TriStateFans Top 10 Illinois Boys Teams For Week Ending Feb. 14, You Decide

[PhotoGuy]

Our Official TriStateFans.com Illinois boys poll for the week ending Feb 14.

Here's last week's:

1. QND (Unanimous)
2. Pittsfield
3. Illini West
4. West Hancock
5. Macomb
6. Camp Point Central
7. Brown County
8. Payson
9. Liberty
10 Southeastern

Other team getting votes: Western

West Central dropped completely off the radar.

Polling ends Monday, Feb. 8 at 11:27 and 22 seconds.

My poll:

1. QND
2. Pittsfield
3. Illini West
4. Macomb
5. Camp Point Central
6. West Hancock (they have really been throwing some clunkers against good teams lately, and are on a losing streak)
7. West Central
8. Payson
9. Brown County
10 Southeastern

Those bottom four I am just throwing darts at since they all are beating each other.

Interesting game between Pittsfield and IW this week on a neutral court. Schmud the elder was gone on a college trip, and Brad Hamilton had a car accident that morning. Fun game to watch, but it didn't really tell us much about how good the teams are in relation to each other.

[CHUCK26]

1. QND
2. Pittsfield
3. Macomb
4. IW
5. Camp Point Central
6. West Central
7. West Hancock
8. Brown County
9 Payson
9. Brown County
10. Liberty

[oldviking]

Our Official TriStateFans.com Illinois boys poll for the week ending Feb 14.

Here's last week's:

1. QND (Unanimous)
2. Pittsfield
3. Illini West
4. West Hancock
5. Macomb
6. Camp Point Central
7. Brown County
8. Payson
9. Liberty
10 Southeastern

Other team getting votes: Western

West Central dropped completely off the radar.

Polling ends Monday, Feb. 8 at 11:27 and 22 seconds.

My poll:

1. QND
2. Pittsfield
3. Illini West
4. Macomb
5. Camp Point Central
6. West Hancock (they have really been throwing some clunkers against good teams lately, and are on a losing streak)
7. West Central
8. Payson
9. Brown County
10 Southeastern

Those bottom four I am just throwing darts at since they all are beating each other.

Interesting game between Pittsfield and IW this week on a neutral court. Schmud the elder was gone on a college trip, and Brad Hamilton had a car accident that morning. Fun game to watch, but it didn't really tell us much about how good the teams are in relation to each other.I agree with this poll.

[qcity3]

I agree with that poll as well.

WH would be above CPC if they could make shots like they did against Payson. I really thought that that game would get them off and running because they honestly could not miss anything. They had to have shot 65-70% for that game. In that single game, they were probably the best team in the area. It was impressive to watch. I think if WH gets that back, they can take down CPC coming up here soon (not sure when they play).

SE is always gonna be mentioned (this is their last year) because of the amazing play of Regan Bruenger. That kid is flat out good. Haven't seen Gilliam kid from Paris play, but that would be a fun game to watch. They may combine to score 70+ themselves.

[PhotoGuy]

Gilliam is the Jon Bon Jovi version of Bruenger... Bruenger is a more all around player and better on D, Gilliam is the bigger rock star and (I know you guys will find this hard to believe who haven't seen him) the better offensive player.

Both are in the same boat team-wise... absolutely 100 percent the focus of their teams.

That would be fun game to watch!

Comparing the two... I would say that the supporting cast at Brown County is better than the supporting cast of Paris. Can you see Southeastern beating West Hancock on a neutral court? Paris did, so we know they can.

Me, I don't think so, I just don't see that happening at all.

Not to say anything about Bruenger, I am just saying how really good Gilliam is.

[guest07]

I've seen Bruenger and Gilliam. Both very good offensive players. I give Bruenger a pretty solid edge on the defensive end. And Gilliam is a little too "loud" for my liking. Bruenger never says a word......... just plays exceptionally hard. Gilliam has improved since the last time I saw him, though.

On any given night, I think either of those teams could beat WH. WH is 2 teams. If they're hitting their outside shots, they can play with almost anyone. If they're not, they're just not a very good team. They don't rebound, tend to have defensive break-downs, aren't exceptional ball-handlers, and have no post presence on either end of the floor. They live and die by the 3. That's a dangerous way to operate.

[qcity3]

I agree. The WH team that played against our Payson boys were the best shooting team I have seen all year. I totally agree with you. It just seems that they have never shot that well again this season. Honestly, anyone at that game from WH i'd bet wishes they could bottle up that performance and open it up every game. Sounds like they are not shooting real well.

[PhotoGuy]

I give Bruenger a pretty solid edge on the defensive end.

You are right, no doubt Bruenger is a stronger player on D. Having said that, Gilliam is actually pretty good on D as well when he plays it. You didn't see much of an effort out of him because of foul trouble the other night. I have seen him play shut-down D. Still, the Bruenger kid is VERY good and does have a solid edge in that department.

[bballjunkie1]

1. QND
2. Pfield
3. IW not sure if they are not the 2nd best team right now.
4. CP 2 blowout wins over bottom teams. I know they only beat Phill by 15, but it was 30 when Plattner took starters out. Big game Tue against IW.
5. Macomb
6. West Central forgot about them last week.
7. BC
8. WH not sure what to think of them right now. I know they can beat anyone but they dont look to good right now.
9. Payson
10. Western

On the cusp: Lib SE

[Vikingfan1]

Right now I wouldn't even put WH in the top 10.

[PhotoGuy]

So lets have your top ten, brudda.

[Vikingfan1]

QND
Pittsfield
IW
Macomb
CPC
Brown County
Payson
West Central
Southeastern
Western

[guest07]

1. QND
2. Pittsfield
3. IW
4. Macomb
5. Camp Point Central
6. West Central
7. West Hancock
8. Brown County
9 Payson
9. Southeastern
10. Liberty

[CHUCK26]

I would not get too down on the Titians, Viking. They clobbered Payson and have beaten Southeastern a couple of times. They belong in the top 10.

[Titanfan89]

I'm a little down on the beloved as well, but their last 3 losses arent really much to be ashamed about (though they should have beaten Paris). Give me these apples:

1. QND
2. Pittsfield
3. IW
4. Macomb
5. Camp Point Central
6. West Central
7. Brown County
8. West Hancock
9 Payson
9. Southeastern
10. Liberty

[HoopFan]

1. QND
2. Pittsfield
3. Illini West
4. Macomb
5. Camp Point Central (Definetly the top 1A around)
6. West Central
7. Payson (similar record to WC but lost to WC)
8. BC
9. West Hancock
10. Western

(MODERATOR'S NOTE: I edited the last two positions at HoopFan's request, they were originally reversed)

Before all the Titan fans light me up for putting Payson 7 and WH 10 let me explain my rationalization however wrong or right you may think it is. Payson, BC, and Western are all on at least 4 game win streaks. WH is 1 - 3 since there clobbering of Payson. This 36 point win seems to have defined the season for both teams. "WH belongs in top 10 based on that game" or "Payson gets the 5th seed because of there loss to WH by 40." The fact is WH 17-6 and Payson 18-7 have similar records and it should be noted that WH is going through a tough stretch right now. I know they are playing bigger schools than Payson, BC, and Western but they are a 2A school, they are supposed too. I may not be totally correct but I believe that WH has 2 wins and 4 losses against 2A schools.

Maybe I'm looking at it all wrong by comparing WH to other 2A schools, but the fact still remains Payson, BC, and Western are on Win streaks and WH not so much.

[PhotoGuy]

Before all the Titan fans light me up for putting Payson 7 and WH 10 let me explain...

Nobody is going to "light you up" brudda, not around here.

[Titanfan89]

I wont light you up but how do you put Western ahead of them when they beat Western what 3 times this year? That is stretching it a little in my opinion. I know WH is on a 3 game losing streak but none of those loses I would consider bad losses.

[HoopFan]

I wont light you up but how do you put Western ahead of them when they beat Western what 3 times this year? That is stretching it a little in my opinion. I know WH is on a 3 game losing streak but none of those loses I would consider bad losses.

Point taken....I was just looking at current streaks using the Prep Zone at the Herald Whig web site. It is hard to argue putting a team that WH has beat 3 times ahead of them.

Photoguy please take note that I officially move WH to the 9th position and Western to 10.

That's it titanfan I stand firm, no more changes, none, zilch, naughta.....LOL

[ball40]

1. QND
2. Pittsfield
3. Macomb
4. IW
5. Camp Point Central
6. West Central
7. West Hancock
8. Brown County
9 Payson
9. Brown County
10. Liberty

1.QND
2. Macomb
3. Pittsfield
4. Camp Point
5. West hancock
6. Payson
7. Southeastern
8. Brown County
9. Liberty
10. Western

[Vikingfan1]

1. QND
2. Pittsfield
3. Illini West
4. Macomb
5. Camp Point Central (Definetly the top 1A around)
6. West Central
7. Payson (similar record to WC but lost to WC)
8. BC
9. West Hancock
10. Western

(MODERATOR'S NOTE: I edited the last two positions at HoopFan's request, they were originally reversed)

Before all the Titan fans light me up for putting Payson 7 and WH 10 let me explain my rationalization however wrong or right you may think it is. Payson, BC, and Western are all on at least 4 game win streaks. WH is 1 - 3 since there clobbering of Payson. This 36 point win seems to have defined the season for both teams. "WH belongs in top 10 based on that game" or "Payson gets the 5th seed because of there loss to WH by 40." The fact is WH 17-6 and Payson 18-7 have similar records and it should be noted that WH is going through a tough stretch right now. I know they are playing bigger schools than Payson, BC, and Western but they are a 2A school, they are supposed too. I may not be totally correct but I believe that WH has 2 wins and 4 losses against 2A schools.

Maybe I'm looking at it all wrong by comparing WH to other 2A schools, but the fact still remains Payson, BC, and Western are on Win streaks and WH not so much.

IMO these polls are based from week to week on who is playing the best basketball. Right now, I can't argue much with your poll, even if WH has beaten some teams ahead of it. This could just simply be the fact that the Titans are running up against flat out better team, or could be a number of other things. WH has 6 games left (if you include 1 regional game) and they play Rushville twice, Ft. Madison, Camp Point Central, Liberty, and Canton. The Canton, Liberty, and Ft. Madison (public) games are all on the road. Even still, they should be able to win most of that remaining schedule if they put the 3 losses behind them an concentrate on finishing strong.

[fanofthegame]

1.QND
2. Macomb
3. Pittsfield
4. Camp Point
5. West hancock
6. Payson
7. Southeastern
8. Brown County
9. Liberty
10. Western

No Illini West???

[fanofthegame]

1. QND
2. Pittsfield
3. Macomb
4. Illini West
5. Camp Point Central
6. West Hancock
7. Payson
8. Liberty
9. Southeastern
10. Western

[PhotoGuy]

Hey Fan hang in there your Raiders Boys picture thread coming very soon.

[fanofthegame]

No problem . It would have taken me weeks to sort through all the pictures I saw you taking on saturday!