Boys Prep Basketball: Expect the unexpected at Sparta
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ When the 46th Annual Sparta Mid-Winter Classic tips off Tuesday there seems little doubt about one thing.
Expect the unexpected.
While the eight-team field is the same as 2009, the tournament looks as wide open as ever.
Defending champion Columbia (12-4) -appears to be top seed-but finds itself in Pool B with a strong Du Quoin team (12-5).
Capable squads from Lebanon and Steeleville, both sporting 9-9 records, are also in the pool.
Sparta (11-6) was ranked first in Pool A with Trico (11-4)-coming off a surprising win over Du Quoin Saturday-picked second. High-scoring Red Bud (8-9) and 1,200 student Waterloo (5-12) round out the second pool grouping.
The tournament runs through Saturday in Dwight Fulton Memorial Gym.
Sparta's format is an endurance test as each squad will play its four games in a five-day span.
Last year, the Indians finished third with a 3-1 record, marking the 14th time in 24appearances that Du Quoin's ended up in the SMC's top three. Du Quoin is also three-time consolation champ during the bracket days at Sparta and placed fourth three other times.
"Du Quoin's always represented itself pretty well in this tournament and we hope this is again a good week for us," Indians coach Mike Crews said. "We are in a pretty interesting pool. Columbia's really starting to play well and we've seen Steeleville and know they are very improved. Chad Cruthis (former DHS assistant) does a great job at Lebanon and we know they'll be tough as nails."
Columbia won 27 games a season ago and builds around 6'2 swingman Tanner Hall and shooting guard Wilson Babb (6'3). The Eagles welcome back 6'5 inside players Taylor O'Conner and Billy Haag.
Lebanon has no player taller than 6'2, but does return four experienced players in Ryan Essenpries, Tyler Sonsoucie, Nathan Thornton and Michael Clark.
Collin Smith (6'1, jr.) and Coire Reel (6'4, jr.) are top performers on a Steeleville club that built a pre-Christmas record.
Du Quoin has won just twice in six starts since reaching the championship game of Pinckneyville's Duster Thomas Hoops Classic.
Matt Gossett (17.0), Logan Schneider (10.0) and Jamor Reed (9.9) are Crews' top scorers.
"We will need to play well in order to win any game we play here," Crews said. "I am pretty confident our kids won't be taking anyone for granted. We can't afford to."
The Indians play Steeleville at 7 p.m. Tuesday, then return for the Lebanon battle Thursday (8:30) and will face Columbia for the first time in the 7 o'clock game Friday. The finals are set for 4, 5:30, 7 and 8:30 Saturday.
FOR THE RECORD
Venice and Sparta each have seven Mid-Winter Classic championships. Du Quoin and Lebanon follow with six apiece.
SMC multi-championship winners also include Waterloo (four), Trico (three), Red Bud (two), East St. Louis Lincoln (two) and Okawville (two). Columbia, Cahokia, St. Louis Soldan, East St. Louis Assumption and Steeleville all lay claim to one title.
While Crews sends a team into action at Sparta's tourney for just the fifth time (all at Du Quoin) , his family name is etched deep into the SMC history books.
In 1967, Crews' younger brother Alan connected for 51 points in a win over Highland. Nearly half of those points (25) came in the first quarter.
The total still stands as an individual Du Quoin High School, Fulton Gym and Sparta Mid-Winter Classic single game scoring record. He also still holds the single game and single tournament rebounding records.
Du Quoin returned to Sparta after a decade long hiatus nine years ago, ending a fruitful four-year association with the Massac County Superman Classic in 2000. Prior to that, Du Quoin had played in the West Frankfort Mid-Winter event.