"Tis the Holiday Tournament Season: DTHC Tips-off in Pinckneyville
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[For the boys high school basketball fan, its like a stocking-stuffer you didn't quite expect.
A post-holiday treat lasting into the New Year-and then some.
The 3rd Annual Duster Thomas Hoops Classic brings eight tradition-laden teams to Pinckneyville Community High School's Dick Corn Court, and the gymnasium bearing Thomas' name.
With 16 games spaced over a period barely reaching 36 hours, the event continues to be a test of talent and durability. Its a post-Christmas gut check like no other in Southern Illinois.
Host Pinckneyville and 2007 champion Olney (East Richland) again headline an impressive field of entrants.
Household names in the annals of Illinois prep basketball, Larwenceville and Benton, bring even more history to this young event.
While last year's winner-Teutopolis-has left, the field again includes highly-regarded Du Quoin along with local holdovers Carterville and Steeleville.
From the Illinois side of metro east, Red Bud joins the field to replace Teutopolis and has posted back-to-back 20 win seasons.
"With the history of Duster Thomas included into the tournament name we've brought back a lot of nostalgia to the Christmas season," tournament director and PCHS Athletic Director Greg Hale said.
"There's a lot of tradition here and we've laid a pretty solid foundation these past two years for what should continue being a great holiday event for years to come. Again, we are expecting 16 very exciting games."
For the record, the eight teams assembled for 2009 boast seven state championships and 21 overall state trophies. They've captured 52 sectional crowns while flying 203 regional or district banners.
Just three seasons after Corn's retirement-and nearly three decades since Thomas' sudden passing in 1981-the two are icons in the proud heritage that is Pinckneyville Panther basketball.
There's no doubt Corn will spend most of the next two days watching from the seats, which his teams filled with Columbia Blue-clad fans for 32 years.
You'll also find it easy to imagine Thomas leaning against the rail near the east end tunnel of the gym.
He'll be wearing his trademark powder blue shirt as eight teams battle for what's already became one of the state's top honors: Duster Thomas Hoops Classic champions.
Pool A consists of Carterville (2-6), Olney-East Richland (5-3), Pinckneyville (6-2) and Steeleville (7-3) with the host Panthers and O-ER tabbed as early favorite.
Du Quoin (7-1) headlines Pool B with Red Bud (5-4), Larwenceville (2-6) and Benton (1-7) also playing better as of late.
Four All-DTHC tournament picks from 2008 return to Corn Court.
Olney-East Richland Senior forward Brandon Berry surpassed the 1,000-point mark earlier this year and is a four-year varsity starter.
Berry, already a two-time All-DTHC selection, is just the 15th player in O-ER's long history of successful basketball to reach the plateau. He currently tops the Tigers in points (18.8), rebounds (8.5), steals (1.3) and blocked shots while adding nearly five assists per game.
Steeleville's Collin Smith (6'1, jr., F) and Dane Kelly (6'6, sr. F) of Larwenceville are both again expected to be among the tourney's best players after being honored a year ago.
Matt Gossett of Du Quoin (6'4, sr., F) is on par for a 1,000-point career and currently leads the Indians in scoring (17.5 ppg.) and rebounding (11.5 ppg.).
He's also among the team's top performers in assists and steals as the Indians are off to their best start since 2002.
The 3rd Duster Thomas
Hoops Classic
All games on Corn Court
Thomas Gym, Pinckneyville
POOL A-Carterville (2-6), Olney East Richland (5-3), Pinckneyville (6-2), Steeleville (7-3)
POOL B-Benton (1-7), Du Quoin (7-1), Larwenceville (2-6), Red Bud (5-3)
Monday, Dec. 28
SESSION I
Pincjkneyville vs. Steeleville, 8:30 a.m.
Du Quoin vs. Larwenceville, 10 a.m.
Red Bud vs. Benton, 11:30 a.m.
Olney vs. Carterville, 1 p.m.
SESSION II
Benton vs. Lawrenceville, 4 p.m.
Carterville vs. Steeleville, 5:30
Du Quoin vs. Red Bud, 7 p.m.
Pinckneyville vs. Olney, 8:30
Tuesday, Dec. 29
SESSION III
Red Bud vs. Larwenceville, 8:30 a.m.
Olney vs. Steeleville, 10 a.m.
Pinckneyville vs. Carterville, 11:30 a.m.
Du Quoin vs. Benton, 1 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 29
SESSION IV- FINAL ROUND
Seventh Place, 4:00
Fifth Place, 5:30
Third Place, 7:00
Title Game, 8:30