Little Okaw Valley Conference 2007-08 Preview

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Cero Gordo leads LOVC run in 2007-08
Broncos eye big prize with postseason goals; Arthur, Tri-County, Sangamon Valley, Bement are the main competition

LITTLE OKAW VALLEY
CONFERENCE
Projected Order Of Finish
1. CERO GORDO
2. ARTHUR
3. TRI-COUNTY
4. SANGAMON VALLEY
5. BEMENT
6. ATWOOD-HAMMOND
7. OKAW VALLEY
8. HERITAGE
9. SHILOH

BY JACK BULLOCK
The Little Okaw Valley Conference was one of the first conferences on the list that ABV wanted in add to the Preview.
Several (but not all) of the teams responded.
So after thinking about putting all of the teams together up North – I figured that it would be ok to do a thumbnail sketch of preview of the LOVC from the schools I received info from.
A big thanks to the ones who filled out the paperwork.
The consensus of the coaches that filled out the questionnaire believes that Cero Gordo is the club to beat in the 2007-08 race.
This season CG has five starters returning and nine total veterans from a 13-17 squad.
Arthur has the tallest and perhaps the best player in the league returning in Wes Dukeman.
Atwood-Hammond finished in the top part of the LOVC a season ago and returns some key players.
Bement tied Arthur for the LOVC regular season title last winter and return two kids that can really score.
Experience will be a key at Tri-County and Sangamon Valley while and Okaw Valley look for rebuilding around a couple of key senior players.
Cero Gordo looks like they might have something special going for 2007-08.
Lovington and Villa Grove sent me nothing.
1. CERO GORDO
The Broncos – for longtime high school basketball fans – had a good early 1970’s run under head coach Jack Blickensderfer. They made a couple of trips to the Elite Eight – which included a heartbreaking double-overtime loss to eventual champion Lawrenceville in the 1974 Class A quarterfinals.
Although those were fond memories for most – these Broncos would like to start out the new four-class system the same way this school started out the two-class system.
Head coach Scott Bacon will rely on Drew Minton – 5-foot-11 junior guard who popped home 18 points a night as a sophomore. Six-foot-four senior Travis Johnson scored 12 points and hauled in six rebounds a game. Chris Ntor-ue (don’t ask me how to pronounce it) is a 6-foot-3 senior that added nine points, seven rebounds a two blocked shots per contest as a junior.
Coach Bacon can go with another strong junior – 6-foot-2 Tyler Phelps - in the starting lineup.
Five-foot-eleven senior Bryce Ramay should also be part of the starting unit with competition for the final spot and reserve minutes coming from several others will be in competition for playing time.
The Broncos reached the Decatur St. Teresa Regional semifinals last February before falling to the hosts, 51-48. This coach has some kids to build on that late season success from a year ago.
”We only lost one Senior from last year’s team. We are returning five starters and our top nine players from last year’s team,” said Coach Bacon. “We have high goals for ourselves. We would like to win over 20 games (at least 23). Win hardware in every tournament we play in and compete for the conference title. Our players have been dedicated in the off-season and we are looking forward to a successful season.”
OUTLOOK – These Broncos can accomplish a lot if they can avoid a brutal slump to begin the season. Last winter they came out of the gate 1-7 but rallied for some big wins and nearly got back to .500. If they can jump out to some early wins – 20 of them are possible and this league title would be an added bonus. For a Class 1A team – hopes should be a lot higher now.
2. ARTHUR
The Knights have 6-foot-8 senior Wes Dukeman back after this one scored a modest 10 points a game as a junior.
Arthur won the LOVC regular season title last season (co-champs with Bement) for head coach Dale Schuring and he has three top returning players from that 21-7 overall, 10-2 LOVC team.
Dukeman average 9.7 points and 4.2 rebounds a night for the Knights.
Two fine sophomore guards return in 6-foot Bobby Aikman and 5-foot-10 guard Justin Schuring.
Aikman was 2.9 points per contest contributor a season ago while Schuring added 2.7 p.p.g.
A couple of junior guards got in roughly half of the Arthur varsity games in 2006-07.
Six-foot Tim Wilson and 5-foot-10 Adam Carver threw in a few points each in games that counted. Each will be needed more this season if the Knights are going to repeat as conference champs.
Coach Schuring also listed a couple of other returning sophomores that will be important - Elliott Tinnon and Nathan Goodman – after having good freshman seasons.
Tinnon is a 6-foot-4 forward while Goodman is a 5-foot-11 center.
Tinnon will probably start along with Dukeman, Wilson, Aikman and Schuring.
We will have to be able to defend and rebound well this season,” said Coach Schuring – who is 72-37 in four years coaching the boys at Arthur. “We have some valuable experience back from last year but are very inexperienced overall. We have to develop some depth. We will probably take some time to come around but I expect us to be formidable by the conference tournament and regionals.”
OUTLOOK – ABV likes to hear a coach talk about being ready for the regionals because that is what it is all about anyway. Arcola edged them out in the semifinals of the Tuscola Regional, 59-56. Size and some quickness are strong points here. All things said about Dukeman by other coaches are good and that his potential is there for an El Grande season. The backcourt also seems first-rate. The Knights should be in the hunt for another 20-win season and maybe they won’t have to share the LOVC title in 2007-08.
3. TRI-COUNTY
In spite of perhaps the worst color scheme in the state of Illinois – the Tri-County Titans will parade out in those Purple and Orange uniforms for another cooperative season. Kansas (Purple/White) and Oakland (Orange/Black) didn’t consult Mr. Blackwell before combining colors and created a monster.
But it is the guys wearing the uniforms that count and these Titans will be in the Little Okaw Valley title chase as well as a sweet spot in the Class 1A tourney.
Head coach Charlie Carver was head coach at Oakland and his record there and in the coop is 35-49.
Tri-County was just 4-23 a season ago but the good news is that a lot of survivors from that season return for 2007-08. Experienced and raring to go – look for a better effort and result here as they return four starters and three key reserves.
Six-foot-four junior forward Jake Montgomery topped the Titans with 13.5 points and 6.7 rebounds a game. Five-foot-eleven senior Justin Massie added 7.9 points a night while 5-foot-10 junior Jeremy Hudson was good for 6.5 p.p.g.
Five-foot-nine junior Patrick Miller (5.9 p.p.g.) 5-foot-8 sophomore Cody Meyer (1.9 p.p.g.) and 6-foot senior Cary Hawkins (3.5 p.p.g.) have all learned from last season’s run that ended with a 59-51 loss to Heritage at the Chrisman Class A Regional.
“We are a junior dominated team and our season depends on how quickly we can go from being last year’s inexperienced team to a team that shows determination to be successful,” said Coach Carver – who lost just a single senior from last season and will continue playing young kids in 2007-08. “This group has potential to be a top team in our conference.”
OUTLOOK – The Titans got thrown to the wolves as babes a season ago. Many think that is a poor way of learning the ropes. ABV thinks otherwise. Most teams that learn the hard way end up being better in the long run. Kids that develop a dislike for losing will end up winning the more games they play. Maybe not this season but soon Tri-County and this coach will reap the benefits from this philosophy.
4. SANGAMON VALLEY
The Storm has six seniors returning from a 12-16 team a year ago for first year head coach Josh Myers. They won a regional game over Greenview before falling to perennial power Warrensburg-Latham, 65-31 in the semifinals of the Mount Pulaski Class A Regional.
Chad Wolpert – a 5-foot-9 senior guard – was first on Myers’ list of returning players. Add the names Ross Johnson – a 5-foot-9 senior guard along with 6-foot-4 senior forward Craig Sullivan and 6-foot-5 senior center Reed Himstedt.
Clay Lion – a 6-foot senior guard – and 6-foot-2 senior forward James Honea also are back.
With this many veterans coming back this first year coach will have plenty to work with.
This coach also has some juniors back with limited experience.
Five-foot-ten Ben Williams, 6-foot-1 Henry Dunn and 6-foot Shawn Mendenhall were part of Coach John Peters’ roster from 2006-07.
”With six seniors that are eager for the season to start and a young coach with a lot of experience, I think this could be a very good season,” said Coach Myers – a Western Illinois University graduate and former junior high school basketball coach entering his first season at the prep level. “I wish I had more time with them this summer but they will just have to pick up a lot of our system in a short time. In the little time that we had this summer they were very attentive and worked hard. We will have a lot of pressure on defense, push the ball on offense, play hard and smart, and be disciplined.”
OUTLOOK – If the veterans and this new coach can mess ABV sees no reason why the Storm won’t be in the LOVC hunt. They, too, have some size for this league and six seniors returning will definitely help adjusting to a new system. Sangamon Valley – like the rest of these schools – want this first season of four-class basketball to be a great one.
5. BEMENT
Co-champs of the LOVC last season – its first LOVC boy’s basketball title in 25-years with a 10-2, 19-9 record last winter - these Bulldogs look to reload and rebuild around a couple of key components back from the starting lineup.
Bement went from 11-18 in 2005-06 to last season’s co-championship. To keep the winning ways going the returning regulars must make up some missing points left by the graduation of Kyle Taylor (19.3 p.p.g.) and Jason Jennings (9.8 p.p.g.).
Coach Kraig Rogers has a couple of important seniors back in 6-foot-2 Dan Comerford (17.8 p.p.g.) and 6-foot-3 senior Justin Walsh (9.8 p.p.g.).
The other expected starters all have some experience in varsity games from last season.
Drew Bradley is a 5-foot-9 senior who notched 1.6 points a game in relief.
Five-foot-eleven senior guard Mike Scott chipped in 1.4 points a night while Thomas Summar – a 5-foot-10 senior forward – averaged 1.2 points a game.
All of those numbers (a combined 4.2 per outing) should improve in time.
According to Coach Rogers – Walsh and Comerford will be the most important part of a successful season and a return to being above .500 while making the LOVC race interesting.
“Justin Walsh and Dan Comerford are both extremely athletic and very tough to guard,” said Coach Rogers – who is 104-159 in nine seasons as head coach at Bement. “Our success will depend on the role players ability to score and do their job. If they can then we will be very competitive.”
OUTLOOK – They should be in contention from the returning players back. They don’t appear as deep as some of the others so avoiding injuries and serious foul problems are essential for this season to be basketball profitable.
6. ATWOOD-HAMMOND
The Rajahs (what a cool nickname) lost more scoring to graduation than any of the teams in the Little Okaw Valley Conference.
Gone are four senior starters and 50 points a game – a large figure that will take some doing to substitute.
Coach Rich Wilson steps in for longtime coach Ed Coller after leading Lovington for nine seasons and must find replacement for those lost seniors including 22.4 points per game contributor 6-foot-5 forward Will Fombelle.
But Atwood-Hammond has some kids back ready including Ben Smith – a 6-foot-3 senior forward.
Six-foot senior Nash Freeman and 5-foot-7 junior Scott Fifer also return from a team that lost to Arthur, 67-65, at the Tuscola Class A Regional.
From last season’s roster you can add Ben Davis – a 6-foot-3 senior forward – and 5-foot-11 senior guard Nick Albright to the potential players for Coach Wilson to choose from.
“Most of last year’s varsity is gone now so I will need to learn as much as possible about this year’s players as soon as I can,” said Coach Wilson – who won LOVC titles at Lovington in back-to-back seasons in 1998 and 1999.
OUTLOOK – It looks like the rebuilding pattern is in place for A-H this season. However the ones back will be competitive in a conference that seems to lack a powerhouse program. Smith will be called upon for a lot more scoring than he did a year ago and the backcourt must be ready when the first week of the season arrives.
7. OKAW VALLEY
The Timberwolves are in their second year of rebuilding after a 25-4 season in 2005-06 became a 3-22 season last winter.
The seniors that went through the first part of the reconstruction are back for 2007-08.
Clint Schlosser – a 6-foot-1 forward – and 6-foot-1 shooting guard CJ Crawley are back for a club that lost to eventual Supersectional team Central A&M, 65-55, at the Shelbyville Regional.
Six-foot-five senior Jahad Abbed is also being expected to start for the Timberwolves.
Six-foot senior Jarrod Newton is the incumbent point guard for Okaw Valley while classmates Josh Robertson – a 5-foot-9 guard – 6-foot-4 forward/center Dustin Suddarth, 6-foot guard Wade Burch and 6-foot-1 guard Tyler Smock and 6-foot forward Cory Schlosser return for OV.
Coach Jan Thompson mentioned a couple of sophomores who played as freshman a season ago.
Ryan Brandenburg and Jessie Newton both got into varsity games last winter.
Both of those kids are 5-foot-7 point guards so expect some friendly competition for playing time between those two.
“I’m excited about have a little height this year,” said Coach Thompson – who has an overall head coaching record that matches last season’s mark. “Last year was a rebuilding season and I expect us to be in the middle to the upper half of the conference this season with nine seniors returning.”
OUTLOOK – This coach seems optimistic about his chances this season. He is very impressed with Abbed and he believes this one can be an offensive force in the LOVC. If the guards continue to improve the wins will come. The upper half of the conference will be a tough goal to reach.
8. HERITAGE
Head coach Andy Place got his team rolling to a 19-13 mark last season, 7-5 in the LOVC.
The bad news is that this coach lost six senior to the cap and gown crowd last spring and he has just a pair of returning letterwinners back from a team that lost to Tolono Unity, 56-26, in the semifinals of the Chrisman Class A Regional.
Payton Judy, Keifer McComas, Logan Jeffers, Nick Jones, Jordan Wells and Anthony Bensken all hit the graduation trail.
The two returning are Levi Allen – a 6-foot senior – and Levi Coddington who is a 6-foot-2 senior.
One other senior are two juniors are the only ones left from a depleted roster.
Six-foot-four Alex Smith was on the Hawks roster in 2006-07 and is expected to be around for his senior season.
Jace Corray – a 5-foot-9 junior – is part of the picture.
Others on the roster and having the potential to get in on the hardwood fun are six eager sophomores.
Five-foot-eleven forward Darren Happ, 5-foot-8 guard Cole Judy, 6-foot forward Spencer Lowe, 5-foot-7 Matt McWhorter, 5-foot-9 Tyler Sanderson and 6-foot-1 forward Nick Umbarger.
“We will have trouble scoring the basketball again this year. We will be very young with only three or four upperclassmen on our roster,” said Coach Place who started his head-coaching career last season at Heritage. “We will have about six sophomores to round out our varsity roster. We’re hoping to suprise some people.”
OUTLOOK – Don’t expect too much from the Hawks this season with all of the lost minutes to graduation. There isn’t much size so they will have to play smart and keep the opposition off of the offensive glass. Double-digit wins are possible.
9. SHILOH
The Raiders had just one win on the season last winter and head coach Corey White knows it will take a lot of hard work to keep out of the LOVC basement again.
Tolono Unity made quick work of Shiloh in the regionals and the painful ending to the season.
Coach White has four returning lettermen ready to begin the mend.
Three seniors are missing from the starting lineup from a year ago.
Five-foot-eight guard Nolan Brooks, 6-foot-3 forward Jacob Hixson and 6-foot-1 forward Ben Carroll have all left via graduation.
As for the returning players look for four kids to step forward.
Cameron Kibler is a 6-foot senior forward who should be in the opening night lineup.
Five-foot-eleven senior Ted McGinness, Eric Miles – a 6-foot-1 junior – and 6-foot sophomore Dylan Ross are part of four tested players from 2006-07.
Tony Dickson – a 6-foot-2 senior – may end up with some minutes along with senior guards Skyler Dorsett (5-foot-7) and 6-foot Jake Dye.
“Kibler is the team leader for us and he leads us by example,” said Coach White. “Eric Miles will be our starting point guard and he has vastly improved his ball handling skills and will help us get the ball up and down the floor. We are more experienced with four varsity players returning after getting a lot of action last season.”
OUTLOOK – Winning just two games in two years (2-53) would discourage most coaches, players and fans. But there doesn’t seem to be too much gloom here. The four kids returning will have a lot to overcome this season. They had trouble scoring a year ago and the defense must improve. Single digits in wins are realistic and a few extra would help everyone involved in the Raiders’ program.

ABV "One's To Watch"

Bobby Aikman
Arthur
6-foot Sophomore

Levi Allen
Heritage
6-foot Senior

Levi Coddington
Heritage
6-foot-2 Senior

Dan Comerford
Bement
6-foot-2 Senior

CJ Crawley
Okaw Valley
6-foot-1 Senior

Wes Dukeman
Arthur
6-foot-8 Senior

Nash Freeman
Atwood-Hammond
6-foot Senior

Ross Johnson
Sangamon Valley
5-foot-9 Senior

Travis Johnson
Cero Gordo
6-foot-4 Senior

Cameron Kibler
Shiloh
6-foot Senior

Justin Massie
Tri-County
5-foot-11 Senior