Five state-ranked teams highlight field at Midwest Hoopsfest in Edwardsville
The second annual Midwest Hoopsfest Saturday at Edwardsville High School won’t lack for athletic talent or marquee matchups.
The top-ranked Class 3A team in the state, Chicago Morgan Park, will battle unbeaten Collinsville in one of two prime-time contests in the six-game event which features five teams ranked in this season’s first Associated Press State Basketball polls.
Currently 3-1, the Mustangs will take on Collinsville in the second game of the evening session beginning at 6:30 p.m. The Kahoks, ranked fifth in the Class 4A state poll, improved to 2-0 in the Southwestern Conference on Tuesday with an impressive 15-point win over defending Class 3A state champion East St. Louis.
That game will follow the game between Chicago Orr, top ranked in Class 2A, taking on second ranked Pinckneyville at 5 p.m.
“We’re very excited about the entire shootout. We feel like we have six very good basketball games for the fans to come out an watch. But we’re really looking forward to the evening session. We feel like those are two games that will bring in the hometown fans, but the true basketball fans as well,’’ Edwardsville High School athletic director Alex Fox said on Monday. “It should be a great day of high school basketball.’’
The day of basketball begins at 11:30 a.m. when the Edwardsville Tigers girls team, ranked fourth in the Class 4A state poll, battles Mississippi Valley Conference power Highland. The Bulldogs ended the Tigers eight-year home winning streak a year ago, beating Edwardsville ,47-45.
The Edwardsville boys team will take on Althoff at 1 p.m. and will be followed at 2:30 p.m. when Triad plays Carbondale. The evening session will feature Morgan Park-Collinsville at 5 p.m. and Chicago Orr -Pincknyville at 6:30 p.m.
Two-time defending Class 4A state champion Belleville West will take on central Illinois power Lincoln in the finale.
Fox said the Midwest Hoopsfest was suggested by former Centralia High School coach and athletic director Rick Moss.
“Rick came to us last year with this idea as something he could do for the (EHS) program,’’ Fox said. “He’s been around for a long time and has many connections from being around the game from throughout the state. He’s kind of our man behind the scenes but he’s done a great job of getting these teams for our event.’’’
Tickets are available at Edwardsville and Pinckneyville High Schools and are priced at $7 per session or $12 for all six games for adults. Students and seniors arr priced at $5 per session or $9 for an all day pass. Tickets will also be available at the door.
