Duerrisms surveys the Elite Eight Football Landscape...and peaks ahead at the start of high school basketball

This is Duerrisms for the Week of November 14th, 2008. We are brought to you, as always, by the fine people at ADVANCE Physical Therapy. We are beginning this week to advance the cause of high school basketball, with our girls preview, but it hurts my heart to know that the opening of roundball practice signals the impending end of football season soon enough.

By popular demand, OVERTIME with Chris Duerr, will now be available weekly on the KHQA website. We know we have a great many Tri-State "expatriate" viewers out there who rely on the site for local sports coverage from their new homes outside the region. We've worked out some kinks and now you will have the Tri State's only thirty minute sports wrap-up show available to you at your leisure on line late Saturday or early Sunday. And be sure to check out not only the highlights, but our new KHQA Insider Report, citizen journalism at its finest, courtesy of McDonalds and the Dene Lambkin Dealerships, And as always, we remain the Sports Department that loves you.

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KHQA/ADVANCE Student Athlete of the Week

We have embarked anew on our fourth season of the KHQA/ADVANCE Physical Therapy Student Athlete of the Week. In a slight twist this season, we will be offering scholarship awards to two winners in June as our Male and Female Student Athletes of the Year. If you know of a senior who has a 3.5 minimum GPA and is involved in at least one varsity sport, you can have your Athletic Director or Principal nominate them for inclusion in our applicant pool. If they do not have the nomination form, they can call or e-mail me at cduerr@khqa.com and I will get them the proper paperwork. Our next committee vote will take place in late December, so the sooner we receive those forms the better chance your applicant of choice will have of coming through the process. Be sure to look for our weekly reports every Wednesday night on the Evening News at six.

2008/2009 Honorees

Week One: TAYLER ONION, Rushville-Industry Volleyball, Basketball, and Track

Week Two: AMANDA DARNELL, Quincy Notre Dame Cross Country

Week Three: JILLIAN YODER, North Shelby Softball

Week Four: TIM DENNEY, Jacksonville Routt Football, Baseball

Week Five: PARKER FREIBURG, Quincy High Golf

Week Six: MACY BROSS, Palmyra Softball

Week Seven: ROSS HUTSON, Illini West Football/Baseball

Past Winners:

2007/2008: LUKE GUTHRIE, Quincy High/University of Illinois (golf)

2006/2007: KATELYN BASTERT, Illini West/Duke University (cross country/track)

2005/2006: MIKAL BENCOMO, Clopton/SEMO (Womens Basketball)

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THE GRAPHIC EDGE presents CHRIS DUERR'S FRATERNITY OF PAIN

Week One Winner: MATT PATTERSON, South Shelby

Week Four Co-Winners: JAVIS VINEYARD, Clark County

SEQUOIA BAILEY, Clopton/Elsberry

Week Five Winner: MITCH GREENWELL, South Shelby

Week Six Winner: GAGE JOHNSON, Illini West

Week Seven Winner: JESSE HOLTSCLAW, Illini West

Week Eight Winner: STEVEN PHILLIPS, Mark Twain

Week Nine Winner: SKYLER JAMESON, Mark Twain

Week Ten Winner: TYLER COUSINS, Macomb

Week Eleven Winner: STEFAN FLYNN, Illini West

(Winners announced Thursday on KHQA Evening News; receive limited edition T-Shirt)

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FOOTBALL 2008

DUERRISMS IHSA PLAYOFF POWER POLL

Eleven teams entered the IHSA Post Season Meat Grinder. Now, just four are left on the Road to Champaign. Three expected powers and one tremendously compelling dark horse. To be honest, this is a weekend where all four teams could drop, due to inopportune matchups. Optimistically, I hold out hope for three out of four. I like Illini West and QND a lot. I think BPCA is a gathering storm and a team that will end up in the Semifinals. And Triopia scares me to death this week against a really stingy Tuscola Defense. Fingers crossed people. Fingers crossed. A reminder that the numbers that appear before each team on our list were our projection from least (11) to best (1) of the qualifiers title chances

ONE AND DONE LIST

11. CENTRAL SOUTHEASTERN (5-5)

Current Status: Season Complete (55-7 loss to Illini West in Round One)

10. SOUTH FULTON (6-4)

Current Status: Season Complete (36-14 loss to Mount Olive in Round One)

7. JACKSONVILLE (6-4)

Current Status: Season Complete (35-28 loss to Decatur McArthur in Round One)

5. ROUTT (8-2)

Current Fate: Season Complete (32-13 loss to Tuscola in Round One)

4. BROWN COUNTY (7-3)

Current Status: Season Complete (20-0 loss to Pawnee in Round One)

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THE RECENTLY DEPARTED

9. MACOMB (8-3)

Current Status: Season Complete (66-14 loss to Illini West in Round Two)

The Skinny: The long awaited Olympic Conference/WPT "Plus One" game was not anywhere near what Kelly Sears had envisioned. His defense could get no traction against Illini West, failing to get the Chargers off the field (either on downs, via the punt, or by turnover) at any point in Saturday's game. The Mayor of Bluffs may have Stefan Flynn rumbling through his nightmares these days as lousy tackling really killed Macomb. That said, Davis Hendrickson was brilliant at tailback for Macomb with a rare 150 yard rushing game against IW and Steve Horrell called a great first half to keep his team around for 24 minutes. Macomb losses its top two performers on both offense and defense to graduation this summer, but there is an exciting group of young skill position kids here who should keep the playoff run alive in McDonough County. Just hope the Bombers can get better numbers going forward.

6. PGP (9-2)

Current Status: Season Complete (28-0 loss to Columbia in Round Two)

The Skinny: The sometimes maligned Saukee defense made great strides against Brian Winters and a high powered Columbia attack on the road. Unfortunately for Don Bigley, the crush of late season injuries and youthful jitters finally got the better of the Pittsfield/Griggsville Perry offense. I tend to think a healthy Devon Johnson would have netted the Saukees more than the 150 yards and change they netted against the Eagles. Going forward, however, this season feels about right as a springboard into what should be a fantastic 2009 campaign. Johnson may well be our Preseason Player of the Year next fall, but the entire Saukee backfield returns. Jordan Cawthon is going to be pretty special with another year under his belt. Elijah Hoover is a really good. And I think Don Bigley finds new ways to use Michael Johnson and perhaps Daniel Thiele in concert. The offensive line will take some hits but Sam Ghrist and Jamie Wise are great starting points. Clearly, PGP's defense has to get better but I think the possibility of a much deeper plunge into the postseason poll

exists for next year.

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ALIVE AND KICKING

8. BPCA (8-3)

Last Week: 22-20 win over Momence

Up Next: at Clifton Central

The Skinny: First of all: TOLD YOU SO! The best upset of the week found the Spartans rebounding from a scoreless tie at halftime to hang 22 points on the top seeded team in their bracket. Just by the eye test, if you looked at Momence on one side of the field and BPCA on the other, you might have thought the Spartans were doomed. The Redskins had great weapons and the much touted Drew Sain, while very gifted, was even a part of the equation. Momence had a 6'6" Tight End in Alex Cavendar who looked like he could be playing up the road at Western Illinois and a sophomore tailback in Calvin Phillips who is a future Division One prospect given his size and speed. But John McCormick's crew gave no quarter with a gritty, blue collar defensive effort that help the Redskins spread offense (the slowest paced hurry-up offense I've ever seen) to just 157 passing yards. More impressively, the Spartans incredibly active front seven limited Phillips (a 1400 yard rusher coming in) to just 31 yards. Bottom line, BPCA owns the trenches. This is the only team this year to hold Illini West under 30 points and the Spartans are not only sizable up front, but extremely active. You almost worry about the work rate here because the team is so thin on depth and you figure the Spartans will eventually wear out up front; but the genius of this team is that no one ever takes a play off. Even with Kyle Borchardt out of the line up a bit in the second half, BPCA never flinched. I showed up just after halftime, so I have a hard time fathoming how Momence had stopped the Spartans for the first 24 minutes of this game. When I got to Bushnell, BPCA was in a spread look and moving the ball literally at will. Trey Yocum had one of his trademark home run bursts for 56 yards to cap a 174 yard effort. That said, BPCA was very balanced on offense with quarterback Luke Tolley taking advantage of a "hole" in the Momence scouting report by rumbling 12 times for 68 yards. He also completed a huge pass late. Colin Douglas added 57 more. It was an almost perfect day for the Spartans, save for a pair of late fumbles in the final two minutes with a nine point lead that gave the Redskins two chances to state an improbable comeback when BPCA could have well salted the game away by taking a knee (shades of Routt last season.) Fortunately, Luke Tolley atoned with a late interception and BPCA is an Elite Eight team for the first time in school history. And I still think the Spartans are Final Four bound. Momence beat round three opponent Clifton Central 34-16 back in week nine and this is a team that is very sophomore dependant. The Comets have an arsenal of good backs, but the team is really dinged up and that is not the kind of health you want to be in against an abundantly physical Spartan team. This is also a much better balanced Central team than in years past, with Sophomore QB Trent Faulkner having amassed 20 passing touchdowns this season. I don't think the Comets, or anyone in 2A, can run on BPCA with much success right now if Momence was so negated. The game may hinge on how well the Spartans force Faulkner to make plays...and the continued good works of a BPCA backfield that is as diverse as you will find.

3. QND (11-0)

Last Week: 30-14 win over Mahomet Seymour

Up Next: vs Bloomington Central Catholic

The Skinny: Most apt quote of the season came from Seymour Coach Keith Pogue in Sunday's Quincy Herald Whig. QND is indeed "just dynamite in the trenches;" so much so that the loss of standout tailback Shea Sibley early on to an ankle injury was a miniscule part of the overall story. You can not and will not beat QND in a power football game, which is why I think the Raiders will get the number one ranked team in the state this weekend (but more on that later) With Sibley shelved, sophomore Daniel Weiman jumps into the fray and busts for 127 yards on just 14 carries against a defense that most people considered fairly stout. Take nothing away for Weiman, who is going to be a very special back but that continuity of success is a function of line play. Ditto for a Raider Defense that once again made 2300 yard back Andrew Brewer look fairly mortal. Toss out his excellent 41 yard touchdown run in the third quarter and Brewer amassed just 62 yards on his other 32 carries. Heck, the way QND's entire defensive line was penetrating, you could have put Gayle Sayers in the Seymour backfield and he wasn't going anywhere. You can't run the football if you can't get north and south and QND is as good as anyone at disrupting the flow of an offense. Obviously, Jimmy Holtschlag is a man-beast against the run and about as close to unblockable as you will find. That said, the presence of the big fellow might well be doing a disservice to his line-mates, who are pretty darned good in their own right. Granted, some of them are Holtschlag kin, but have we talked at all about how good Jay Finley has been in big spots? About how Eddy Holtschlag might well be Western Illinois' answer to Michael Brennan, but yet no one notices because the rest of the defense is so darned good? Look, we said back in August that QND had the best set of linebackers in the Tri States and no one is disputing that, but how much easier is their job made by a kid like the unsung Steven Baker, who just beats up on offensive linemen so Kientzle or Hendren can make the spectacular kill shot? The genius of this Bill Connell team isn't just in the final results, but in how this team goes about achieving its goals. Which brings us to the showdown Saturday of the number one and two ranked teams in the state. If we remember last season, the Saints of BCC good off to an explosive start behind Ryan Waldron and Javier Safford, the kind of speedy playmakers that I think QND would be vulnerable to this season. Those gentlemen are off playing college football and the Saints are much more about efficiency then explosion this season. Granted, BCC has been held under 30 points of offense just once that season, but that was in a 17-0 win over the team the Raiders just pounded for 30: Mahomet Seymour. The concern here offensively is that BCC is the first team QND has played this season that can go to the air with great effect. Adam Rebholz is a much more poised quarterback than when we saw him in Bloomington last season. He has halved his interceptions from a season prior and is spreading the ball to different pass catching options more readily than just locking into Safford and letting his playmaker make him look good. I think this is the challenge the QND secondary, led by an outstanding cover player in Patrick Smith, has been laying for all season. On the other side of the ball, QND's offensive line must control Joe Ring, who is an All State caliber disruptor and maybe the best defensive lineman QND has faced this season. The Saints don't have a real weakness on their defense and I suspect that even a team like QND is going to have to make some things happen with play action passing to soften up that attack. Make no mistake, this is may be the best game we see all season between two teams that execute at an outstanding level. I like QND because the Raiders beat up and wore out a better, more gifted BCC squad last season. I think QND can do the same in a very low scoring affair this week (I have 16-12 QND on my bracket) and if you have the means on Saturday and have any love at all off football, you need to be at 10th and Jackson to see this clash of titans for yourself.

2. TRIOPIA (11-0)

Last Week: 46-0 win over Arcola

Up Next: at Tuscola

The Skinny: The easier half of "The 'Cola Wars" are behind them and wonderfully, the Trojans returned to form against the Purple Riders last Saturday. Rich Thompson's crew wiped away the bad taste after an ugly offensive effort against Hardin Calhoun with what might well have been the Trojans most complete performance of the season. David Arendt busted for 179 yards and four touchdowns, looking his sharpest and most dominant since the early season. Jacob Millard and the Trojan Offensive Line opened such gaping holes in the Arcola Defense that Bradley Dinsmore also topped the century mark, albeit on just three totes of the football. Quarterback Kellan Phelps added nearly 100 yards of total offense and completed all of his passes. This recapture of offensive momentum could not have been better timed. A road trip to Tuscola on Saturday likely puts Triopia nose to nose with the hottest run defenses in the class right now. The Warriors, who blasted Triopia out of the Playoffs last season with fifty point roll over, also already have a working idea of how to stop Rich Thompson's Wing-T from lining up and taking out Taylor Joehl last November. This is, without question, a huge test of will for the Trojan Offensive Line, which is going to see nine in the box laying for David Arendt. Bottom line, the Trojans are either going to have to beat Tuscola eight on nine in the running game or Rich Thompson is likely going to have to throw open the Pandora's Box that is the play action passing game. And Triopia will have to score a couple of touchdowns here to get this win. Despite the graduation of Iowa Signee John Wienke, Tuscola still can be potent on offense with new Quarterback Caleb Little working to an outstanding wideout in Gunnar Edwards. Andy Phelps defense is playing exceptionally well right now, with just six points against in the last twelve quarters of play. Adam Brockhouse and Mark Williams have been exception of late in the second tier of the defense and Jacob Fricke is that kid who can make a difference off the edge and take the starch out of the Tuscola attack, a la Forsyth. This is just a very difficult draw for the Trojans and I think the line of demarcation on the season. These have traditionally have been the type of games that have doomed Triopia's previous playoff plunges. Can this years' offense write a different script?

1. ILLINI WEST (11-0)

Last Week: 66-14 win over Macomb

Up Next: vs Aledo/Westmer

The Skinny: The Chargers converted for score on all eight of their offensive possessions on Saturday. No punts. No turnovers. No grey area. You saw our video and it left no room for doubt. Sure, Stefan Flynn was running over all comers and dropping his shoulder on Bomber defenders like they were YMCA Youth Leaguers. Let's not forget that Charger Fullback was working downhill the entire game with a full head of steam by running through the largest lanes this side of the Pal-Bowl. Outside of a rare stretch of loose play from the five yard line in, the Chargers Offensive line delivered some of its finest work this season. You saw the pancake blocks from both Kyle Hartzell and Ross Hutston. Just nasty, imposing stuff on the offensive line. And to be honest, this might have been the most pared down game plan we've seen from Jim Unruh this season. The Illini Skipper simply set the way-back machine for 1995 and ran seven or eight running plays and defied the Bombers to stop them. Obviously, that did not happen. Defensively, Illini West adjusted nicely after giving up a pair of second quarter touchdowns to Davis Hendrickson. In full disclosure, a healthy Hendrickson (177 rushing yards) is a load and Macomb scored its first touchdown on nothing more than about seven or eight straight toss sweeps to the left. To his credit, Macomb Offensive Coordinator Steve Horrell used that set up to give the Bombers their second score with a perfectly timed halfback option pass from Hendrickson to Matthew Gordy to close Macomb to within 20-14 in the 2nd quarter. The Chargers adjusted at the half and closed those avenues. Hartzell might have had his best day of the season, getting in on 11 tackles. Derek Van Fleet added a pair of picks while Kris Vincent snatched yet another fumble recovery for TD, which I believe brings his season total to four of those on the year. Which brings us to what might well be the best game of the week that no one is talking about. With all the focus on the 4A Title Game at Tenth and Jackson (that is what I consider it anyway) and the electrifying Blair Oaks/Clark County throw-down, it is easy to forget that the best offensive mind in Western Illinois small school football awaits the Chargers this week. Yes, Illini West pulverized Aledo in their first meeting of the year. Since that time, let us not forget that Cullen Welter has not only sharpened his offense back to its usual efficacy, he's also had the advantage of seeing game tape from the PGP/IW. There are soft spots on the Charger Defense against the run. The Saukees had success there. Macomb had two really nice drives last week. You can bet that bruising tailback Matt Dawson will be testing those avenues with a lot more frequency than in game one. What concerns me here is that the Green Dragons can augment Dawson with a dual threat quarterback in Brett Anderson, who is playing infinitely better than he did in Week Four. He put 100 and 100 last week both on the ground and in the air against a quality Stillman Valley club last week and toasted Lisle for 280 yards a week previous. Think Welter hasn't digested CSE's first two spread offensive drives against the Chargers in Round One? If you don't understand the clear and present danger Aledo presents this week, you simply have not watched enough Green Dragon Football over the years. Just ask Clark County and Triopia how hard it is to beat a decent team twice in one season, let alone a powerhouse like 10-1 Aledo. I honestly don't think that Aledo's defense (or any small school unit I have seen this season) can stop the Chargers from scoring. The question is, will the the Chargers be able to do likewise against the Dragons. I hope so because more and more, this Charger team looks like a team of destiny.

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MSHSAA Playoffs

CLARK COUNTY

Last Week: 32-6 win over Brookfield, 27-7 win over South Shelby

This Week: vs Blair Oaks

The Skinny: The Missouri Playoffs move so fast its hard for this column to keep up. Let's start with the South Shelby game, which I think was the most meaningful game we've seen this year in Northeast Missouri. First of all, it was a very classy contest with two teams and fan bases that walked away with incredible respect for one another. I could not believe how many Indian Fans were still buzzing about Stefan Andress and Bryce Johnston on Monday Night when I went back up to Kahoka for the game of the week tailgate party against Brookfield. Is there any disputing at all, from any circle in Northeast Missouri, that the Cardinals are legitimate Top 10-12 team in Class 2 Football? Rob Wilt's team sure looked the part when it came out and marched the ball right down Clark County's throat over a 10 minute span on the first drive. Clearly, Andress was a big factor in that but what impressed me was the cushion that South was getting from guard to guard for Andress to work in. Shane Smith may only be a sophomore, but he is also about as dominant a center as you will find right now. Truth be told, no team in our area needed a punch in the mouth more than Clark County and South Shelby delivered it right on cue. And as Matt Smith would have hoped, his team pulled its self off the carpet at the two count and responded with a flurry of haymakers of its own. It took another jaw dropping punt return from Javis Vineyard to jump start the Indians, but once they got rolling, everyone in NEMO saw exactly why this team is ranked 3rd in the state. To me, the most impressive part of the night was the play of linebaker Kolt Kiger, who finished with a ridiculous 17 tackles against a really good offensive line. The kid spent more time in South's backfield than Matt Patterson. And Clark successfully beat Andress, as tough a back as you will find, up for the next three quarters. Just a great football game. The first half of the Brookfield contest, however, was anything but...save for one Clark County exception. Like Triopia against Calhoun, Clark wasn't nearly as sharp playing the same foe in two weeks. Ethan Allen had the rarest of struggles with his passing touch in the first half. Javis Vineyard could find no room to work. And Clark gave up a rare special teams miscue for a touchdown. The only bright spot in the first half was the play of Michael Brennan at Defensive End, who notched four quarterback sacks and a tackle for loss. And just a point on that front, but when you've got a five sport athlete (the kid swims too?) who is fast enough to run on a state track team playing in the line, that is a rare luxury? So Matt Smith pared it all down in the second half and let his great offensive line and the best back in our little universe run wild. Javis delivered a Joe McKnight type second half tour de force with 189 yards and three touchdowns in the second stanza on just seven carries. Vineyard's speed just makes the game look so easy and his final touchdown might be one of the prettiest of the year. And so now we get Clark County and Blair Oaks, a game many consider Dome-Worthy in its own right. And that means the ultimate battle of the Show Me State's best small school quarterback in Justin Eiken (who is averaging nearly 330 yards of total offense per game) against the best pass rushing defensive line in the state (see also Michael Brennan (14 QB Sacks) and Lynn Williams (9 QB sacks at last check) Bottom line, Clark's defense is about to be tested as never before. We've said all along that Bryan Plenge and Matt Morrow are the best 1-2 cover combination in our region. On Saturday, they will finally come up against an opponent that isn't afraid to put the ball in their vicinity. The Indians will also meet a defense that was strong enough to keep Will Evans under 100 yards on 23 carries and completely out of the end zone. The Falcons are big, aggressive and nasty and I don't know that Clark County or anyone can stuff the ball straight down their throat. That means weather will matter and Ethan Allen and the efficiency of the spread offense will be critical. Matt Smith is one of the few coaches in the state with weapons to play to the few weaknesses that Blair Oaks has. Special teams is a huge plus in the Indians favor, provided Blair Oaks is foolish enough to kick the ball anywhere but to the sidelines. Clark County's defense is also measurably better than the Panther Defense which held Blair Oaks to 13 points last week (although no one masks defensive flaws in the state better than Erle Bennett) Centralia has to TKO and bludgeon an opponent to win. Clark County has the ability to Sugar Ray Leonard the Falcons and stick and jab. Blair Oaks is a phenomenal opponent but I really like this matchup for Clark, even more so than having to see Will Evans battering ram his way to big yardage. Fingers crossed, but I still like Clark here especially in light of Moberly loss (who did not at all impress me) Blair Oaks suffered early.

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BASKETBALL 2008-2009

High School Girls Basketball Preview

KHQA Preseason Player of the Year:

MARLEY HALL, West Hancock

The Titans junior forward reigns her after a stellar sophomore season, but can ill afford any kind of slip with as many as ten legitimate threats to her KHQA POY Crown. Unmatched mobility (and handle) for a "Big" makes her one of the most unique and difficult matchups in Tri State Basketball. The scuttlebutt out of Hancock County is that the Titans could be even better collectively this season, even with the loss of two really pivotal senior contributors in Cassie Weigand and Emily Mast. Marley will be asked to accept a bigger leadership role this season and will be wearing one of the biggest bulls-eyes in the state. Great centered kid and remarkably driven player whose resolve will be put the test nightly this season with all eyes now officially upon her. Heck, she averaged over 20 points per game a year ago and she was barely scratching the surface of her considerable skills. We are projecting double-double nightly numbers and all manner of recruiting attention by the time March rolls around again. Scarier still, she is still improving in certain areas of her game (post defense) and may be markedly better when we first see her later this month!!!

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Preseason All Do-or-Die

First Team

C: ANNE MARIE HARTUNG, Bowling Green

PF: GRIFFYN BENNETT, Beardstown

SF: TORI NIEMANN, Canton

SG: CHLOE BARNES, QND

PG: DEAVEN OMOHUNDRO, Clopton

Second Team

C: TIFFANY KING, West Central

PF: KATIE LINDSEY, Routt 

SF: KARLEE GENGENBACHER, QND

SG: LUCY CRAMSEY, Liberty/Payson

PG: LINDSAY BUCKERT, West Hancock

Third Team:

C: JENNA MUELLER, South Shelby

PF: SHELSEY STANLEY, Keokuk

SF: KASSIE KURTZ, Central Lee

SG: DIEDRA JARMAN, Mark Twain

PG: LEIGH MCLAUGHIN, QND

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KHQA Girls Preseason Power Rankings

The Top Five

1. QND

Ever play the game Jenga? The graduation of do-it-all talent Renita Bunte, whose specialty last season was sublimating her own talents to fill in all the gaps where her team needed, pulls a major foundation piece out of Eric Orne's puzzle. Who will step into the glue role to hold this incredibly delicate balance of standout talents together. Pass first point guard Leigh McLaughlin has that kind of Steve Nash mentality to feed the superstars and keep this thing rolling at a state championship contending level. Her health is always a concern and if McLaughlin misses time, I am less enamored of QND absent Bunte. Ball State signee Chloe Barnes is the most gifted wing player in the Tri States and her rebounding ability helps negate QND's lack of size. Karlee Gengenbacher is a walking double-double and one tough customer off contact on the offensive end. I would like to see her get more help on the boards and in the post and the athletic Natalie Siebers is a fascinating X-factor in the paint. Gabi Douglas showed signs of real growth last year off the bench and her continued development could really deepen a roster that isn't quite as certain as it was coming in last year. To me, Hilary Obert is the Raja Bell of this crew and the most important piece that does not get talked about. When she forces a defense to stretch to the perimeter, everybody else on this team gets better, which is a scary thought. I still think QND is the best team in our area and I like the Lady Raiders a lot, I am just not sure with the attention they will be getting and the losses of some quality seniors, this team is the season opening lock it was one year ago. Then again, the bitter motivation of pulling home a fourth rather than first place trophy could be a powerful edge.

2. CANTON

That trip to the State Softball Tournament this fall might be the best thing that happened to the Lady Tiger Basketball program. Last year's loss to Westran was one of the more heart-wrenching in the region. It closed the window on the Danielle Caldwell/Emily Lay of Tiger Basketball without a trip to Columbia, and those were really vital and important parts to this great surge in Canton over the last few years. So what are we left with this year? A team that doesn't look as pretty on paper as last years with point guard questions and diminished depth. Hey, guess what? The Lady Tiger Softball picture wasn't overwhelming anyone back in August either but these girls proved that they are first and foremost winners. They proved they can break new ground. And lets not forget that the talent pool here is still better than 90% of the teams in our area. Tori Niemann is a freakish talent on the boards, as quick to the glass (comparatively speaking) as any boy or girls we've ever seen. For lack of a better comparsion, Tori! Tori! Tori! is our version of Dwight Howard. Lindsey Lillard has become a very clever post presence, despite a lack of ideal height and she gets by well on savvy and guile. Jessi Logsdon is a terrific athlete in her own right and I tend to think she is really going to elevate into a top notch second or third option her. Granted there are position questions here for Seth Minter, but where Canton is solidified, few teams are better. And the potential of some of the kids stepping into bigger roles is enticing enough for us to give these girls the benefit of the doubt.

3. WEST HANCOCK

The only thing harder than winning a state championship is repeating, which is why you find Ken Schuster's crew third rather than first here. From a construction standpoint, West Hancock has the best placement of talent in our area with the area's best big and a terrific point guard in Lindsay Buckert. We know Marley will likely improve her 20.3 ppg average last season, but the key here is finding other consistent sources of points. Buckert is a extremely intriguing floor general who can overpower the smaller defenders she will see at the one. She has also developed a terrific floor sense. The whole key here is how much of the left over slack can Becca Elschlager and Kerbee Koehler pick up. I think both are very promising prospects, especially with a better Buckert doling out passes and Marley killing all the defensive oxygen down low. I think the real X-Factor here, however, is Halie Schilson, who might be one of the best sleeper picks in our area. Again, heavy is the head that wears the crown but few coaches can bleed as much production from a squad as Ken Schuster. It just depends on how quickly the cogs fall into place.

4. BOWLING GREEN

Just my hunch, but if Bobby Spoonster had publicly dis-avowed America and joined Al Quaeda, he'd probably still be more popular in the Hills of Clarksville right now than he was in changing coaching sides in one of the most bitterly contested girls rivalries in Tri State sports. Emotions aside, the man who led Clopton to two straight Final Four appearances will try his hand at coalescing the best young roster in Tri State Sports. Spoonster inherits a 6'4" junior center in Anne Marie Hartung who is already getting really hot Division One recruiting interest from Big 12 Schools (and whose ceiling might ultimately fetch Blue Chip offers) and that is the kind of building block that doesn't come around every day. Whereas Marley Hall is a more hybrid front court player, Hartung's gifts fall in the realm of the more traditional low post talent. She blocks shots. She rebounds. She has a great drop step and lots of utility as a dominant scorer from five feet and in. (Shameless Plug Alert: By the way, Hartung and Hall go head-to-head at the KHQA/SUBWAY/Superfan Shootout in February. Tickets on sale soon) More to the point, I really like what the Lady Cats offer beyond just their superstar center. Megan Adkisson will be missed, but I was incredibly impressed with the firepower that Katie Scherder brings to the table and I suspect she is going to be a very explosive scorer. Taylor Lewis has a terrific ceiling as well. Olivia Gregory is a kid who could rise this season. And I love the blue collar ethic that Fancy Lindsay brought off the bench last season. Kind of the Ryan Bowen ethos of sparking a team through hustle. Bottom line, there is a phenomenal group of juniors here that should fuel a very successful two year run. That said, the Bobcats need to get mentally tougher as a collective. They had some real disappearing acts last season (see also the Clopton loss) which I think can be cured as simply as by adding another year of maturity. Still, Bobby Spoonster also finds himself in the midst of a very untenable situation. It is Columbia or Bust and his stock as a coaching prospect will be likely judged accordingly.

5. WEST CENTRAL

Jacksonville Routt was the cinderella story of the 2008 season and I tend to think another WIVC squad might be the most compelling sleeper this winter. Brian Bettis has to get his backcourt properly tune, especially given the graduation of the very solid Kelsie Little. That said, I love the Lady Cougar Front Court as much as any in our region. Tiffany King was a blockbuster find as a freshman and I tend to see her as a Courtney Shuman clone. She already boards like veteran and has both face up and back to the basket offensive utility. But like the former Clark County star, King gives you a lot more bang for your buck with her ability to pass out of the high and low post. She has got really quick defensive instincts and sees the game very well. Just a very intriguing talent made better by the presence of legitimate anchor down five in Tomi White. When she is going well, White can really impose her will in the blocks. And while the Cougars strength comes down low, there is a legitimate sniper here in Shelby Kirbach who can provide the kind of inside-outside presence that should make the Lady Cougars really difficult to defense. Guard play is a little unsettled, but Brian Bettis has a group of younger girls he really likes as candidates to run the show. If any of them deliver consistent play, don't be surprised to see the Lady Cougars deep into the 1A Dance.

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The Usual Suspects plus One

6. CLOPTON

They have been to Columbia six years running, why should a new coach and a tweaked roster change anything? Bottom line, Deaven Omohundro is the best floor general in this region and it's not even close for second place. She may be worth 20 wins on her own

7. MACON

My favorite sleeper team, even if they haven't yet figured out how to beat South Shelby. Abby Rowland, Emily Rudkin, and the highly athletic Jenna Leathers might form the best "Big Three" this side of 10th and Jackson.

8. ILLINI WEST

Loss of Randi Gronewold really hurts but Zach Keene can mask flaws as well as any coach in the Tri States. I like a huge year out of Danielle Gronewold and think the Charger front court will be better than anyone projects. Backcourt development makes or breaks this team. And never judge an Illini West squad before Christmas break. Schedule is brutal.

9. ROUTT

Melissa Nichols loss leaves me scratching my head as to just how good the Lady Rockets may be. The front line is unbelievable with Final Four hero Katie Lindsey, Morgan Eilering and intriguing sophomore Erika White holding down the fort. Gotta find someone to deliver the ball up front. Youngsters Brittany Zenge and Kelly Lonergan are critical cogs going forward.

10. SOUTH SHELBY

Huge graduation losses in Erin Mayes, Alex Milner and Miranda Chapin but the returning nucleus remains strong. Expect a huge leap forward for Ashley Troyer, who might be the biggest breakout talent in Tri State basketball this season.

11. CSE

Matt Long may be the best girls coach in Tri State Basketball but does even he have the wizardry to mask the ill effects of Ali Schwagmeyer's graduation? The Panthers are devoid of star power but have solid, hard working pieces coming back.

12. KEOKUK

This is too low and I know this going forward. I've got a nagging hunch that Mike Davis might be your coach of the year at season's end and that the Chiefs are going to really explode with Shelsey Stanley as the centerpiece. Again, I could be completely off base but I am just hearing some very encouraging things about the potential of this group.

13. LIBERTY/PAYSON

Lucy Cramsey is a nightly threat to throw a triple-double on the board and Dakota Flesner is among the top ten snipers in Tri State basketball as a now sophomore.

14. CENTRAL LEE

Kassie Kurtz is a fantastically unsung foundation piece for Jerry Ireland. The Lady Hawks are not the most exciting, athletic team in the world but they play smart and to strength. And they pass really, really well.

15. MARK TWAIN

Kaylyn Franke's transfer to Troy leaves a big hole but opens the stage for a Deidra Jarman superstar turn.

16. HOLY TRINITY

Surely they've lost too much, right? I am having a hard time wrapping my head around that idea too. Cameron Wilkens ends up on an All State team. Bet the farm on it.

17. GRIGGSVILLE-PERRY

Mark my words, Lacy Emrick is a name you will hear a ton this winter.

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RANDOM MUSINGS

Macomb product Aaron Jones parlayed one strong year at Rend Lake Community College (5th place at 197 pounds in the NJCAA National Championships) into a Wrestling gig at Northwestern. The now Wildcat Sophomore went 3-2 in his first Division One Varsity action, which I am told is the first ever Division One Tournament action for any grappler in Macomb High history. Our congrats to Aaron.

Fort Madison alum Michael Jennings set new Midwest Conference Records last week at St Norbert with 19 receptions and 280 yards in catches. Those efforts earned the Blueboys Junior Wideout also set a new league record for single season receptions with 110, while earning MWC Offensive Player of the Week accord in the offing. By the way, IC Quarterback Mitch Niekamp set a new school record with 74 passing attempts in that loss.

Jacksonville product Brian Anderson, now the starting quarterback at Princeton, is currently third in the Ivy League in Passing Efficiency and fourth in passing yardage per game. Fellow Crimson alum Les Hammers was Truman State's lone First Team All-MIAA Selection at Defensive Line. The Senior leads the Bulldogs and is second in the MIAA in tackles for loss with 11 this season including 5.5 sacks. He also leads the team with seven quarterback hurries. He has played in 43 games for the Bulldogs and recorded 17 career sacks and 30.5 tackles for loss. This is Hammers first, first-team selection after two previous second-team mentions.

Quincy High product Laura Adrian picked up another swimming title for the University of Illinois (100m Freestyle) in a dual meet with Illinois State, helping the Fighting Illini Women to a perfect 4-0 record as of last week.

Quincy native D.A. Points is back on the PGA Tour next season after finishing 16th on the money list on the Nationwide Tour. Points was last PGA Tour eligible back in 2006. He has played in 66 total events in his career and has earned nearly one million dollars as a pro.

Clayton Native Dennis Phillips finished third in the World Series of Poker this week, pocketing over five million dollars for his efforts. Don't know about you but I hate the new format where you have to walk away from the table for four months and lose all of your momentum.

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THE SEVEN COOLEST PEOPLE ON THE FACE OF THE PLANET (AT LEAST FOR THIS WEEK)

RANDI JO PLUNKETT

Could we be looking at the next great runner in Tri State Cross Country? The Marion County frosh posted a 15th place finish in Jeff City on Saturday to earn herself All State honors and net the Lady Mustangs a third place state trophy. Imagine how good she may be when she gets a second look at the state course next year...

KAITLYN HANKINS

The Quincy High Outside Hitter was critical cog in the Blue Devils unbelievably successful season, so much so that she played much of the postseason in tears because of searing pain in her torn hamstring. Despite it all, she was terrific in the loss to Edwardsville (16 Kills) playing against future Crimson Tide Outside Hitter Kayla Fitterer, in what for my money might have been the most exciting game of the fall to date. Unbelievable crowd. Great plot twists.

MATT SCHMECHTIG

Perth, Australia's contribution to Hannibal LaGrange Basketball is a straight gunner with Peja range and release. Kid hit six of seven triples in the big win over C-SC this week, many of them from well beyond the arc. Just a fun kid to watch shoot the rock and reason to take in a Trojan Basketball game or two this season.

TERI PAUL

Twenty seven years of coaching excellence and nearly 700 career wins. All that is missing from the West Prairie Hall of Fame Coaches resume is a state title. In four previous trips, Colchester/West Prairie came up just shy. Here's hoping the fifth time is a charm for one of the classiest ambassador's of coaching Tri State sports has to offer.

CHRIS NICHOLAS

Check out the Sports Final Locker Room. Courtesy of the HHS Defensive Coordinator, I am now an honorary member of  The Chris Nicholas Reptiles, the elite Defensive Players who populate the Hannibal Piate Defense and have the cool T-Shirt to prove it.

TERRY AHERN

The natives were restless with the North Shelby Football program last year. All Ahern did was take a defense full of question marks and turn it into the lynchpin of the schools first playoff berth since 1995. Probably too many good teams involved for Ahern to claim a Coach of the Year honor anywhere but his work in elevating his program deserves plenty of accolades.

GENE FROM HAWAII

Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would ever have reason to watch the BRAVO Network but I am a full fledged Top Chef addict and thought Wednesday's Season Five debut was as good as a start as the show has ever gotten. Elimination challenge right off the bat. Annoying European Chefs clashing with "Billy from the Bronx."  Food god Jean-Georges Vongerichen as a judge? Wow. Me? I am pulling for self taught, tattooed Hawaiian chef Gene who easily seems like the coolest cat in the house.