The Road to Peoria: Salty quartet gathers at Pinckneyville
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ What makes postseason basketball such a great thing is the element of
surprise.
When the Pinckneyville Class 2A Regional tips off in a few hours, however,
that element of surprise may be lost.
Three of the four teams assembling on Dick Corn Court in Duster Thomas
Memorial Gymnasium- the host Panthers, #1 seed Du Quoin and talented Red
Bud- all sport at least 20 victories.
Sparta, the fourth team entered, sports an impressive resume despite an 8-19
record.
The Bulldogs have split two prior meetings with Pinckneyville, pushed Red
Bud to the wire twice and played Du Quoin to a nine-point decision early
last month.
Action begins at 7:30 Monday with Du Quoin (21-7) battling Sparta.
Three days ago, the Indians handled Sparta in convincing fashion to end
regular season play.
Hardly an eye will bat if any of the four teams advance to sectional play at
West Frankfort next week. Sparta included.
"What happened Friday is all forgotten when game time rolls around Monday,"
veteran Du Quoin coach Mike Crews affirmed during WDQN Radio¹s Coaches
Corner program Saturday morning.
"This is a unique situation. I¹ve been in coaching now for the better part
of 40 years and don¹t ever remember playing a team on a Friday night and
then turning around and doing it again to start the regional. Its probably
not ideal for either team."
The Indians enjoyed their best regular season since 2003¹s 25-win campaign
and start post season play on a hot streak.
The Tribe won nine straight at one point and have lost just twice in 16
outings since the New Year began.
6-foot-4 center Dalton Morgan (16 ppg., 12 rebounds) has already recorded 18
double-doubles and receives plenty of support from classmate A.J. Hill (11
ppg., 6.5 rpg.). Jamor Reed and Matt Gossett are both averaging near double figures in points. Seth Flint (6¹3, sr.) and Logan Schneider (6¹4, jr.) provide depth
inside with Marcus Clarry (6¹0, jr.), J.C. Davis (6¹0, so.) and Cody Rose
(6¹2, jr.) solid back-up¹s in the backcourt.
"We¹ve really played well the past few weeks," Crews said. "But Sparta
causes match-up problems for a lot of teams, ourselves included. One of our
big¹s is almost certainly going to be forced to chase someone on the
perimeter. We¹ll certainly have to guard well."
Sparta¹s five-guard attack is led by seniors Clay Peck, Jake Hargis and
Malcom Oliver.
Pinckneyville (21-6) and Red Bud (20-9) are paired in Tuesday¹s 7:30
semifinals. Combined, the Panthers and Musketeers boast two in-season
tournament titles.
Each enjoyed double-digit win streaks during different portions of the
season. Pinckneyville¹s seeded third and Red Bud was ranked second.
"The thing about this regional is all three games are going to be very
competitive," second-year Pinckneyville coach Bob Waggoner said.
"There will not be an easy game. All four teams are capable of winning this
thing.
Red Bud- like Sparta- lives and dies on the perimeter.
The Musketeers are led in scoring by sophomore standout Adam Kunkel (15.6
ppg.). Guard Kory Liefer (5¹10, jr.), senior Chance Albertson (6¹2) and 6¹1 senior
Tim Conway eall score at clips nearing 11 points per game.
Employing a stifling 1-2-2 zone defense‹and with the quickness of Kunkel,
Liefer and Stefan Gregson (6¹1, jr.)‹Red Bud presents plenty of concerns for
Pinckneyville.
"Red Bud can score from all five spots on the floor at anytime," Waggoner
said. " They all handle the ball and are good spot-up shooters and very good
off the dribble. Red Bud doesn¹t have a lot of size, but they do hit the
glass pretty hard."
Pinckneyville¹s inside game features 6¹5 Cody Sims and the 6¹3 duo of Shay
Kellerman and Nathan Morton. Sharpshooting guards Dustin Winter and Drew Dudek are big three-point
threats.
"We're going to have to put together 32 minutes Tuesday night or our
season's over," Waggoner concluded.
Du Quoin Indians #1 seed
Head coach: Mike Crews
Current record: 21-7, 8-2 in River-to-River Conference, Mississippi
Division.
Projected starters: F #10 Seth Flint (6¹3, sr.); F #20 A.J. Hill (6¹2,
sr.); C #24 Dalton Morgan (6¹4, sr.); G #52 Matt Gossett (6¹4, jr.); G #23
Jamor Reed (5¹9, jr.)
Key reserves: G # 22 Marcus Clarry (6¹0, jr.); G #14 J.C. Davis (6¹0, so.);
G #11 Cody Youngman (6¹0, sr.); F-C #43 Logan Schneider (6¹4, jr.), F #44
Cody Rose (6¹2, jr.)
Regional opponents: Defeated Pinckneyville 50-47 and 54-52; lost to Red Bud
60-53; defeated Sparta 68-59 and 63-40.
Impressive wins: Pinckneyville twice, St. Joseph-Ogden, Herrin, Waterloo
Gibault.
Last season: 19-11. Sparta Class 2A Regional champions, lost to Mt. Carmel
at Benton Sectional.
IHSA tradition: 28 regional/district champions; six sectional championships;
one state trophy (1916).
Tourney tidbits: Du Quoin has won 14-of-16 games during the Œ09 portion of
its schedule.
Red Bud Musketeers - #2 seed
Head coach: David Gillingham
Current record: 20-9; 5-5 in Cahokia Conference, Mississippi Division.
Projected starters: F #23 Tim Conway (6¹1. sr.); F #3 Stefan Gregson
(6¹1, jr.); C #32 Chance Albertson (6¹2, sr.); G #1 Adam Kunkel (5¹10, so.);
G #11 Kory Liefer (5¹10, jr.)
Key reserves: F #5 Jake Hoffman (6¹1, jr.); F #4 Dan Schrader (5¹11,
sr.); F #11 Rhett Ringering (6¹1, jr.); G #2 Adam Buch (5¹10, so.); G #10
Kollin Liefer (5¹9, so.)
Regional opponents: Defeated Sparta 43-41and 63-56; defeated Du Quoin
60-53. Didn¹t play Pinckneyville.
Impressive victories: Columbia, Du Quoin, Wesclin twice, Okawville,
Carlyle twice.
Last season: 16-14. Lost to Murphysboro in semifinals of Sparta Class 2A
Regional.
IHSA tradition: Three regional/district championships; no sectional
titles or state trophies.
Tourney tidbits: All five starters‹led by Kunkel¹s 15.6 clip‹average at
or near double figures.
Pinckneyville Panthers - #3 seed
Head coach: Bob Waggoner
Current record: 21-6, 6-4 in River-to-River Conference¹s Mississippi
Division.
Projected starters: F #45 Shay Kellerman (6¹3, jr.); F #32 Bryant
Lively (6¹2, sr.); C #33 Cody Sims (6¹5, sr.); G #15 Dustin Winter (5¹11,
sr.); G #10 Drew Dudek (5¹11, jr.).
Key reserves: F #33 Nathan Morton (6¹2, jr.) G #24 Derrick Kellerman
(5¹11,sr.) ; G #12 Landon Chandler (5¹11, jr.); F #52 Kyle Lamb (6¹5,
so.); G #30 Taylor Pyatt (6¹3, so.).
Regional opponents: Lost to Du Quoin 50-47 and 54-52, lost to Sparta
55-53, defeated Sparta 49-41. Didn¹t play Red Bud.
Impressive victories: Nashville, Hamilton County, Carlyle, Okawville,
Murphysboro.
Last season: 28-6. Finished fourth in the IHSA Class 2A State Finals.
IHSA tradition: 48 regional/district championships; 19 sectional titles,
three-time state winners.
Tourney tidbits: Pinckneyville¹s chasing its sixth trip to the
Super-Sectional round in this decade.
Sparta Bulldogs - #4 seed
Head coach: Greg Bass
Current record: 8-19, 3-7 in River-to-River Conference¹s Mississippi
Division.
Projected starters: F #10 Jake Hargis (6¹0, sr.); F #23 Malcolm Oliver
(5¹11, sr.); C #1 Dartanus White (5¹11, sr.); G #4 Clay Peck (5¹10, sr.); G
#15 London Oliver (5¹8, so.)
Key reserves: F #33 David Sams (5¹10, jr.); F #22 Maurice Austin (5¹9,
jr.); G #5 Seth Buch (5¹9, so.); G #0 Austin Peck (6¹0, fr.); G #11 Jordan
Thompson (5¹9, so.)
Regional opponents: Lost to Red Bud 43-41 and 63-56; lost to Du Quoin
68-59 and 63-40; lost to Pinckneyville 49-41; defeated Pinckneyville 55-53.
Impressive victories: Pinckneyville
Last season: 13-17. Lost to Chester in first round of Sparta regional.
IHSA tradition: Seven regional/district championships; 0 sectional titles
or state trophies.
Tourney tidbits: The Bulldogs pushed state-rankend Columbia to the wire
twice, losing by 6 and 4 points.