Centralia gym rat Willis fuels 74–66 win over Terriers
John Willis, dubbed the gym rat by Centralia coach Jim Roberts, scored 25 points to lift the Orphans to a 74-66 South Seven Conference victory over Carbondale. Teammate Mark Reichman added 18, Dee Evischi 16, and Ben Willis contributed off the bench before fouling out. Willis, praised by teammate Evischi as the best shooter in Southern Illinois, drove a second-quarter surge that put Centralia ahead for good and showcased his rise from junior varsity to leading scorer as the team improved to 4-0 heading into a home game against West Frankfort.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Alan Fredman
Carbondale
Centralia
Jim Roberts
John Willis
Willis
Mark Riechman
Dee Evischi
Ben
Terriers
Orphans
Doug Woolard
Terry Silas
Silas
Woolard
Perry Williams
Brian “Barney” Welch
Evischi
Illinois
Roberts
Herman Williams
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
West Frankfort
Southern Illinois
Beckley scores 29 as Sparta tops Du Quoin 76 57 in tough battle
Sparta center Scott Beckley poured in 12 fourth quarter points to finish with 29 as Sparta defeated Du Quoin 76 57. Beckley cited improved defense and weight gain. teammates Rob Colins Roy Kloth and Bruce Menke also reached double figures while coach Dan Calandro praised the team effort and turnaround from a rough prior tournament. Du Quoin’s Bryan Ingram led with 18 points.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
David E. Featherston
Scott Beckley
Sparta
du Quoin
Beckley
Scott
Dan Calandro
Calandro
Roger Craft
Benton Mount Vernon Dominate South Seven Wins
Benton and Mount Vernon each posted South Seven victories. Benton raced to a 25-7 first period lead to top Harrisburg 85-53 behind 48 combined points from Tim Wills and Bruce Baker. Mount Vernon beat Herrin 68-58 as Ben Duggan led with 20 points and the Rams. Disroe, Hawthorne and Riggan added double-digit scores.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Southern
Mount Vernon
Herrin
Ben Duggan
Rams
Chris Disroe
Eric Hawthorne
Kevin Riggan
Graskewicz seals 55 54 win for Pinckneyville
Kerry Graskewicz scored 26 points including a late free throw with five seconds left to lift Pinckneyville past Murphysboro 55-54 in a Southwest Egyptian contest. Teammate Rushing added 23 as Pinckneyville held on after a tense final minute.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Mike Estes
Southern
Panthers
Murphysboro
Kerry
Pinckneyville
Dick Corn
Devils
Jay Wittenborn
DeWayne Kelly
Darren Hopp
Karl Kellerman
Brook Walton
Kellerman
Gary Bankhead
Ernie Bryant
Red Devil
Brian Rushing
Graskewicz
Rushing
Red Devils
Corn
Bryant
Kelly
Ben
Bead
Carlyle and Nashville coast in SWE games
Nashville outscored Anna Jonesboro by 21 at the free throw line and beat them 82 61 in a Southwest Egyptian Conference game. Hor net’s Wayne Harre led with 20 points while Pat Heseman 15, Brent Reuter 11 and Joe Dalman 10 helped Carlyle. Carl Evans 16 and David Billingsley 14 for Carlyle. Carlyle beat Chester 73 49 as Joe Krieger led with 17 points and Curt Beckmeyer James Boehne 14 each.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Nashville
Anna Jonesboro
Wildcats
Wayne Harre
Pat Hese
Man
Brent Reuter
Joe Dalman
Mark Peters
Carl Evans
David Billingsley
Carlyle
Chester
Joe Krieger
Curt Beckmeyer
James Boehne
Scott Saunders
Indians
Bruce Hill
Ron Burke
Also Mentioned on This Page
Southern Illinoisan
John McCuthen
Darren Rushing
Riechman
Rob Williams
Bobby Pavelonis
Terry Moulton
Harrisburg
Jim Chapman
Bankhead
Steve Pautler
Ing
Hopp
Travis Kellum
Kellum
Carlyle Coast
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