ABV Rankings - 01-21-13

ABV RANKINGS - 01-28-13

Just when you thought it couldn't get any more interesting, this past week proved that in 2A no one is safe. Good teams, more and more, are finding it difficult to stay focused on playing well.

Ask Nashville, Carlyle and Mater Dei. All three split games this past week. Robinson was riding high and stubbed its toe against a good Newton team, who in turn lost to host Casey-Westfield at the LIC Tournament title game.

On the 1A side, for some reason the power-that-be in our fair state seem to have geographical issues.

Somehow the folks in charge believe that Nokomis is now a southern Illinois team again as the Redskins head back south for the postseason and are now included in the ABV rankings.

It wasn't good enough for them to travel 16-miles to their east to play in the Raymond-Lincolnwood Regional against teams that they know.

Oh no! They get to travel 49-miles south to St. Elmo and back to a path that would eventually lead them (if they continue to win) to the Carbondale Supersectional.

And it isn't like there is too many teams in the Lincolnwood Regional (6) that Nokomis needed to be moved.

In 2008 the first year of this mess, a.k.a four-classes, Nokomis was sent south where they won the Altamont Regional, Nokomis Sectional and then beat Okawville in the super at SIU Arena.

I have nothing against Nokomis and long time head coach Steve Kimbro. But for them to represent an area of the state called Southern Illinois in the state basketball tournament is a stretch. It is also a slap in the collective face of this basketball fan base.

But it is no different that what has happened in the Metro-East.

After having a regional last season that featured Madison, Okawville and Waterloo Gibault (who were all state ranked at the time) where only one team would advance, this season the Trojans were sent north to the Carrollton Regional.

Congratulations Coach Krumweide. Your Hawks went from defending 1A runner's up to having a regional in which a highly-regarded team from 51-miles to your south comes calling.

So lets look at how this could shake out.

You could have Nokomis traveling 126 miles to Carbondale for a supersectional while Okawville could travel 122-miles to Jacksonville for a supersectional.

I'm sorry, but this doesn't make any sense what so ever.

ABV Class 1A Rankings

1. WOODLAWN (18-2)
The Cardinals picked up two more wins over Grayville and Carmi-White County. Coach Witzel's club might see an old nemesis at the Altamont Sectional.
2. OKAWVILLE (18-5)
The Rockets picked up wins over 2A school Columbia and Mt. Carmel this week. Coach Jon Kraus has the type schedule to get his team ready for February and March.
3. MADISON (11-9)
The Trojans also play a gauntlet of games each season on the Indy circuit. Coach Cotto has the troops to do postseason damage, even when traveling to a different area code.
4. WATERLOO GIBAULT (18-5)
Took a step back with loss to Madison but rebounded with a win over Columbia. The Hawks lost leading scorer Wes Degener to a hand injury.
5. NOKOMIS (16-8)
The Redskins are back in this super again. Starting out 3-7, Coach Kimbro's club has been on a roll beating much larger schools. Won the Litchfield Invite with wins over Pana, Columbia and Roxana.
6. GALLATIN COUNTY (18-2)
The Hawks won three straight games to take the GEC Tourney title. Seven-foot senior Andrew Drone continues to put up gargantuan numbers.
7. GOREVILLE (16-4)
The Blackcats edged Z-R before losing heartbreaker to Lanark-Eastland at Pinckneyville. Game against Chester on Tuesday has important BDC implications.
8. MERIDIAN (18-5)
The Bobcats took care of SEC rival Egyptian on the road Friday night. Coach Mandrell's team is on the way to another conference crown and regional top seed.
9. OBLONG (15-9)
The Panthers have taken some lumps against some bigger schools this season. But Coach Harper should have everyone ready for the 1A chase in February.
10. DIETERICH (15-6)
The Movin Maroons won the NTC Tournament on Saturday. Coach Stasser's team can score a lot of points and are playing well right now.
Special Mention In Alphabetical Order
Altamont, Christ Our Rock Lutheran, Christopher, Cisne, Cowden-Herrick, Egyptian, New Athens, Patoka, Norris City-Omaha-Enfield, Sesser-Valier, St. Elmo, Steeleville, Stewardson-Strasburg, Waltonville and Zeigler-Royalton.

ABV Class 2A Rankings

1. HARRISBURG (21-1)
The Bulldogs won a closer than expected game at Murphysboro on Friday. They host Massac County on Friday then play Casey-Westfield at the Benton Shootout on Saturday.
2. TEUTOPOLIS (19-3)
The Wooden Shoes are taking the Independent circuit in stride, although the bus may be worn out by March. Coach Fehrenbacher's team is itching for a Peoria trip.
3. CASEY-WESTFIELD (14-5)
The Warriors topped a good field to win the LIC Tournament on Friday night. Coach Hawkins' has a high-scoring group that should test the top one here at Benton.
4. NEWTON (20-3)
The Eagles made it all the way to the LIC finale, topping Robinson in the semifinals before losing for a second time to C-W.
5. ROBINSON (19-3)
The Maroons must refocus after a hiccup again Newton. Coach Thompson should still have the top seed at the Newton Regional in February.
6. SPARTA (16-7)
Coach Jeff Bowlby's club is quietly putting together a solid season. Topped both Nashville and Trico last weekend. In the hunt for SIRR Mississippi honors.
7. NASHVILLE (17-6)
Losing to Sparta, beating Carlyle. In a season in which consistency around the area is lacking, the Hornets are par for the course.
8. CARLYLE (16-7)
Ditto from Nashville, the Indians topped Pana on the road before losing to Nashville away. Coming off a 5-0 week, Coach Palmer's team came back to earth.
9. BREESE MATER DEI (13-10)
The Knights add to the broken record here, topped Civic Memorial, lost to Metamora. Brutal schedule continues at Breese Central on Saturday.
10. BREESE CENTRAL (15-7)
Coach Eagleson got his 600th win on Friday night at Freeburg. Topped Highland on Saturday. This week they host Carlyle, Columbia and Mater Dei. First two games should decide the Cahokia title.
Special Mention In Alphabetical Order
Carlinville, Chester, Fairfield, Flora, Freeburg, Johnston City, Marshall, Murphysboro, Mount Carmel, Pana, Pinckneyville, Roxana, Staunton, Trico, Vandalia.