on Lance’s lungs and diagnosed them as atypical bacteria that attacked his weakened immune system. Along with being treated for that, he also must undergo monthly treatments to avoid pneumonia. St. Louis has become a second home of sorts for the Jolly family, as Lance requires regular trips there for blood testing and appointments.

School Support

Lance’s normal routine was upended after the diagnosis of aplastic anemia, which required him to miss the home stretch of his fifth-grade school year. The teachers and students of New Hope did their best to restore normalcy. Principal and fifth-grade teacher, Julie Harrelson, used Skype so Lance was able to attend classes virtually from his hospital bed in SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center in St. Louis.

“We also took books and assignments to the hospital and his home,” Harrelson said. “When he was at home, we took four students at a time to have lunch with him to allow him to visit with friends and keep him involved.”

Lance’s doctors have ordered him to stay home from school now to avoid the risk of sickness or infection. He receives homebound instruction once a week from his teachers.

“It makes me really happy and makes me feel good,” Lance said of being able to continue his schoolwork.

Harrelson is glad to put in extra effort to make sure Lance keeps up on his lessons. She uses works like “polite,” “grateful” and “compassionate” when asked to describe him.

“Lance is always thinking of others,” she said. “For example, right now he is asking the New Hope staff and students to donate toys to the other children at Cardinal Glennon hospital. (You can help, too, by contacting the school for more information at 618-842-3296).

“He has the integrity and character that New Hope School strives for all students to develop.”

For the people surrounding Lance, youths and adults alike, it has been difficult to comprehend his predicament. “The hardest thing is that you can’t do anything to change what is going on,” said family friend Stacy Lane, whose son Bryce is one of Lance’s best friends. “The only thing you can really do is give your time and have him come over to play.”

“He’s nice and he doesn’t really complain,” said fellow sixth-grader Andrew Stewart. “We visit him a lot and try to encourage him.

“It’s been really hard.”

Powerful Pastime

Andrew is the son of family friends, Eric and Lori Stewart. The Stewarts have done their best to help the Jolly family. Eric coached the boys in baseball last season. Lance was able to play as recent as the summertime, when he convinced his doctors to allow him to play without the port in his arm. He told his doctors he would rather be stuck with a needle every time he needed medicine if it meant he could play baseball.

“The kid has the biggest heart I’ve ever seen,” said Eric, who has been coaching Lance since tee-ball. “You can’t even compare it. That kid has been through so much and he keeps going on like nothing has happened. You could consider him a hero in my book.”

Lance took part in tryouts in the 100-degree heat of late July, but doctor appointments and trips to St. Louis kept him from participating in some of the practices and games last season. Missing time is what made it all the more exciting for Lance when he did get to grab his glove and join his teammates on the field.

Despite his medical issues Lance was a mainstay on his summer league baseball team.

One of the main symptoms of aplastic anemia is fatigue. Lance sometimes found himself tired during practice or games and unable to partake in certain activities. He required a pinch-runner if he reached base. His legs locked up during lunges in practice.

“Probably the only time he’s been bummed out was during baseball,” Susan said. “He wouldn’t admit it but he didn’t have the energy that he used to.”

Lance did his best to not let his fatigue show.

“He would stay after practice and his dad would pitch him 100 balls,” Eric said. “The hardest part was just knowing that he wanted to do better and he just couldn’t hit like he normally would have. He was frustrated because as a fifth-grader he was killing the ball, and this year he kind of struggled. His timing was just a little off.

“He always gives 110 percent. We played him a lot more in the outfield because we didn’t want him getting hit with a ball, but he plays shortstop likes its unreal.”

With Lance’s bone marrow transplant hopefully around the corner this spring, Eric and a local photographer made arrangements for Lance’s team picture to be taken a couple of months ago. “We had a bonfire the weekend after the baseball season ended and he was just days from finding out when the transplant would be,” Eric said. “He was out there playing football, tackling the boys. He is rowdy.”

“I think it was the normalcy that he got from playing sports,” Susan said. “He had something to look forward to. Even when he couldn’t play and had to sit games out, he was still 100 percent into the game and cheering on his teammates.”

Keeping Faith

The Jollys began attending church with the Stewarts three years ago at New Beginnings Church in Fairfield. Lance was baptized in November, and his parents have leaned on the church for support and spiritual strength.

“I don’t really know how to describe it, but if it wasn’t for our faith we would not be making it through this,” Susan said. “We have great support through our church family.”

Dan Corfield, pastor at New Beginnings, has struck a special relationship with Lance.

“I saw him in the hospital pretty wiped out from all of the drugs,” said Corfield, who has been a pastor at New Beginnings for two years. “I asked him what he thought about the bone marrow transplant and he just said, ‘bring it on.’ He just wants to get the whole ordeal over with so he can go on with his life. He’s a very determined kid.”

Lance’s situation hits home for Corfield, who has four sons of his own. The pastor has been taken aback by the strength of the Jollys throughout the past few months.

“They are an incredibly resilient family,” Corfield said. “They haven’t asked for any of the help that they have received. They seem to take everything one day at a time and never hang their heads. That carries on to Lance.”

Corfield has encouraged the Jollys to keep faith, sharing the message that faith is believing that there can be an answer coming when there is no proof that one is on the way.

“I deal with people in bad situations all of the time,” he said. “I’ve seen people scared and I’ve watched people die. From my experiences with Lance, I don’t see any fear at all. I don’t see any fear in his mom or dad … they’re putting up the united front together.”

The community of Fairfield has also joined that front, raising $9,000 for the family. The school hosted another event that drew $8,500. Between bouncing back from the countless treatments and trying to keep up with his schoolwork, Lance has also been able to think of others. He is excited about the opportunity to deliver donated toys to his peers on the fourth floor of Cardinal Glennon.

“He is going to have such a testimony in his athletics and his spiritual walk,” Lori said. “There is going to be something greater come out of this whole situation.”

Lance speaks softly about his condition, perhaps not grasping the gravity of his situation. On the other hand, maybe he fully understands. His quiet courage is what has calmed the ache felt by his parents and three siblings, Riley, Jessica and Elijah, who is severely autistic.

“It’s really been his attitude that has helped us get through everything,” Susan said. “You would think that a lot of families would be at the breaking point right about now. But it’s weird because we’ve actually all been brought closer together. That is 100 percent God. We are stronger than ever.”

Joe Szynkowski is a freelance writer for SISC. He can be reached at joeszynkowski@hotmail.com.

Four Williamson County graduates comprise more than a third of the JALC men’s basketball roster this winter. Two are from Herrin – Alex Brown and Jamie Jones – and two – Ryan Bonifield and Drew Bonner – are from Carterville. Of that quartet, both Brown and Bonifield had started games prior to the holiday break.

Brown is a 6-feet-11-inch sophomore center who played his high school ball with the Herrin Tigers. He has appeared in six of his team’s first eight games and is averaging 10.6 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. Moreover, he is blocking a little better than two shots per game. What makes Brown an attractive commodity to four-year schools in addition to the obvious – his size – is that he runs the floor extremely well for a big man.

“Running is something I’ve done a lot of since I was a little boy and I take a lot of pride in how I run the floor in the games,” Brown said. “Despite my size, I don’t get tired that easily.”

Brown was a backup to 6-feet-10-inch standout Stan Simpson a year ago. Simpson eventually signed with Memphis University. This year, Brown is getting more minutes in the paint and is making the most of his opportunity. Like Simpson, he hopes to take his game to the next level.

“I’ve worked hard at becoming a better basketball player,” he said. “I’ve improved my shooting skills and have even developed a hook shot. I’m playing better defense and have put a lot of time into free-throw shooting, even though the results have not been as good yet as I would like. But if I keep working at it, it will get better.”

Brown said he couldn’t be happier with his decision to come to Logan.

“To me, it’s more like a family than a team. We play hard and we look out for each other. It’s been a lot of fun playing with Jamie (Jones) again after we played together in Herrin. And the same goes for the two Carterville guys (Bonifield and Bonner), who we played against in high school. I think this team has good chemistry.”

Best known for thunderous dunks and jaw-dropping blocks, Brown said he will do what it takes to put the Vols in contention or a Great Rivers Athletic Conference title as this season progresses.

“My only goal this year is a team goal – to win,” Brown said. “That overrides everything else.”

Logan head coach Mark Imhoff said Brown has the tools to be an outstanding basketball player.

“Alex has progressed nicely since coming into this program last year. He has most definitely improved his skill set. He has also added some weight and gotten stronger,” Imhoff said. “Now, it’s time for Alex to show what he can do. He needs to take the tools he has developed and utilize them in a way to help make our team more successful. If he does that, there’s no telling how good he can be. It’s all about focusing on what we’re trying to accomplish as a team.”

Jones is a 6-feet-2-inch freshman shooting guard from Herrin who is averaging six points a game with four games played that included a 15-point outing against Three Rivers, Mo. He is also the team leader in free-throw percentage (6-for-6 or 100 percent). Jones was a late walk-on to the Volunteers.

“Playing here at Logan is a lot different than high school ball, but I think I’m finally starting to get used to the speed of the game at this level,” he said. “I’m glad I decided to give it a try. I didn’t want to have any regrets about not playing a few years down the road. I’m just going to ride this thing out and see where it goes.”

Jones said his class schedule has forced him to miss some practices this fall semester, which cuts into his game preparation time, but hopes he won’t have that issue to contend with in the second semester with a new class schedule as the Vols get into the meat of their schedule.

“I have found that, at this level, you really have to work hard to be any good. And I plan to work as hard as I can.”

Imhoff said Jones can shoot the basketball from long range and that is always an attraction.

“Jamie’s what coaches call a stand-up shooter. And he has a quick trigger. Without question, what he has to do is get stronger and adjust to the speed of the game in order to be productive at this level. And I am confident that he can do that.”

Bonifield is a 6-foot-5 freshman forward who enjoyed a stellar career with the Carterville Lions. At the prep level, he was the team’s leading scorer and rebounder. At Logan, he is not counted upon to put points on the board. His role is to rebound, work the ball inside and play good defense.

Having appeared in all eight games and starting half, Bonifield is averaging just less than three points a game and more than four rebounds.

Like Jones, he is a walk-on (non-scholarship) player with the Vols.

“I just wanted to keep playing basketball,” the Carterville native said of his decision to join the team late in the summer. “I didn’t know if it was going to work out well or not, but so far, it’s gone very well. Coach (Mark) Imhoff has taught me a lot. I’ve learned more about defense and team commitment. Yeah, I would definitely rate this as a positive experience for me.”

From a competition standpoint, Bonifield said “everybody’s quicker and has bigger bodies” than what he was accustomed to facing in high school.

“You just have to adjust to the speed of the game. I know my role has definitely changed, and that’s OK. I focus more on rebounding than ever before. You have to get a body on your guy or you won’t likely get the ball.”

Bonifield said he is thrilled to have the opportunity to suit up with his good friend and ex-Lion teammate, Drew Bonner, and has developed friendships with both Brown and Jones.

“The last couple of years we were going at each other, but now we’re friends. It’s weird how things work out sometimes. I plan to come back to the team next year if coach will have me.”

Imhoff said Bonifield was not your typical walk-on player. He asked Bonifield to go out for the team.

“All freshmen have a transition to make from high school to the college level,” Imhoff said. “Fortunately for Ryan, one of the areas he didn’t have to work on developing was strength. He has substantial strength and athleticism. It was just a matter of adjusting to the speed of the game and improving his skills as a player. What I like about Ryan is that he doesn’t make a lot of mistakes. He takes care of the basketball and has accepted his role with this team, which has made him a key con-tributor.”

Bonner is a 6-foot freshman point guard from Carterville. Like Jones and Bonifield, he is a walk-on player.

“I know I’m undersized for basketball and have been told by a lot of people that I couldn’t play here,” he said. “That motivated me to work that much harder this past summer to get ready for this opportunity. I’m happy that I gave it a shot. The guys here really care a lot about the game because they want to make it to the next level. And I can appreciate that.”

Bonner said he is working on improving his ball handling and shooting skills in order to be a greater asset to the team. In limited minutes through five games, the freshman is averaging 1.4 points and 1.2 assists per game.

“We didn’t win a lot of games at Carterville, so I really enjoy playing for a winner here at Logan,” Bonner said. “Of course, it means a lot to have Ryan on the team with me. We’ve been best friends for about as long as I can remember. And it’s great getting to know all the other guys, too, especially Alex and Jamie, since we played against them in high school. I’ve enjoyed the experience and am looking forward to sticking with it.”

Imhoff said Bonner must work on improving his strength and quickness in order to make bigger contributions off the bench.

“Drew can shoot the basketball and he makes decent decisions when he’s out there on the floor. The speed of the game is unquestionably something he has to adjust to, but in time as he gets stronger, will be something he can handle.”