Twelve unique high school basketball games in 40 hours? Does it get any better than this??
This is Duerrisms for the week of February 2nd, 2012. Happy you could check in with us. And happy as always to enjoy the support of the fine folks at GAMEMASTERS who make this column possible. This is, of course, one of my favorite weeks of the year because it is time once again for the KHQA SUBWAY Superfan Shootout, coming at you Friday and Saturday from The Pit at Quincy Notre Dame. What this basically boils down to is two days worth of really good, really unique basketball for a really, really low price. For six dollars in advance (eight dollars at the door) you gain access to all 12 games on the slate. You can come down to Quincy and "ala carte" the games you want to see. Come and go as you please to do some shopping, catch a movie, or go watch the Bald Eagles soar down at the river. Or you can come spend your entire weekend with us. There will be great food provided by SUBWAY and TGI FRIDAYS, plenty of good fun entertainment, and most especially the great fellowship of your fellow basketball fans. One of the things that I am proudest of of this event is that it has become a kind of basketball summit of sorts; a chance for all of the area teams and fan bases to kind of mill around all day and watch each other before the inevitable sprint to the postseason which begins, believe it or not, next week. So come on out this weekend to 10th and Jackson and be a part of something that I guarantee you will enjoy. And make sure you tell the Fitch Family, Bill Connell and his QND staff and Dennis and the Superfan folks thanks for helping to stage such a great event.
A reminder as well that the KHQA LIVE CHAT, presented by VATTEROTT, is back in full force. Ross Green and I will be on-line at ConnectTriStates.com every Friday at 10:40 to answer your high school basketball questions, engage with your in friendly discourse, or even update you on scores you my have missed. It's always an interesting hour of good sports talk. Hope you will make us a part of your weekly ritual. You never know who may show up. And you are free to engage openly in the discussion or just hang back and monitor the conversation, if you are the shy retiring type.
As always, you are invited to follow us on Twitter and Facebook for breaking local sports news or semi-witty observations. We approve all friendship requests and follows.
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2012 KHQA STUDENT ATHLETE OF THE WEEK PRESENTED BY CELL TECH
For the seventh year now, KHQA is once again profiling the best and brightest young people in Tri State Athletics every Wednesday Night at 6:00pm in our Student Athlete of the Week Feature. It's a look beyond the highlights into the mindset and determination that make these folks successful in all that we do and reminder to all of you just how much good there is out there to be celebrated in this generation. And at year's end, we will once again award scholarships to the top boys and girls scholar athletes in our area.
If you know of a deserving senior who sports a minimum 3.5 GPA, please contact your high school athletic director and have them fill out a form on that student's behalf. Or help expedite the process yourself by printing a nomination form from our website (which can be found on the Student Athlete of the Week Page) and turning it in to your local athletic director so that they can submit it to us. Our next nominating session is Mid-March, at which point we will pick or last 12 more honorees from the pool of seniors. The window of opportunity to nominate a deserving applicant is closing fast. We don't want to miss anyone in the process and sincerely hope you will help us out in that spirit.
2011-2012 Honorees
Week One: LEXI FRESE, Quincy High Volleyball
Week Two: SYDNEY HAWLEY, Pittsfield Golf/Basketball
Week Three: COLTON BOCK, Monroe City Football
Week Four: MICHAEL BARTELS, Keokuk Football/Wrestling
Week Five: CATHERINE RICHARDS, Payson Seymour Volleyball
Week Six: JANSEN JOEHL, Concord Triopia Football
Week Seven: MELISSA WOOD, Mark Twain Softball
Week Eight: WILL MEFFORD, South Shelby Football/Baseball
Week Nine: PAIGE BROKAW, Pittsfield Volleyball
Week Ten: JAMES SCHWIETER, Macon Football
Week Eleven: ABBIE FOSTER, Quincy High Volleyball/Soccer
Week Twelve: TORI KUHN, QND Basketball/Softball
Week Thirteen: JONAH COGGESHALL, Central Wrestling/Football
Week Fourteen: SCOTT KROEGER, Elsberry Basketball/Football/Baseball/Golf
Week Fifteen: AARON EDWARDS, Payson Seymour Basketball
Past Scholarship Winners
2011: JACOB CONLEY, Central High (U.S. Military Academy at West Point)
DAKOTA FLESNER, Payson Seymour (Kishwaugee Community College)
2010: MICHAEL LAFFERTY, Illini West (Monmouth College)
TAYLOR BAXTER, Palmyra (Illinois State)
2009: MATT PATTERSON, South Shelby (Truman State)
CHLOE BARNES, Quincy High (Ball State University)
2009: LUKE GUTHRIE, Quincy High (University of Illinois)
2007: KATELYN BASTERT, Illini West (Duke University)
2006: MIKAL BENECOMO, Clopton (Southeast Missouri State)
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BASKETBALL 2012
KHQA SUBWAY SUPERFAN SHOOTOUT PREVIEW
SLATE FOR SATURDAY- FEBRUARY 4TH
ROUTT GIRLS VS MENDON UNITY 9:00AM
We know we have to work a little harder to get you out of bed for the Traditional "Breakfast Game" at The Pit, but this pairing is certainly worth the loss of sleep. I've got a sneaking suspicion that this may well be a dress rehearsal for the Class 1A Jacksonville Supersectional Contest and it might just be the most evenly contested game of the day. We are talking about a pair of 20 game winners, each coming of Conference Title clinching victories (for the Lady Mustangs, their first in program history) who are both worthy of Class 1A Top Ten rankings accord. The Lady Rockets are already 6th in the state this week. The Lady Mustangs have been hovering in the "Receiving Votes" category too long. Both teams are incredibly balanced with intriguing matchups across the board. Unity has a decided size advantage with Rachel Rush in the middle and is, as a collective, one of the best rebounding teams in the Tri States. Unity has had every starter lead them in scoring at various points this season. Routt is similar in the distribution of offense with Katie Tonry, Johanna Gross, and Emily Bystry the most likely of the Lady Rockets to push the scoring column margins. This game may well come down to just how well the Lady Mustangs handle and possess the basketball. Routt is notoriously quick and disruptive in the passing games and has a certain defensive grit that makes them very difficult to deal with, particularly in bringing the ball up the floor (perhaps Unity's Achilles Heel.) If Routt creates chaos, the Lady Rockets win this game. If Unity is allowed to set up comfortably in the half court and work it's offense, I like Unity to win this game by 7-10 points. It's a "styles make fights" kind of affair and a huge confidence boost going forward to the winner.
HAVANA GIRLS VS KEOKUK 10:30AM
The Lady Ducks only loss came to QND in the finals of the Lady Panther Classic, a game in which Jerry Wilson tried to out-tempo the Lady Raiders. That's certainly taking the road less traveled. Which might also explain the 39 point loss. Against mortal competition, however, the Lady Ducks up-tempo game is very good. Havana has nice depth and is blessed with very good shooters. All State candidate Sam Ellsworth (who is being recruited by John Wood) is the marquee draw here but Emily Eakle, Kelsey Snowden, and Jill Fredrich are all B+ or better snipers and seniors with quite a bit of savvy. Abby Kachanuk is the interior presence and is a tough customer inside with a soft shooting touch. Keokuk will have its hands full accounting for all that balance. By the same token, the Chiefs come in winners of six of their last seven games and have a decided advantage here in interior athleticism with Zoe Kayvan and Rachel Dunlap as high motor/high effort post players who could really feast against what is essentially a four guard Havana lineup. And with Havana likely to push tempo, Alexis Lozano-Dobbs is going to be very much in her element mucking up the passing lanes and making hustle plays. Havana is the undisputed favorite here, but stylistically, I think Mike Davis has been dealt a very favorable hand here; especially if Havana is harassed into a bad shooting night from the perimeter. His key is to make this a game contested from 12 feet and in, giving Keokuk a very good chance to overpower and get the Lady Ducks out of their comfort zone.
MARENGO BOYS VS PITTSFIELD NOON
Brad Tomhave teams have a well established track record of Superfan Shootout success and I don't suspect that will stop against a Marengo squad that has been disappointing, despite returning four starters from a year ago. That said, this is your chance to see Player of the Year candidate Dalton Hoover in full bloom against one of the few teams on the schedule whose advance scouting report may not include the phrase "triple team Hoov at every turn." I don't know how much advance research Marengo Coach and Quincy High alum David Pettit has done on the Saukees, but if his team comes in blind or gamble that they have the size to defend Hoover one-on-one, we may get to see Dalton dunk all over The Pit Saturday afternoon and that should be inducement enough to show up and check out the future Quincy University Hawk in action. Not every game is a masterpiece on paper, but at least the Hoover Factor (and the fact that noted Raider Killer Seth Petty's mere appearance at 10th and Jackson may cause mass hysteria/Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome among the QND faithful) are sellable hooks here.
SALISBURY GIRLS VS WEST HANCOCK 1:30PM
To be brutally honest, we initially took this girls pairing as part of the bargain to make the indescribably good boys pairing of same two teams a reality. That kids, is just a part of the politics in scheduling a Shootout of this nature. Now, I am kind of thinking we good a really good bargain on the back end as well. Both girls teams are far better than originally projected. For a Salisbury squad that graduated its All State lynchpin from 2011, I'd say a 14-3 overall record and 5-0 mark in the Lewis and Clark is very enticing. The Lady Tigers have size, that we knew. What is compelling here is that those kids have apparently made really good strides as a collective and Jason Haines has his crew playing to strength, using Hannah Nicolay and Devan Swisegood to tear apart foes on the interior. Adam Brumbaugh's Titans won't have the size to counter, but West Hancock's Grinnell system makes good use of the team's depth/speed to push tempo and gives his team a puncher's chance to wear down the Lady Tigers and try to exploit their fitness level. To be honest, I am more that a little intrigued just to see how this plays out. This certainly isn't a marquee game by any stretch but as "supposed filler" goes, it isn't a horrible appetizer to....
SALISBURY BOYS VS WEST HANCOCK 3:00PM
...the fun fest that will be the boys pairing here. Salisbury comes into The Pit with a perfect record and ranked number one in all of Missouri Class 2 Basketball. I had a chance to see the Tigers in person at the MFA Shootout last week. As promised, Salisbury does have some size and 6'5" center Austin Francis is active on the boards and a pretty impressive passer out of the post. But the heart of the Panthers attack is guards Austin and Zach Wyatt. They have good size, shoot the ball extremely well, play smart/unselfish basketball, and I am told that Zach is athletic enough that if you try to smother him on the perimeter, he can blow past a defender and dunk on him at the rim. This is a high volume Offensive team that isn't afraid to shoot the ball from long distance or pound it inside and beat you by getting to the free throw line. There will be highlight reel passes and highlight reel dunks. To be frank, was not particularly impressed with Salisbury on defense, where things seemed a little more than passive, but I get the feeling watching these guys that the feel like a team that can hit the offensive switch any time they want and compensate for the lassiez faire approach at the other end of the floor rather easily. And so we are going to serve them up master tactician Reno Pinkston and a team that will defend them as intensely and physically as any they have seen on the schedule. And we will put that defensive resolve to the test with Player of the Year Candidate Paxton Harmon seemingly set to get the cleanest offensive looks he has had in months. As a rule in this shootout, we always try to make our 6pm boys game the best/most compellling matchup of the day because it carries the crowd over into the marquee contests that night. This year, we somehow got two unbelievable boys pairings that could have fit that bill. And I am not sure on paper that Salisbury/West Hancock might not be the more intriguing of the two. This is just a tremendously fun basketball matchup and a litmus test of the highest order on Missouri vs Illinois basketball. I admonish you not to miss this.
WEST CENTRAL GIRLS VS ILLINI WEST 4:30PM
Traditionally, two of the most bankable programs and most successful coaches in Tri State Girls basketball. This year, both teams struggled mightily in the early season with graduation losses and enriched schedules and the stock on this game admittedly took a hit. Fortunately, both teams have found some traction of late and have posted encouraging wins. West Central is the lone Class 1A team to have beaten Jacksonville Routt this season. The Chargers have an early season win over Unity to their credit and are coming off a hard fought victory over Orion. And both teams desperately need to retain their momentum headed into the 2A Regionals next week. The Chargers have played exceptionally well in this venue (see also Graci Bastert's demolition of Havana last year) and have a darkhorse Player of the Year candidate in Lauren Gronewald. West Central returns only Andrea Lietz, the straw that stirs the drink here, from its State Championship squad but Brian Bettis has gotten better all around production as the season has gone one. If history is any indication, this might be a sneaky good entertainer.
WEST CENTRAL BOYS VS ILLINI WEST 6:00PM
Very, very proud of this one. It is a rematch (to some degree) of the 2008 IESA Boys 8-2A state title game which Winchester won 47-45 thanks to a 21 point effort (remember 6 minute quarters) by Parker Day. Carthage people still remember that name and that performance to this day...and now they finally get their moment of atonement. It won't be easily earned. West Central is 22-2 on the season with a loss to Scott Thoele and Franklin in the Waverly title game and a slip up to Brown County to open the WIT. Granted, the strength of schedule here isn't the same as the WCC teams but don't be fooled: Jeff Abell's squad is as salty as they come at the defensive end and infuriatingly patient to play against. Parker Day sets the tone as an A+ passing lane disruptor and Jordan Boehs will be one of the more dynamic guards Illini West has seen. The Chargers counter with one of the best, most complete lineups in any corner of Tri State basketball right now, especially with Jack Bastert healthy again and Nick Driskell and Brody Gronewald playing at such a high level. The Chargers also have a key advantage here with Evan McGaughey's size giving them a chance to negate Corey Barnett's all important low post presence to the Cougars. Barnett is the counterbalance to the Cougar offense and powers up in the paint as strongly and aggessively as anyone. But he will be giving up a ton of size here. I suspect this will be an all out war, likely the most intense game of the day just based on the relentless nature which these two teams, different as they are, play. These guys are not a combined 39-6 by accident and I think West Central really wants to send a statement that it can compete at the highest levels of 2A basketball after finishing second in the state in 1A last season. The opportunities get no more golden than this.
EDWARDSVILLE GIRLS VS QND 7:30PM
Of all the Division One prospects we have brought into the Superfan Shootout, Emmonnie Henderson may ultimately go down as the best of the lot. She was rated one of the top six Sophomores in the Country in two different recruiting services last year and is considered to be a consensus Top Ten National Player in the Class of 2013. Then again, the 6'2" 240 pound star may spend her college career destroying Track and Field records as a nationally regarded thrower. Go on line and read some of the recruiting evaluations on the young ladies mobility, intensity, and all around power in the paint. She and her undefeated Edwardsville teammates will be a handful for the defending 2A State Champions, in a completely different manner than the equally talented and impressive Columbia Rock Bridge squad that beat them at John Wood. Edwardsville is giving up less than 30 points per game on average and is incredibly physical. They will also be the best coached team QND has faced in recent memory with Lori Blade at the controls. QND struggled with Taylor Manuel last season. Emmonnie Henderson is better. But to be honest, I think Tori Kuhn and Morgan Martin are also much more ready (and in fact spoiling) for that challenge. And I still not convinced that I have seen a girls team in my life that can consistently break QND's pressure when the Lady Raider press is running at Max-Q. Edwardsville's physicality won't save it if the Lady Tigers can't bring the ball up the floor. It is a sign of the times in Tri State Basketball, but this may be the best basketball ticket our area can produce, boys teams included. Bottom line, you won't see more collective talent on one single basketball court in any game this season. If you can find reason to miss it, I can't help you.
PAYSON SEYMOUR BOYS VS QND 9:00PM
Aaron Edwards wasn't even supposed to be in the gym last year. Payson Seymour served as a last second "snow emergency" fill in for Sturgeon in the marquee game of the Superfan Shootout...and promptly stole the show and the ballgame behind their dynamic point guard. So we thought...why not do this again. Edwards is back. Payson Seymour fans bring incredible passion and atmosphere to the gym. And a more cohesive QND squad deserves its shot at revenge. These are two fun basketball teams to watch...when they are on point. Both teams have been prone to some frustrating swings of bad play at times, but when its going well, like it was for both squads over the Christmas Holiday, the each look like world beaters. And both teams seem to hit each other at a point of defensive weakness. Can the Indians find anyone to guard Player of the Year candidate Alex Fitch in the front court; a kid who may have the strongest all around game from top to bottom of any player in our region? And can QND get someone, anyone to stay in front of Edwards and not allow him to torch the fabric that holds QND's defensive game plan together? From a one-on-one individual matchup standpoint, there are a ton of must-win wars here. The Indians Bigs have to find a way to win their battles on a play by play basis with Connor Mellon, Evan Klene and Matt McPherson. TJ Klitz has the size and athleticism, but just five fouls to work with. The Raiders have to prove they can chase Edwards and yet still try and freeze Landon Epperson at the same time; no small affair. There a dozen different kids here who could win this game for their respective teams. I honestly have no idea how this game plays out. And that is why I am so intrigued to watch it unfold. That, plus I honestly think that QND needs a Superfan win this week more than any other team in our Shootout. The Raiders have had their issues closing this season, especially against teams in their Regional. Maybe a big stage win here against Payson Seymour would be just the elixir to help QND find it's Bloomington Normal stride again.
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FEARLESS KHQA/SUBWAY SUPERFAN SHOOTOUT PREDICTIONS
Friday
CALHOUN GIRLS 56
CLOPTON 49
Projected MVP: Jocie Klocke, Clopton
QND 60
MARENGO 39
Projected MVP: Connor Mellon, QND
QND GIRLS 74
QHS GIRLS 41
Projected MVP: Kassidy Gengenbacher, QND
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Saturday
ROUTT GIRLS 46
UNITY GIRLS 56
Projected MVP: Breanne Begeman, Unity
HAVANA GIRLS 54
KEOKUK GIRLS 57
Projected MVP: Alexis Lozano Dobbs, Keokuk
MARENGO 35
PITTSFIELD 59
Projected MVP: Dalton Hoover, Pittsfield
SALISBURY GIRLS 61
WEST HANCOCK 48
Projected MVP: Hannah Nicolay, Salisbury
SALISBURY BOYS 41
WEST HANCOCK 40
Projected MVP: Zach Wyatt, Salisbury
ILLINI WEST GIRLS 59
WEST CENTRAL 46
Projected MVP: Lauren Gronewald, Illini West
ILLINI WEST BOYS 44
WEST CENTRAL 42
Projected MVP: Nick Driskell, Illini West
QND GIRLS 39
EDWARDSVILLE 46
Projected MVP: Emmonnie Henderson, Edwardsville
QND BOYS 68
PAYSON SEYMOUR 61
Projected MVP: Alex Fitch, QND
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