Region 24 Tournament: First Round Preview

With the regular season wrapping up on Saturday, the Great Rivers Athletic Confrence keeps on kicking. Rend Lake, competes in their Division 2 Region Tournament, while the other 8 GRAC teams compete to be named Region 24 Champions, and advance to “Hutch”. This weekend’s tournament could be one of the most exciting region tournaments in the country. With the win or go home attitude, these student-athletes will be competing at the highest level of their young lives. In front of family, friends, peers, and college scouts, these players battle for their lives. Three wins in four day earns your team a trip to JUCO’s coveted National Tournament. A chance of a lifetime for these young men, to play in front of thousands, and be seen by four-year institutions from across the states. If you have a heartbeat, it will be pumping as these teams load up their respective form of transportation and head to Ina for Region 24 action.

First Round Matchups:
1:00
#1 Southwestern Illinois, 28-2 (15-1) VS. #8 Kaskaskia, 11-9 (3-13)
Regular Season Results:
Southwestern Illinois 77 @ Kaskaskia 54 (1-29-09)
Kaskaskia 72 @ Southwestern Illinois 102 (2-25-09
Notes:
Despite only winning three league games, this Kaskaskia team has been kicking and scratching its way through. Saturday night saw the Blue Devils lead the Blue Knights of Olney Central for 38 and a half minutes only to see it slip away in the final minute. A strong, streaky team gets the first chance to knock off the #1 seed Blue Storm of Southwestern Illinois. SWIC on the other hand, was dormant on Saturday, and have a few extra days rest. Winners of12 straight to end the regular season, Coach of the Year Jay Harrington will be stalking the sidelines in hopes that his Blue Storm will take the first step towards the golden ticket to Hutchinson.

3:00
#4 Olney Central, 20-10 (10-6) VS. #5 Wabash Valley, 20-10 (8-8)
Regular Season Results:
Wabash Valley 71 @ Olney Central 77 (1-19-09)
Olney Central 82 @ Wabash Valley 68 (2-16-09)
Notes:
Chevy Express Bowl, Part II. After Kaskaskia tried running the vans off the road Saturday night, Coach Burris and the boys regained control and pulled them into the barns safely. The Blue Knights load them back up and head to Ina to face Coach Sparks and the streaky Warriors look to avenge two early season losses to the Knights. The Warriors knocked off the Statesmen of Lincoln Trail on Saturday night to lock up the 5 seed. Both teams look to make the IECC Presidents proud and bring home the vans victorious.

5:00
#2 Southeastern Illinois, 24-4 VS. #7 Lincoln Trail, 6-22 (2-14)
Regular Season Results:
Southeastern Illinois 67 @ Lincoln Trail 63 (1-24-09)
Lincoln Trail 53 @ Southeastern Illinois 98 (2-21-09)
Notes:
The Statesmen of Lincoln Trail load up the vans and head to Ina riding low. Coming off a rough loss at home to the Warriors of Wabash Valley they look to regroup and try to make a run at the tourney. Coach Cotton and the boys are not unfamiliar with turning heads in the tournament. The Statesmen are only a couple years removed from running the table in the tournament and heading to Hutch. A familiar face in Kansas, the Falcons of Southeastern, whom have been struggling as of late, rebounded with a home win over Logan on Saturday night to lock up the 2 seed. The Falcons are tournament tested and look to make some noise in Ina.

7:00
#3 John A. Logan, 19-9 (11-5) VS. #6 Lake Land, 16-13 (5-11)
Regular Season Results:
Lake Land 61 @ John A. Logan 63 (1-10-09)
John A. Logan70 @ Lake Land 61 (2-7-09)
Notes:
The Volunteers lost in Harrisburg on Saturday after an impressive showing in the Great Lakes Athletic Conference. Frustrated after blowing a chance at the #2 seed, Coach Imhoff and the gang look to reload and make a run at a chance to go to Hutch. The Lakers of Lake Land College have dropped 6 of their last 7 and look to regain focus heading into the tournament.