Okaw Valley Conference 2007-08 Preview

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Warrensburg-Latham leads tough OVC
Cardinals might be best 1A team in Illinois; Monticello, Meridian, Unity appear strong

OKAW VALLEY
CONFERENCE
Projected Order Of Finish
1. WARRENSBURG-LATHAM
2. MONTICELLO
3. TOLONO UNITY
4. MACON MERIDIAN
5. CENTRAL A&M
6. SHELBYVILLE
7. MAROA-FORSYTH
8. TUSCOLA
9. DECATUR ST. TERESA
10. CLINTON
11. SULIVAN
12. ARGENTA-OREANA

BY JACK BULLOCK
Anyone who thinks that the Okaw Valley Conference wasn’t the strongest league in Illinois Class A boy’s basketball in 2006-07 needs a brain transplant.
Of the 10 members last sesaon – five of the teams won regional titles.
Three of the teams (Maroa-Forsyth, Monticello and Central A&M) won sectional titles and, of course, those Trojans from M-F cut down the biggest nets of them all back in March – winning the final Class A title in the 35-year history of the two-class system.
While the state champions from last season was from this conference – the OVC could have another one sitting in the smallest class in those Cardinals from Warrensburg-Latham.
Head coach Vic Binkley’s team finished 24-5 in 2006-07 and return four starters from that club that won the Mount Pulaski Class A Regional before losing to OVC rival Monticello at the PORTA Sectional.
Speaking of the Sages – Monticello also has some talent back with three starters from a 27-5 squad that saw their state tournament quest end at the hands of Farmington at the Macomb Supersectional.
Macon Meridian – because of a rash of injuries and illness in 2006-07 – have an experienced group back this season. They lost one of the best guards in the state to graduation in Travis Rosenkranz but will be in the OVC race with five kids that started games a year ago.
Tolono Unity joins the OVC and brings four starters back from a regional championship club.
One team enters the league after being a longtime member of the LOVC.
Tuscola went 19-11 last season and return three starters including the teams’ MVP and top scorer John Wienke.
Defending state champ Maroa-Forsyth won’t fall off the map this season but will struggle keeping up with the veterans returning for other clubs.
Go figure but Clinton is another team with three returning starters although they weren’t as successful (12-18) as some of the others last winter.
Central A&M has some kids back from a big second half run that got them to the Charleston Supersectional.
Shelbyville and Sullivan look to be improved while Argenta-Oreana will probably be looking up at the rest from the cellar.
This conference is like college football’s SEC. Every game is a bowl game in atmosphere and importance.
As for the projections – Warrensburg-Latham and Monticello could both find themselves in Peoria on the same weekend in different classifications.
“They should win our conference and then win the Class 1A championship,” said Macon Meridian head coach Jack Blickensderfer when talking about Warrensburg-Latham.
1. WARRENSBURG-LATHAM
Coach Binkley – a new member of the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame - returns four starters from a 24-5 club that won a regional title and was part of the three-way tie for first place in the OVC.
W-L was beaten in the semifinals of the Petersburg PORTA Class A Sectional by Monticello, 52-50.
The returning players for the Cardinals can go into the season knowing that they won’t have to face Monticello again in the postseason.
W-L is Class 1A and will be one of the favorites to reach Peoria.
Zack Boyd is a 6-foot-3 senior all-around player for Coach Binkley.
Five-foot-eight junior Luke Butts – 6-foot Zack Culp and 6-foot-6 Adam Wright return to give the Cardinals a veteran look.
C.J. Yeakley - a 6-foot-1 junior – is one of the new faces for W-L and could slide right in beside the original four to form an outstanding starting five.
The reserves could have to step up big for the Cardinals in the regular season and in the stretch drive towards a chance at the Final Four.
Cameron (5-foot-9 junior) and Dominique Warnsley (6-foot-1 senior) are listed as important players off the bench for Coach Binkley along with
Broc Fischer is a 6-foot-3 junior forward and Will Fischer is a 6-foot freshman guard.
Those four kids could probably start at a lot of Class 1A programs, which tells the tale of the potential that Warrensburg-Latham has this season.
“We have a team of good shooters, good depth and we play hard on the defensive end,” said Coach Binkley – who have a 445-295 record in 27 years of coaching high school basketball. “C.J. Yeakley had a huge summer and I expect him to carry it over into this winter.”
OUTLOOK – The Cardinals look loaded for another trip to state and the second one this decade (2003) with four starters returning. Boyd should notch 1,000-points this season and it won’t surprise anyone to see them with 20+ wins. This conference won’t lie down for them and they have some extreme challenges on the schedule. But in a Class 1A sense – W-L is a ‘big bird’ in the nest.
2. MONTICELLO
The Sages had their hearts broken in a Supersectional loss to Farmington last March.
But with three starters returning and three other reserves with time served in Monticello varsity action – head coach Kevin Roy has a lineup that will certainly challenge for another Okaw Valley Conference crown while shooting for 20-wins again.
The Sages were 27-5 last season and 8-1 in the league.
They handed eventual Class A champion Maroa-Forsyth their only loss of the season and much of that team is back.
Nathan Swarts tops the list of returning seniors. He is a 6-foot-5 forward and returning starter.
Six-foot-one senior swingman Curt Leischner is another returning starter as is Corbin Sebens – a 6-foot-1 senior guard.
Those three were double-digit scorers last season and they should begin the season the same way as last year.
The other two starters will come from three key letterwinners.
Matt Hunt is a 5-foot-10 senior guard who will join in the chase for playing time with Chris Kempson – 6-foot-2 senior forward and 6-foot-1 senior forward Neal Phelps.
OUTLOOK – This group shouldn’t take a step back from anyone this season. Although they are Class 2A this team has the size and athletic ability to win this conference and also get to Peoria. In fact most of this conference fits into that category. Swarts, Leischer and Sebens should have fantastic seasons while the other three kids listed should step in and contribute. Mark down 20-wins and wait and see about the hardware.
3. TOLONO UNITY
Switching from an Independent to the OVC is a move that helps the Rockets and strengthens an already powerful league – perhaps the strongest 1A-2A basketball conference in the Land of Lincoln.
Unity has four starters back (there is a trend here of the returning athletes in this league) from an 18-11 club that reached the finals of their own sectional but lost to St. Joseph-Ogden, 43-40.
Nate Cain – a 6-foot-1 senior guard – is back along with 6-foot-1 classmate Shane Woodcock.
Six-foot senior Heath Woodcock and 5-foot-10 junior Zebo Zebe (yes, it is spelled correctly) are all returning starters with veteran minutes.
Zebe was an honorable mention all-state pick as a sophomore.
Head coach Jarrett Brown has a problem with size in his returning four vets but the other seniors on the team have some size and are ready to step forward.
First – a quick look at the reserve guards where Tim Collins and John Humer look to see some hardwood hours this season.
Both are 5-foot-10 and seniors.
Another senior is CJ Moody – a 6-foot-4 250 lbs. forward. Six-foot-four junior forward Jonathan Conlon and 6-foot-3 sophomore forward Dylan Sturgeon should also be in the big picture by adding mass to the lineup.
Cheighton Pierce – a 6-foot-2 senior guard – was expected to play but an injury makes his contributions uncertain at this writing.
Three other seniors will help make this a deep team. That will allow this coach a lot of substitution situations.
Nate Cain - 6-foot-1 senior forward – will be part of the bench play with 6-foot-4 senior forward Wes Hoffman and 5-foot-10 senior guard Brent Kammin.
That makes for a total of nine seniors for Tolono Unity and – according to Coach Brown – are the most upperclassmen to ever suit up at one time in the Rockets’ history.
“We have nine seniors with a tremendous amount of experience returning up and down the lineup,” said Coach Brown – who is 121-98 in ten coaching seasons as a head coach at the high school level. “Our strength is overall quickness and speed with experience at each position.”
OUTLOOK – With all this experience back the excuses should be non-existent. The Rockets have a strong non-conference schedule and will get a full-dose of OVC hoops right off the back. This has been a winning program for a long time and that shouldn’t change here. The guard play and the big kids up from will be the important aspect of this unit. Coach Brown is optimistic heading into the season and so is ABV about its chances. They are a ‘sleeper’ in this league and the postseason should also bring the Rockets some recognition.
4. MACON MERIDIAN
Losing a player of the level of Travis Rosenkranz would normally set back a program but not this system under the head coaching expertise of Jack Blickensderfer.
The Hawks look as imposing as anyone in the OVC and they will be part of the championship picture before the 2007-08 season ends.
The 2006-07 club that made it to the Petersburg PORTA Class A Sectional final before losing to OVC compatriot Monticello, 66-59.
Along the way last season – Double M took home second place in the State Farm Classic in Bloomington and also eliminated Mike Tisdale and Riverton at PORTA in the sectional semifinals.
This coach lists five kids who started eight or more games a season ago are back in Green and Silver.
Six-foot senior guard Alex Head is back after spending a lot of time on the court next to Rosenkranz last winter. It is time for this one to shine even more.
Kraig Interial is a 6-foot-4 senior forward that was in the lineup often for Coach Blickensderfer as a junior.
Six-foot-five senior Dakota Getz got a lot of PT in 2006-07 before illness sent him to the sidelines for the last half of the season.
This coach thinks that Getz – an all-tourney selection at the SFC - will get back to his form he showed early last season.
Six-foot-three junior forward Jacob Shasteen and 6-foot sophomore guard Trent Swigert also were part of that starting rotation a year ago.
A freshman that breaks into the lineup last season that went 22-8 against that sort of schedule must be pretty special. “These five all started games for us last winter because of injuries and illness,” said Coach Blickensderfer.
There is some size on the pine with Brandon Kitchens – a 6-foot-6 junior center – and 6-foot-4 sophomore forward Kyle Fore.
Zach Fasick is a 6-foot-2 senior forward that could end up with some time on the court.
“I think the conference is wide open after Warrensburg-Latham with several schools having a shot at finishing second,” said Coach Blickensderfer – who is 295-84 in 14-years as a head coach at Meridian and Cero Gordo. “It will be a dogfight.”
OUTLOOK – Although ABV concurs that W-L will be the favorites this season don’t count out these Hawks. This coach (as one can see by his won/loss mark) can get things motivated out of his kids. The Hawks – especially if Getz is at full-strength for a full season – will be in the thick of things for the long haul.
5. CENTRAL A&M
The Raiders made a big pillage of their part of the Class A State Tournament last season.
Not highly regarded heading into the postseason - Central A&M got rolling and made it to the Charleston Supersectional before losing to Teutopolis, 55-45.
Head coach Danny Himes has two important starters back from that 18-15 team that started the regionals below .500.
Tobias Bond is a 5-foot-11 senior catalyst returning from that regional and sectional title team.
Six-foot-two junior Bryce Hogan also returns.
The returning roster players from last season included Bryce Ade – a 6-foot junior – 6-foot-4 sophomore Ryan Workman and 6-foot-1 junior Adam Zindel.
Others in the mix will include 5-foot-8 senior Ryan Bressner, 5-foot-9 senior Anthony Tintori, 5-foot-11 junior Zack Thrasher and 6-foot-1 junior Caleb Corzine.
OUTLOOK – The Raiders will be successful should Bond and Hogan continue to play well and put up numbers. The rest of the team must step up. They seem very athletic but will need some frontcourt improvement to challenge for the OVC title. Winning takes care of itself in most situations and getting on roll last season could have a carry over effect in 2007-08.
6. SHELBYVILLE
The Rams have returning talent, too, and head coach Ben Borries should be ready to see his club make a move up the standings.
The proud owner of five returning starters from a 10-18 club that played better as a unit in the last month of the season – this mentor has some confidence heading into what could be a fruitful 2007-08 season.
Although the hosts of the Pana Class A Regional toppled them, 78-69, they have served notice that this season could see a different Shelbyville appearance.
Back for those Rams is 6-foot-5 senior forward Jay Nottingham who sported a team-best 18.1 points a game last winter while ripping down a gargantuan 11.4 rebounds a game.
He is nearing a pair of milestones. Nottingham is 28 points shy of 1,000 and just five rebounds away from 600 in his prep career.
These are all-state type numbers if the Rams can become a winning team this season.
For that to happen Nottingham will need help.
Six-foot senior Torry Schloz added 7.5 points a game as junior guard.
Caine Cloe – a 6-foot sophomore – romped out to a great start as a freshman last season with a 5.3 scoring binge for Shelbyville.
Lee Rincker got into some important games as a junior. He is a 6-foot guard bringing in a 1.8 p.p.g. average.
Erin Nichols – standing 6-foot-2 as a senior forward – added a couple of points a game to the totals as a junior reserve.
The bench help will come from a couple of newcomers – 5-foot-8 sophomore Elliott Uphoff and 6-foot-3 junior Justin Walen.
“We should be much improved this year. The boy’s finished last season playing well and had a nice summer,” said Coach Borries – a Dieterich grad entering his second season at Shelbyville. “They seem much more comfortable and knowledgeable with our system so far.”
OUTLOOK – It won’t be a big surprise to see the Rams climb a bit higher in the standings this season. Nottingham is the sheriff here and his numbers show he is one of the top players in the OVC. If the rest of the team continues to improve you can look for them to challenge 20-wins and maybe a shot at some postseason hardware.
7. MAROA-FORSYTH
What a special year it was at this school during the those few months between 2006-07.
One state championship (football) would have set the town a blazing with excitement.
But a second state title in basketball back in March was storybook is content.
Led by Robert Kreps (heart of a lion) and four other important starters – head coach Chad Cluver saw his team overcome a tough schedule and illness (especially Kreps having appendicitis just a day before the team headed to Peoria) to cut down the biggest set of nets in Illinois by winning the 2007 Class A State Title.
This club came back time and again during this title run – including overcoming a 30-18 deficit to Teutopolis in the Class A Semifinals before wearing down the Wooden Shoes, 58-49 in double-overtime.
Coach Cluvers club culminated the season with a 59-56 triumph over Chicago North Lawndale Prep to bring that championship trophy back to this trophy case to sit next to the football one.
But while many other teams in this league return seasoned veterans – the Trojans have no such luck.
This coach must rebuild with just one starter and one returning letterwinner from that 33-1 squad.
Matt Guyman was a good one last season for M-F.
This 5-foot-11 guard hit some big shots a season ago and was fourth on the team in scoring at 8.8 points a game.
Six-foot-two senior David Painter is back after playing in 31 of the Trojans’ contests last winter while adding 2.3 points a game.
After those two – it is novice time.
Ben Kent is a returning senior who spent most of his time last season watching in varsity games.
He did break a sweat in 16 contests and averaged nearly a point a night.
Beau Sullivan is a 5-foot-11 junior who as on the roster in 2006-07.
Add the names Michael Scott – a 5-foot-8 junior guard along with 5-foot-8 junior guard Darren Sill and Jordan Zelhart – a 6-foot-1 junior guard – to the potential list along with Wyatt Washburn – a 6-foot-1 sophomore.
“We are small and don’t have a lot of varsity experience coming back,” said Coach Cluver – who is 155-77 in nine years as a varsity head coach. “Rebounding will determine how successful we are this season. We are quick and we will have to utilize our quickness to score because we lost over 90 percent of our scoring from last season. We will play hard and this group has good team chemistry.”
OUTLOOK – The Trojans – in spite of its losses to graduation – will be better than ok. One should remember that this group coming back played against the best team in the state from last season everyday on the practice floor. So while some might look for a big drop off – don’t expect it to happen. This coach will rally the troops and show up each night. They will play hard against again a brutal schedule while basking in the glow of last year’s championship.
8. TUSCOLA
Coach David Hess and his Tuscola program (like Unity) will make this conference even stronger.
The Warriors went
They tied for the title of the Little Okaw Valley Conference and this move makes enrollment sense.
Tuscola lost three starters to graduation from 2006-07 and restart with three players from that lineup.
John Wienke – a 6-foot-5 athletic specimen who as a senior led his football team to a state championship game – is also quite good as a cager.
He was all conference and the leading scorer on the basketball squad that went 17-11 last season and lost in the title game at home in the Class A Regional to Macon Meridian, 52-50.
His 13 points a game was one of just two double-digit averages on a balanced team that went 10-2 in the LOVC. When you add his 6.1 rebounds a night – he is one of the top frontcourt players returning in the Okaw Valley Conference.
Clayton Meyer is a 6-foot-1 senior guard who bombed the opposition with 56 3-pointers as a junior.
He was second on the team with 11.6 points a showing.
Six-foot-two senior Travis Surma is the third returning starter for the Warriors and his 8.6 p.p.g. ranked fifth best in Black and Gold in 2006-07. But his 6.6 rebounds (179 total) was the top mark on the Warriors team.
Six other seniors return for Coach Hess that should make him extremely happy.
Six-foot-two senior Dane Winn averaged 9.5 points a game as a junior coming off the bench.
He will likely be in the opening night lineup along with 6-foot-2 senior forward Blake Bassett (4.7 p.p.g.).
A pair of 5-foot-11 senior guards – Zack Martin and Matt Bailey – also put up numbers while on the varsity floor last winter.
Bailey added 2.5 points in eleven games as a junior while Martin played in nearly all of the games in 2006-07 while totaling 1.3 points a night.
One of these seniors will need to run the show from the backcourt.
Six-foot senior forward Tyler Carter (1.4 p.p.g.) and 6-foot-2 senior Ben Edwards are part of the veteran group that will be in Coach Hess’ plan of attack.
“I’m excited about the experience we have coming back,” said Coach Hess a second-year coach who – as a former player at Hersey H.S. in the Chicago suburbs - holds several hoop records at the school. “We didn’t like where we finished last season and hopefully that will motivate us going into the new conference.”
OUTLOOK – There is nothing like entering a season with a chip on the shoulder to get things rolling at the beginning. Tuscola not only didn’t like the way the basketball season ended but with the ending of the recent football season fresh in everyone’s minds – look for some attitude to go along with the talent returning. One of the guards will have to step up to replace last season’s floor general Broc Wynn. If they can cut down on the turnovers that gave out last season – the Warriors will introduce themselves to the other OVC teams as a contender in the first season.
9. DECATUR ST. TERESA
Head coach Bill Ipsen has a smallish team in appearance heading into the 2007-08 season.
At least with one exception.
Six-foot-six senior forward Thad Smith is the only real inside player for the Bulldogs and that could create some serious problems against some of the big frontcourt’s in this league.
Smith was a double-digit kid last season in scoring and those sorts of figures will be welcomed this season.
Six-foot-one junior guard Chris Harter is the other main returning player for Coach Ipsen.
Unfortunately he is the tallest of the remaining St. Teresa roster players.
The rest of the list features two 6-foot seniors – Nate Brinkotter and Matt Moran.
Both will need to play bigger than they are.
Five-foot-ten sophomore guard Preston Shelly and 5-foot-9 junior Tommy Eichenauer will probably start while reserves will be 6-foot-2 sophomore Nick Sanford and 5-foot-8 sophomore Kevin Yoon.
Five-foot-eleven senior Michael Bushell, 5-foot-9 senior Jed Walker and 6-foot-1 junior Matt Wooden will serve as quality back ups.
OUTLOOK – They lack the overall size for ABV to believe in more than a middle of the road finish. However they have Smith – who should make the All-OVC list at the end of the season.
10. CLINTON
The Maroons are the largest enrollment school in the OVC but that didn’t help them much in 2006-07.
After being ousted by the hosts, 70-56, at the Downs Tri-Valley Class A Regional – Clinton stood at 12-18 overall and 2-7 in the OVC.
MIA from that team is graduated senior Josh Smith – a 6-foot-3 forward and All-OVC choice.
Head coach Karl Parrish does have three returning starters back looking at some redemption from last season’s fizzle.
Look for 6-foot-5 senior Dusten Hubble to step into the starting lineup.
Kyle Welch is a 5-foot-11 guard who averaged 10 points a night.
Six-foot-guard Josh Barr matched Welch with 10 a night. Ross Bruenger is another guard at 6-foot (six p.p.g.)
Those three will need to play bigger and better than last season.
Colin Duling – a 6-foot-2 junior guard – is in a position to step into that first five on the court.
Six-foot senior forward Trey Miller will suit up along with Ethan Morris – a 6-foot-3 senior forward.
Junior guard Nick Chandler is 5-foot-11 and prospective starter.
OUTLOOK – The Maroons will need a big season out of Hubble, Barr and Welch if they are going to be a serious contender. They could finish anywhere from the middle of the pack to the bottom.
11. SULLIVAN
According to some of the coaches polled the Sullivan Redskins could be one of the surprise teams in the OVC in 2007-08.
Head coach Scott Bales will have some returning players from last season and nearly all of them are underclassmen, which sets this coach and program up for a two year run.
Sullivan finished 9-16 last winter with a lost to Shelbyville in the first round of the Pana Class A Regional.
Frerichs Tyler – a 6-foot junior guard – should lead some balance in the Redskins’ lineup.
Joining him in backcourt duty will be 6-foot-1 junior guard Chance Typer. Having these two around for two years will help the Sullivan program.
Six-foot-four junior Chris Marrs is another underclassman expected to see substantial varsity minutes.
Jordan Marks - a 5-foot-11 sophomore guard - should also be ready when the ball goes up.
Six-foot-one junior guard Dalton Shasteen is also part of the Redskins list as is 6-foot-2 forward Ben Wheeler – the lone senior in the running.
Clay Winskill – a 6-foot-2 junior – is also one that could end up with a lot of being part of a rotation of players.
Five-foot-eight sophomore Seth Bowman and 5-foot-9 senior Jay VanDeursen will likely be key bench types.
OUTLOOK – This club is another one that will be improved but ABV believe next season will be the time to jump on the bandwagon. Some size and athletic ability should help the ‘Skins to get over the .500 mark overall – if not this season then the next.
12. ARGENTA-OREANA
Three returning starters are back for head coach who will be hoping for a much better season in 2007-08 than the single win season in 2006-07.
Going 1-23 isn’t good in any sport at any level and head coach Tim Young would love to get some wins under the team’s belt for the year ends.
The trio mentioned must lead and help mold some other inexperienced kids into something special.
Tyler Jewell is the top returning scorer with 7.4 points a game. That total was good enough for second place from last season’s team that didn’t have a double-figure average on the squad.
Junior Zach Ferguson (6.5 p.p.g.) and Sophomore Derek Hodges (5.8 p.p.g.) also return. Those two provided some additional points for the Bombers last winter.
Junior Bradon Barringer and sophomore Jake Barnes will get a shot at starting along with Preston Welker and Brian Scott.
Welker is a junior while Scott is a sophomore.
OUTLOOK – There may be a few wins on the schedule (especially non-conference) but not many. The A-O program has a long way to go before they are A-Okay.