Mid-Illini 2019-20

[CosmoK]

As always looking forward to another competitive season. I am not real familiar with every team, just hopefully will get some friendly conversation going. In no particular order.
Metamora- Lost a lot ( Nelan,Havens,Dietz), but return a nice core group led by sharpshooter Mason & Kizer brothers
Pekin- Return everyone except 6'7" Torrey
Washington- Should be very improved after playing last year almost entirely with frosh/soph. Have 1 senior on roster
East Peoria- Finished 8-6 in conference last year & return 6 seniors
Morton- Might take awhile to get going. Lost 80% of scoring ( Crider & Olden)
Canton- Return a strong inside player( Smith ) & a couple of nice guards
Limestone- Top player graduated (Dunne), always seem to have some new faces
Dunlap- Great athlete Chatterton is back , along with Gabe Calhoun

[CIS]

Somewhat surprised that Pekin is hosting their own Thanksgiving tournament? Pekin has never had a Thanksgiving tournament so this is something new....I would think having a big Christmas tournament takes enough time and also you have a HUGE tournament over in Washington that draws incredible teams, talent and media coverage. But maybe this will be a nice addition, something for Pekinites to do over Thanksgiving weekend. Maybe it's just a short term experiment. I believe two of the teams are Chicago Dyet and Rantoul...

[RedDevil]

I think it is Morton that is hosting a Thanksgiving Tourney not Pekin.

[CIS]

I think it is Morton that is hosting a Thanksgiving Tourney not Pekin.

Oh...because the site (Pekin high school athletic site) says the Pekin Thanksgiving tournament at Hawkins Gym. Teams are Dyet, Rantoul and Morton. The site's schedule could be wrong but I thought Morton's Thanksgiving tournament was the GIRLS tournament? I One thing I don't like regardless, Pekin already plays Morton twice in conference games, why have the Potters play Pekin a third time? There are 600+ plus teams in the state - can't Pekin play in a tournament without a Mid Illini team?

[illini25]

CIS, Thanksgiving is most definitely a Morton event. I believe the design is set up so Pekin and Morton won’t meet. I may be incorrect on that??

Also PCHS doesn’t have as much “work” for holiday tournament as some other host schools. PCHS is a wonderful partner/sponsor but the holiday tournament is managed by separate entity. There are 2 PCHS employees plus a district 303 board member out of 12 people who serve as leadership for the separate entity. The PCHS AD is tournament director and does A LOT of tournament work throughout the year.

I’m affiliated with a school who hosts a Thanksgiving tournament. In contrast to the Pekin Insurance Holiday Tournament, the basketball head coach and school staff do all the work for this tournament from contracting teams, hiring officials to assigning locker rooms.

Pekin tournament has a long, storied tradition. I’m grateful that District 303 board is willing to support and Pekin Insurance continues as title sponsor.

[illini25]

One other note regarding Illinois tournaments -
The IHSA limitation change has eliminated the use of tournaments as a way to maximize games played.

This change may threaten tournaments at some point in the future. Illinois has a rich history of tournaments and I hope that tournaments, especially holiday tournaments exist well into the future.

[CIS]

One other note regarding Illinois tournaments -
The IHSA limitation change has eliminated the use of tournaments as a way to maximize games played.

This change may threaten tournaments at some point in the future. Illinois has a rich history of tournaments and I hope that tournaments, especially holiday tournaments exist well into the future.

I stand corrected about the Thanksgiving tournament - again, I was going by the Pekin's high school district sports site. Illini, what is the limitation change and how might that change the holiday tournaments?

[illini25]

One other note regarding Illinois tournaments -
The IHSA limitation change has eliminated the use of tournaments as a way to maximize games played.

This change may threaten tournaments at some point in the future. Illinois has a rich history of tournaments and I hope that tournaments, especially holiday tournaments exist well into the future.

I stand corrected about the Thanksgiving tournament - again, I was going by the Pekin's high school district sports site. Illini, what is the limitation change and how might that change the holiday tournaments?

https://www.ihsa.org/NewsMedia/Announce ... ments.aspx

Proposal 24 effective July 1, 2018
Basketball contest limitation of 31 exclusive of IHSA state series. Limitation was previously certain number of games plus number of tournaments, such as 18 games plus 2 tournaments.

Lots of teams would do 16 plus 3 (Thanksgiving, Christmas and MLK, for example).

The Pekin Insurance Holiday Tournament guarantees all teams 4 games. Some tourneys, though, now make it more difficult. There are tournaments, like Pontiac, where some teams play 4, some 3 and some 2. Also there are tournaments like the Jack Tosh at Elmhurst York with most teams playing 5 games but some 4. Some coaches don’t want to use up 5 of 31 at one event. Also if you get bounced early, you’re not getting to 31 games. Before you could schedule your regular games, add a couple tournaments and manage your schedule to maximize games.

[PtownBaller97]

Morton and Pekin are both playing at their home gym. One of the area banks is a sponsor, and Pekin and Morton will play each visiting team, while Rantoul and Chicago will play each other at Pekin on Saturday afternoon.

I think the goal for next year is to get another area team involved, as well as another visiting team, so each of the 3 area teams play 3 home games.

[CIS]

Morton and Pekin are both playing at their home gym. One of the area banks is a sponsor, and Pekin and Morton will play each visiting team, while Rantoul and Chicago will play each other at Pekin on Saturday afternoon.

I think the goal for next year is to get another area team involved, as well as another visiting team, so each of the 3 area teams play 3 home games.

Well thanks for clearing that up! I thought I read that Pekin was hosting some games at Pekin this week, but then it seemed that the tournament was at Morton...so it's both! I was half right I guess....I also thought Morton girls were hosting a Thanksgiving tournament or are they playing somewhere else?

[Ripple Effect]

Not sure what other MI schools will bring but Washington seems to be pretty close to what we saw last year. Vanderheydt has improved his overall game but turnovers and the inability to handle full court pressure doomed them their last 3 games in the TOC this week. The lack of a true point guard is gonna be a big problem. The bright spot is we probably won’t face, in conference, the overall length and athleticism we saw this week

[illini25]

“What other schools will bring ...”

Thanksgiving summary;
Metamora 3-1 to finish 2nd at Ottawa defeating Marengo, Dixon and Ottawa. Defeated in title game by Oak Forest 64-53.

Morton 1-1 by beating Rantoul (one of the worst teams you’ll ever see) and losing to Dyett 52-51.

Pekin 2-0 defeating Rantoul and Dyett (46-36).

Canton 0-3 (PND, IVC and EP)
EP 1-2 (lost vs PND and IVC, beat Canton)

Dunlap 1-2 at Decatur finishing 7th out of 8. Lost to Thornton and Springfield SE, defeated Mt. Zion.

Limestone 1-3 finishing 7th out of 8 at Lincoln. Lost to Mahomet-Seymour, Danville and Champaign Centennial, defeated Cahokia.

If people thought football was down, look out!

[illini25]

Peoria High 60
Morton 32

[CIS]

Pekin should be decent, maybe 8-6 or 9-5 in Mid Illini. The Dragons return everyone but one player from last year's team that upset Normal to win the regionals. However that one player is Torrey, their 6'8 center - a big loss. This team will play hard, good defense and they do have some decent shooters. But size will be a drawback with the biggest size being around 6'4. Overall should have a winning season with the group that is returning...

[illini25]

Washington 54
Limestone 43

[deejay]

If this is any indication of the MI as a whole, I Limestone at the Lincoln Tourney and they are not very good at all. And this was a home game for the Panthers.

[illini25]

Morton 44
Prairie Central 37

[CosmoK]

Morton 46 Canton 41
Metamora 54 East Peoria 45
Pekin 56 Dunlap 27

[Cristobal]

If this is any indication of the MI as a whole, I Limestone at the Lincoln Tourney and they are not very good at all. And this was a home game for the Panthers.

Minus one player starting that game.

[illini25]

Pekin 52
Morton 46

Morton led by 12 entering 4th quarter.

[illini25]

Metamora 51
Limestone 41

Washington 83
Dunlap 82
3 OT

[CIS]

Pekin 52
Morton 46

Morton led by 12 entering 4th quarter.

Great job by the coaches and players for pulling off this comeback. I don't know what happened, but the dragons has quite an outburst as they scored 31 points in the fourth quarter, outscoring Morton 31-13. Pekin only had 22 points after three quarters.

[illini25]

Pekin 52
Morton 46

Morton led by 12 entering 4th quarter.

Great job by the coaches and players for pulling off this comeback. I don't know what happened, but the dragons has quite an outburst as they scored 31 points in the fourth quarter, outscoring Morton 31-13. Pekin only had 22 points after three quarters.

Morton hit 3s and Pekin couldn’t make a shot for half the game. Neither team did much in 3rd. Then Pekin started hitting everything while Morton got the turnover bug much like they did vs Dyett.

[CosmoK]

East Peoria 60 Limestone 51
Pekin 58 Canton 27
Morton 44 Washington 41
Metamora 69 Dunlap 50

[CIS]

Pekin 52
Morton 46

Morton led by 12 entering 4th quarter.

Great job by the coaches and players for pulling off this comeback. I don't know what happened, but the dragons has quite an outburst as they scored 31 points in the fourth quarter, outscoring Morton 31-13. Pekin only had 22 points after three quarters.

Morton hit 3s and Pekin couldn’t make a shot for half the game. Neither team did much in 3rd. Then Pekin started hitting everything while Morton got the turnover bug much like they did vs Dyett.

Also, Morton could not hit any of their free throws, just 4-11, missing several one and ones in fourth. Pekin was 6-7 from threes in fourth and also made their free throws - all this according to Steve Stein. Credit Morton though, they bounce back tonight and take a road win over Washington. Maybe Washington was a bit tired from their three overtime win over Dunlap!