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The News-Gazette's boys' basketball Top 10: St. Joseph-Ogden checks in at No. 1

matt daniels, the news-gazette, champaign-urbana, ill.
·5 min read

Dec. 8—The local boys' basketball scene is off and running, with six teams still unbeaten going into the second Friday of

December. Sports Editor MATT DANIELS does his best to assess the area scene in our first Top 10 of the season:

1. St. Joseph-Ogden

Record: 5-0

What's working: The Spartans easily won their own Toyota of Danville Classic, handing Oakwood its first loss in the title game and then earning an overtime win at Normal West on Tuesday night. Whether it's senior guard Tanner Jacob, senior guard Logan Smith or junior forward Tanner Siems supplying key baskets, the Spartans enter Saturday afternoon's Illini Prairie Conference showdown at Bloomington Central Catholic on a roll.

2. Centennial

Record: 4-1

What's working: Junior center Kayden Peat at 6 feet, 7 inches and 6-5 sophomore guard Jadin Schilb give the Chargers length to frustrate foes. So far, it's working, evident by Centennial's 84-41 win at Bloomington last Friday and second-place finish at the Lincoln Thanksgiving Tournament.Senior guards Demariea Willis, Jacobi Posey and Todd Makabu give coach Tim Lavin a steady backcourt before Normal West visits on Friday night and Mt. Zion does the same on Saturday night.

3. Tuscola

Record: 5-0

What's working: Pretty much everything for the reigning third-place finishers in Class 1A. Senior forward Jordan Quinn is a versatile piece the Warriors rely on heavily, while senior guards Kam Sweetnam and Josiah Hortin aren't unsure in any moment given their experience. It's added up to Tuscola winning by an average margin of 28.6 points before the Warriors host Uni High on Friday night and Sullivan on Saturday afternoon.

4. Unity

Record: 4-0

What's working: The Matt Franks era in Tolono is off to a resounding start in his first season coaching his alma mater, with the Rockets picking up quality victories against Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin, Rochester and Teutopolis before routing Marshall 69-25 on Tuesday night. Senior forward Dalton O'Neill is an athletic presence for the Rockets, while senior guard Henry Thomas is a three-year starter who is used to the rigors of varsity basketball. The Rockets will try to get to 5-0 when they play at Taylorville on Friday night.

5. Westville

Record: 5-0

What's working: Tough defense is defining the Tigers through the first two weeks of the season, with Westville only allowing an average of 33.4 points. Balanced scoring, too, is another calling card for coach Edwin Barney's group. Senior forward Drew Wichtowski, much like he was on the football field, is a load to stop, but senior center Tyler Miller and junior guard Cameron Steinbaugh are capable of asserting themselves, too.

6. Clinton

Record: 7-0

What's working: Vic Binkley won big in his 36 seasons at Warrensburg-Latham, and the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame coach is doing that again in his second season leading the Maroons. Clinton, led by senior guard Mason Walker and senior forward Brooks Cluver, are off to a fast start that includes a title at Mt. Pulaski's Bill Rucks Memorial Thanksgiving Tournament. Next up? A Friday night home game with Eureka.

7. Sullivan

Record: 6-0

What's working: Brett Bushue was an All-State golfer for Sullivan this past fall, and he's starting off strong on the basketball court, too. The senior guard has back-to-back games with at least 20 points, a key difference in close wins for coach Craig Toler's program against Paris and Nokomis. Sullivan isn't in the Central Illinois Conference anymore, but the Redskins will get a preview of how good they could be this season when they play at former league foe Tuscola on Saturday afternoon.

8. Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin

Record: 6-1

What's working: The Blue Devils rolled to a title at the Topper Classic the week of Thanksgiving at Schlarman's Shebby Gymnasium before sustaining their first loss at Unity. But senior Ayden Ingram, along with junior Chaz Dubois and sophomore Keison Peoples, made sure BHRA kept right on winning, with lopsided victories against Lexington and Cissna Park this month. The Blue Devils have a key game on Saturday afternoon at Prairie Central.

9. Prairie Central

Record: 6-1

What's working: The Hawks have only lost to Lexington, doing so in the title game of the Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley Thanksgiving Tournament. Other than that, it's been rout after rout after rout for first-year coach Trevin McCulloh's program. With senior guard Tyler Curl playing at an elite level and fellow seniors Levi Goad, Talen Steidinger and Gage Steidinger providing complementary scoring, the Hawks have won their six games by an average of 36.8 points. Playing Friday night at El Paso-Gridley and hosting BHRA on Saturday are good tests.

10. Champaign Central

Record: 5-3

What's working: The Maroons are only an overtime buzzer-beater against Pekin from taking a three-game win streak into Friday night's Big 12 game at rival Urbana. Junior forward Chris Bush has blossomed as a scorer, with fellow juniors Luke Swanson and David Riley playing significant minus, too. First-year coach PJ Keaton can also count on seniors like Torion Rhone and Axel Baldwin for production, too.