IHSA Boys Basketball: First Official Day of Practice kicks off The Road to Peoria

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Boys basketball practices officially began around the state of Illinois Monday.

At Du Quoin, barely 48 hours after football season ended, the Indians had about 25 sophomores, juniors and seniors report for workouts. Several players were forced to sit the practice session out because of lingering football injuries. However, veteran coach Mike Crews expects to be working with a full squad by early next week. The Indians return a dozen letter winners from last year's 24-8 regional title squad.

Across the Beaucoup Creek in Pinckneyville's third-year coach Bob Waggoner also ran his squad through its first official workout. The Panthers welcome back a large cast of returnees from a 22-win unit that lost to Du Quoin in the regional finals.

Elverado coach John Harrison has a talented crop of freshman expected to help this season's Fighting Falcons squad.

Pinckneyville opens its season Thanksgiving weekend while Du Quoin and Elverado start a few days later.

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