The final edition of the Prep Boys Hoops Power Rankings. It’s been an interesting regular season so far, but I have a feeling we could be in line for some surprises when the postseason begins for area teams this week.

Some Stateline teams (Beloit Memorial, South Beloit and North Boone) will have the luxury of home cooking for regionals and as far as Beloit Memorial goes, for sectionals.

The SoBos begin their quest to repeat as regional champions Monday night when they take on Rockford Keith at 8 p.m. If the SoBos win, they could be in line for a fourth meeting with Pecatonica. That would mark the second year in a row the SoBos and Indians will have met four times. South Beloit won all four games last year — including the regional championship game — but Pecatonica has a 2-1 advantage this year.

Unlike last season, it seems like the SoBos are entering the tournament playing their best basketball of the season. The SoBos have won eight in a row and look like the team to beat in the 1A Regionals.

Beloit Memorial’s trip to Middleton last Saturday will be the Knights final bus trip of the season unless they make it to State — which is 3 weeks away.

The Knights wrapped up the No. 1 seed in the Beloit Memorial Sectional and would be at home for all 3 contests. Beloit’s chances of making it to Madison for a 27th time in school history seem to be right on schedule.

A final look at the prep hoops rankings:

(Disclaimer: This is my opinion only, so if you don’t agree with it, feel free to send me a comment on the bottom of the page. Otherwise, it’s not a life-and-death situation.)

1. BELOIT MEMORIAL (13-8): Beloit Memorial has taken down some heavyweights this season (see: Madison East, Madison Memorial and Verona), but have some questionable losses (see: Middleton, twice and Madison La Follette). But the Knights, when playing at their peak, are still the best team in the Stateline. The key for the Knights will not to get too big-headed going into the tournament, now they’ve sewn up home-court advantage. Rob Douglas’ back seems to be getting healthier, which is more good news for a talented Beloit squad.

2. SOUTH BELOIT (21-4): I was one of the people that had my doubts on the SoBos this year, especially after a lackluster start that saw them drop two games to a team (Pecatonica) that wasn’t as talented as South Beloit. Now, the pieces seem in place for a stretch run and a return to Hanover River Ridge for 1A Sectionals. Katonka Friar has been outstanding all season and David Robinson looks like he’s solidified the SoBos’ front court with his solid contributions. While last year, they were probably one of the favorites to make it to State, this year they would be considered the Stateline’s top sleeper threat.

3. HONONEGAH (20-7): Hononegah has an impressive resume this season when it comes to playing some of Illinois’ best competition. But the Indians are lacking some pivotal victories, including an 0-3 record against the NIC-10’s best (Rockford Boylan and Rockford Auburn). The positive for the Indians is that Mario Donaldson looks like his old self, posting big games in the past two weeks. If the Indians are to do anything in the postseason, they’ll need Donaldson to be at his best.

4. BIG FOOT (10-10): The Chiefs .500 record doesn’t impress at first glance, but a lot of those losses came early in the season when Big Foot was still celebrating its WIAA Division 4 State Football Championship. There’s no team in the Rock Valley South that imposes their style of play on the opponent better than the Chiefs. I also think the Chiefs learned that senior guard Steve Dowden needs to shoot the ball more. Usually when that occurs, good things happen for Big Foot.

5. PARKVIEW (14-7): The Vikings looked like the run-away favorite in the middle of the season for the RV South title. But then they came back down to Earth with tough losses against Brodhead and Big Foot. A conference title is still in reach for the Vikings if they can knock off Beloit Turner on Friday in Orfordville. In case you haven’t heard (who hasn’t?), it would be the Vikings first conference crown since the 1965-66 season.

STAR SYSTEM

(I award stars to the top five players in the past week, checking out who had star performances in the final week).

1. KATONKA FRIAR (SOUTH BELOIT) — It’s amazing watching Friar blossom into a star player. Last year, he was considered the third or fourth option on a SoBos’ squad that finished 28-2. Now, he’s the driving force behind their success. If you don’t believe that, check out his triple double — yes, triple double — in last week’s win over state-ranked Lanark Eastland.

2. J.J. PANOSKE (BRODHEAD) — If Brodhead doesn’t get its referendum situation worked out, Panoske may be the top “free agent” in the Stateline. While that doesn’t seem likely, Panoske’s improvement hasn’t gone unnoticed. He scored 32 in a win over Big Foot and 37 more in a victory over Beloit Turner last week. Turning down a scholarship to Division 1 UW-Green Bay now looks like a smart move. Maybe.

3. MARIO DONALDSON (HONONEGAH) — The Mario Donaldson that’s now playing for the Indians looks nothing like the one that was benched midway through the season and, at times, looked lost on the court. Donaldson has added aggressiveness to his game, taking it to the basket more often than settling for jumpers. Somewhere, Mike Miller is smiling.

4. STEVE DOWDEN (BIG FOOT) — The usually reserved Dowden was all smiles following his 22-point effort in Big Foot’s 77-71 win over Parkview last Friday. Dowden knocked down five three-pointers and resembled the coach on the floor that he was supposed to be at the beginning of the season.

5. DAVID ROBINSON (SOUTH BELOIT) — If there’s a key to the SoBos going far this season, it may be the play of the athletic Robinson. If Robinson can grab 10 rebounds a game, the pressure on the SoBos’ guards lessens. He’s been playing well of late and it shows in the results. While the three-guard attack led the SoBos to the sectionals last year, it was Matt Peterson who usually was the key to their success. Can Robinson do the same this postseason? We’ll see.

Thanks for following Stateline hoops fans! Keep checking out the BDN Blogs as I will continue to post in the future. Good luck to all the Stateline teams!

Parkview's Jamie Wichser, right, and Big Foot's Marcus Greben go up for a rebound during last Friday's game.

It’s more about who’s playing better than the other team each week rather than consistency throughout the season.

Last year, there was three teams (Hononegah, Beloit Memorial and South Beloit) who were legitimate state contenders.

This year, I’m not sure how many of the Stateline teams will make it out of regionals. That doesn’t mean there isn’t talent in the area, it just means that I question the strength of each team. I don’t think there’s one team, with perhaps the exception of Parkview, that can say they were better than last season.

(Disclaimer: This is my opinion only, so if you don’t agree with it, feel free to send me a comment on the bottom of the page. Otherwise, it’s not a life-and-death situation.)

1. HONONEGAH (18-6): This ranking might as well go with an asterisk because Hononegah has been sliding by each week. The Indians barely got past a below-average Freeport team last week and wouldn’t have done so with Andrew Tapley’s three-pointers. The one possible thing that could separate the Indians apart from other teams is their defense. While their offense is hit-or-miss, the Indians are a strong defensive team that creates turnovers and forces teams to take outside shots. NEXT: Friday at Rockford Boylan, 7 p.m.

2. BELOIT MEMORIAL (10-7): Ever since Beloit knocked off No. 1 Madison East, the Purple Knights have gone into a slump, losing their last two games to Milwaukee Washington and Madison La Follette. Of course, not having Rob Douglas or Leketrius Broomfield (disciplinary reasons) in the loss to La Follette could have something to do with it. The Knights need to re-focus and prepare for the postseason. NEXT: Tuesday vs. Madison West, 7:30 p.m.; Friday at Madison Memorial, 7:30 p.m.

3. SOUTH BELOIT (17-4): The SoBos are back! Well, not quite. But an impressive 84-73 victory over Pecatonica last week should leave them feeling good, especially after they lost to the Indians twice this season. Katonka Friar has been outstanding and Terrel Williams has provided a dependable scorer in the backcourt, much like last year with Antonio Little. But, I’m not sure if there’s a Matt Peterson on this squad. The underrated center was a catalyst for more victories than people think. NEXT: Tuesday at A/FC, 7:30 p.m.; Friday vs. Durand, 7:30 p.m.

4. PARKVIEW (13-5): The pressure of winning its first conference title in 44 years might finally be getting to the Vikings. Parkview hasn’t looked the same since beating Brodhead two week ago, losing to McFarland and East Troy and putting together an uninspiring performance in a win over bottom-feeding Palmyra-Eagle. These next two weeks will be pivotal for Parkview to get going in the right direction. NEXT: Thursday at Brodhead, 7:15 p.m.

5. BIG FOOT (8-9): The Chiefs’ overall record is not so hot, but the Chiefs are still strong in the Rock Valley South Conference, tallying a 7-4 record and standing only 1 game behind division-leading Parkview. Big Foot’s scored only 906 points this year, but have surrendered only 912, leaving most of the credit for its defense.

STAR SYSTEM

(I award stars to the top five players in the past week, checking out who had star performances in Week 9).

1. ANDREW TAPLEY (HONONEGAH) — The Hononegah junior may be the best pure shooter in Hononegah history — and that’s saying something. He knocked down all 7 three-pointers last Friday in the Indians 70-67 win over Freeport. None were bigger than his seventh trey when he buried it in the corner while getting fouled, converting a four-point play and leading the Indians to an unlikely victory.

2. KATONKA FRIAR (SOUTH BELOIT) — If there’s been a more consistent player in the Stateline this season, I’d like to know. Continuing a steady progression that began last summer, Friar netted 79 points in the SoBos past three games, all of which were wins.

3. MARCUS GREBEN (BIG FOOT) — All  offseason, Big Foot coach Dan Dowden was talking up how much Greben improved. Well, Beloit Turner saw first-hand how much improvement in last Friday’s game. Greben scored a career-high 32 points and led the Chiefs to a 61-52 victory over the Trojans.

4. JAY NAATZ (PARKVIEW) — Welcome back to relevance Jay Naatz! For much of the season, Naatz was the Vikings second-leading scorer behind Nick Melton. But Naatz had been quiet as of late until last Friday, when he scored 20 in a win over Palmyra-Eagle.

5. MARIO DONALDSON (HONONEGAH) — The senior guard has handled his benching with aplomb. He was vital in the Indians overtime win over the Pretzels, scoring 19 points off the bench and 21 more in Saturday’s victory over Rockford East. He’s the best sixth man in the Stateline.

Hononegah's Lucas Limberg

Beating the No. 1 team in the state and handing Madison East its only loss of the season.

It was refreshing to see how good the Purple Knights can be when everything is clicking on all cylinders.

It looks like all those players have finally discovered their roles and they’re finally beginning to flourish. The biggest problem for the Knights seems to be their lack of focus during games.

That was evident in Saturday’s non-conference loss to Milwaukee Washington where it was clear Beloit’s minds weren’t completely focused on Washington. But in the grand scheme of things, it really doesn’t matter. At this point, it’s all about the conference and getting better for regionals and sectionals.

(Disclaimer: This is my opinion only, so if you don’t agree with it, feel free to send me a comment on the bottom of the page. Otherwise, it’s not a life-and-death situation.)

1. BELOIT MEMORIAL (10-6): You beat No. 1, you are No. 1 in the Power Rankings. While this isn’t a rule in Power Rankings, what I personally witnessed on Friday night at Barkin Arena is that if Beloit plays to its fullest, the Knights are a very, very dangerous team. K.J. Evans has finally stepped into his leadership role and the Knights have followed his lead. NEXT: Thursday at Madison La Follette, 7:30 p.m.

2. PARKVIEW (12-4): I was really sold on the Vikings last week, especially after they whipped arch-rival Brodhead, 66-54. But then came Thursday’s 18-point loss to RVC North foe McFarland and then I began questioning how good Parkview really is. It seems like the South always has problems beating the North teams and Parkview is no different. All season long, coaches have figured that the South will be a three- or four-team race and that looks to be true. If Nick Melton can continue his dominance, Parkview should walk away with the RVC crown. If not, it’s definitely wide open. NEXT: Tuesday vs. East Troy, 7:15 p.m.; Friday vs. Palmyra-Eagle, 7:15 p.m.

3. HONONEGAH (16-6): The Indians have no problems taking care of business against the NIC-10 teams they should beat, but it’s the upper echelon teams they haven’t figured out yet. Hononegah is 0-2 against Rockford Boylan and Rockford Auburn — the top 2 teams in the NIC-10. Luckily for the Indians, the Titans face Auburn and Rockford Jefferson this weekend, meaning, if they’re swept and Hononegah wins, the Indians will be tied for first place in the NIC-10. NEXT: Friday vs. Freeport, 7 p.m.; Saturday at Rockford East, 7 p.m.

4. SOUTH BELOIT (14-4): The SoBos can beat anybody they play, but they can also lose to anyone they play. They looked impressive in last Friday’s 77-55 NUIC East victory over Milledgeville, even with Denzel Woods scoring only 2 points. Things will get interesting Thursday night when the SoBos host Pecatonica, who has defeated South Beloit twice already this year. NEXT: Thursday vs. Pecatonica, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday at Orangeville, 7:30 p.m.

5. BIG FOOT (7-8): The Chiefs get the nod over Beloit Turner, simply because they’ve been better in conference play as of late. A big 76-64 win over Evansville last week showed that Big Foot can play against North squads. If senior guard Mike Walker can keep scoring like he has been (25 points vs. Evansville), the Chiefs could factor into the RVC South race. NEXT: Tuesday vs. Whitewater, 7:15 p.m.; Friday vs. Beloit Turner, 7:15 p.m.

STAR SYSTEM

(I award stars to the top five players in the past week, checking out who had star performances in Week 8).

1. K.J. EVANS (BELOIT MEMORIAL) — K.J. is starting to become a regular in the Star System and for good reason. Evans was brilliant in last Friday’s win over Madison East, scoring 26 points, including knocking down a key jumper in the closing minutes to seal the victory.

2. MIKE WALKER/ALEC MCGREEVY (BIG FOOT) — This is a combination award due to their effectiveness in the Chiefs’ victory over Evansville. Walker scorched the Blue Devils from the perimeter, scoring 25 points, while McGreevy pounded the paint to the tune of 18 points.

3. KATONKA FRIAR (SOUTH BELOIT) — Friar’s 22 points in the win over Milledgeville is a big reason why the SoBos don’t need Denzel Woods to be great all the time. There’s no question that Friar has been one of the most improved players on South Beloit this year. Once known as a slasher, his all-around game has taken off.

4. LUCAS LIMBERG (HONONEGAH) — Maybe Limberg will finally be that third scorer the Indians have been searching for. Limberg scored 12 points in Friday’s romp over Harlem and 14 more in Saturday’s 70-66 win over Rockford Guilford.

5. LEKETRIUS BROOMFIELD (BELOIT MEMORIAL) — Broomfield was an excellent game-manager in the Purple Knights upset of Madison East. When he wasn’t scoring (18 points), he was finding open teammates and taking it to the basket against Marquis Mason, who was saddled with foul trouble all night.

K.J. Evans (left) and Leketrius Broomfield celebrate a basket by Beloit Memorial on Friday night.

It finally looks like there is a team in the Stateline that has the talent to be reckoned with.

While still uncertain about this team’s long-term stay atop the rankings, it’s clear that they have become the best team in the area. It’s only fitting since they have the best player, who’s been playing at an extremely high level over the past two weeks.

That team would be the Parkview Vikings.

(Disclaimer: This is my opinion only, so if you don’t agree with it, feel free to send me a comment on the bottom of the page. Otherwise, it’s not a life-and-death situation.)

1. PARKVIEW (12-3): The Vikings have won nine straight games, earning their way atop the rankings, making the jump from the No. 3 spot last week. Parkview looked unstoppable in its 66-54 win over Brodhead on Monday and gutted out a huge 81-78 overtime win over Beloit Turner last weekend. A win over Big Foot (46-45) gives the Vikings victories over the top 3 RV South teams. While no one is ready to proclaim that 1966 (Parkview’s last conference title) is dead, it’s hard to stop this train coming. Nick Melton has proven to be the best player in the Stateline, scoring 63 points in the Vikings’ past 2 victories. It looks like the Vikings are this year’s version of the SoBos. NEXT: Thursday at McFarland, 7:15 p.m.

2. BELOIT MEMORIAL (8-5): The Purple Knights have had their fair share of agonizing losses this season, losing to Madison East (63-61), Madison Memorial (45-40), Middleton (73-66) and, just last Friday, Sun Prairie (54-53). It’s hard to tell if these losses will make Beloit better in the long run, but they certainly sting right now. If these losses damage the Knights’ confidence, it’ll be an even tougher, longer season for Beloit. The only positive has been K.J. Evans, who scored 34 in Beloit’s 80-71 win over Janesville Parker last Saturday. NEXT: Tuesday at Janesville Craig, 7:30 p.m.; Friday vs. Madison East, 7:30 p.m.

3. HONONEGAH (14-6): If there is any team that can sympathize with Beloit Memorial’s close losses, it would be the Indians. The Hononegah losses have become a broken record with the Indians grabbing an early lead, but then losing it late. The Indians did it again in Saturday’s loss to Rockford Auburn, taking a 37-34 lead into the fourth quarter, only to lose 57-53. Chase Robinson has played better (19 points against Auburn), but Mario Donaldson has been too inconsistent for the Indians to remain a threat in the NIC-10 race. NEXT: Friday at Harlem, 7 p.m.; Saturday vs. Rockford Guilford, 7 p.m.

4. SOUTH BELOIT (13-4): South Beloit had a more meaningful game against Dakota on Saturday night and the SoBos came up a little short, losing 64-62 on their home floor. Last season, South Beloit tended to get stronger at the end of games, but have been inconsistent this season in that area. They did, however, get a big NUIC win over Freeport Aquin last week, keeping themselves in the conference race. NEXT: Friday vs. Milledgeville, 7:30 p.m.

5. BELOIT TURNER (9-4): The Trojans had a chance to right their season last Friday, but instead lost to the quicker, more explosive Vikings in overtime. Turner is a team that needs to play its style of basketball to be successful, but when that doesn’t happen, usually bad things happen for the Trojans. Getting Tevian Pinckney involved in the offense could be a solution, but it’s still too early to panic for the Trojans, even though they’ve dropped three straight. NEXT: Thursday at Whitewater, 7:15 p.m.

STAR SYSTEM

(I award stars to the top five players in the past week, checking out who had star performances in Week 7).

1. NICK MELTON (PARKVIEW) — I’m not sure if they’re constructing his statue in Orfordville yet, but Melton has meant so much to the Vikings program. He scored 38 in the win over Turner and 25 more against Brodhead. If there is one thing that sets Melton apart from the rest of the pack, it’s his unbelievable court vision and the ability to find open teammates.

2. K.J. EVANS (BELOIT MEMORIAL) — Evans scored 34 in the win over Janesville Parker and seems to be heating up over the last two weeks. He scored 25 in the win over Verona, 22 in the loss to Middleton and 19 in the one-point defeat to Sun Prairie.

3. MIKE WALKER (BIG FOOT) — Walker was a card-carrying member of the Star System as a football player, but this is his first time during the hoops season — and for good reason. He scored 20 points in the Chiefs’ 74-62 win over Clinton, knocking down four three-pointers. If the Chiefs backcourt can round into shape, they could be tough during the second half of the season.

4. DENZEL WOODS (SOUTH BELOIT) — Woods tallied 42 points in the SoBos games against Freeport Aquin and Dakota last week. His shooting touch in starting to come back, especially in the SoBos’ two-point loss to the Indians, where he drained six.

5. KYLE WOODWORTH (PARKVIEW) — Woodworth gives the Vikings and inside presence that’ll be beneficial come tournament time. He scored 20 points in the win over Turner.

But, not this week.

Never have I been so unsure of a No.1 team until this week.

That’s because a lot of teams have slipped with the question being how far?

Hononegah lost three of four in its own Martin Luther King Jr. Tournament, but those teams were not named East, Guilford or Freeport. They were Zion-Benton, Normal West and Naperville Neuqua Valley. None of which are slouches with each boasting a Division 1 player.

Beloit Memorial has had some difficult losses and it’s tough to gauge what kind of team the Purple Knights are.

Beloit Turner had momentum but lost by 13 points to East Troy. Parkview is a good team, but besides a one-point win over Big Foot, I’m still leery as to how good they really are. I have a feeling we’ll find out this week.

South Beloit won its own MLK Tournament, but none of those teams will be considered a state-title contender.

Like I said, it was tough. But I’ll give it a shot.

(Disclaimer: This is my opinion only, so if you don’t agree with it, feel free to send me a comment on the bottom of the page. Otherwise, it’s not a life-and-death situation.)

1. HONONEGAH (13-5): Even though they struggled closing out games in their MLK Tournament, I still think they are the best team — right now. Consider that the Indians lost by a combined four points to Normal West and Zion-Benton. The 63-52 loss to Neuqua Valley was strictly a talent thing as the Indians couldn’t match up inside with the Wildcats. But Hononegah still has bigger goals in its sights, like a NIC-10 championship, which they still have a shot at. Saturday’s game at Rockford Auburn likely will determine if the Indians are pretenders or contenders. NEXT: Friday vs. Belvidere, 7 p.m.; Saturday at Rockford Auburn, 7 p.m.

2 BELOIT MEMORIAL (7-4): The Purple Knights’ inconsistency is maddening. Beloit looks like a team searching for an identity. It looked like the Knights had things figured out when they topped Verona, but then they regressed defensively in a 73-66 loss to Middleton. Prior to last week, I thought Beloit was definitely the third best team in the Big Eight (behind Madison East and Madison Memorial). Now, I’m not so sure. NEXT: Thursday at Sun Prairie, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday at Janesville Parker, 7:30 p.m.

3. PARKVIEW (9-3): If there’s been a more exciting, unpredictable team in the Stateline this year, I’d like to know. The Vikings sit all alone in first place in the RVC South with a 5-1 record. A lot of pieces are in the right place for the Vikings. Like having the best player in the conference (Nick Melton) and the best shooter in the RVC South (Jay Naatz). With those two weapons, it’s no wonder why the Vikings are where they’re at. Friday’s game at Beloit Turner will determine a lot of things and give the winner the distinct advantage in the RVC South race. NEXT: Tuesday vs. Edgerton, 7:15 p.m.; Friday at Beloit Turner, 7:15 p.m.

4. BELOIT TURNER (9-2): Things will pick up this week for Turner. After playing McFarland on Tuesday, the Trojans host Parkview on Friday. The Trojans shut down the Vikings twice last year doing it with what they do best — defense. Turner remains one of the more consistent teams in the Stateline, playing a style that’s difficult to match up against. NEXT: Tuesday vs. McFarland, 7:15 p.m.; Friday vs. Parkview, 7:15 p.m.

5. SOUTH BELOIT (12-3): After a disappointing win against Orangeville — yes, win — the SoBos turned it up a notch in their MLK Tournament. The SoBos rolled over Alden-Hebron, Rockford Keith and Lena-Winslow before being tested against Dakota. The SoBos answered the challenge, especially on the defensive end, holding Kyle Benning to two points. NEXT: Thursday at Freeport Aquin, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday vs. Dakota, 7:30 p.m.

STAR SYSTEM

(I award stars to the top five players in the past week, checking out who had star performances in Week 6).

1. DENZEL WOODS (SOUTH BELOIT) — The South Beloit senior guard is credited with shutting down Dakota’s Kyle Benning in Monday’s championship game, holding the Indian senior to 2 points. Woods didn’t let his defense hurt his offense, scoring 18 points.

2. K.J. EVANS (BELOIT MEMORIAL) — Evans had his best week of the season last week, tallying 22 points against Middleton and 25 in the win over Verona. Unfortunately for Beloit, it split those two games.

3. ANDREW TAPLEY (HONONEGAH) — This sharpshooter rescued Hononegah from an 0-4 tournament with clutch 3s in the Indians 59-50 overtime victory over DeKalb. Tapley had 14 points, knocking down three treys and all five of his free throws.

4. T.J. KYSER (PARKVIEW) — If Kyser can score on a consistent basis, the Beloit Memorial transfer could be another integral piece to the Vikings’ machine. He scored 17 points in the Vikings’ 79-56 triumph over Jefferson last Thursday.

5. KATONKA FRIAR (SOUTH BELOIT) — Friar averaged 17 points a game in the MLK Tournament, scoring 24 points in the finale against Dakota.

Hononegah's Stanley Moore runs into Naperville Neuqua Valley's Kareem Amedu during Monday's game.

]]> http://www.bdnconnection.com/2010/01/19/stateline-preps-boys-hoops-power-rankings-week-6/feed/ 0 http://www.bdnconnection.com/2010/01/11/stateline-preps-boys-hoops-power-rankings-week-5/ http://www.bdnconnection.com/2010/01/11/stateline-preps-boys-hoops-power-rankings-week-5/#comments Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:25:35 +0000 Marc Correnti http://www.bdnconnection.com/?p=630 It’s crystal clear that after the first 6 weeks of the prep basketball season, this year’s teams are different than last year’s teams.

Beloit Memorial, considered a good bet to make it to the WIAA State Tournament in 2009 look like a team that has to scrap for every victory. The Purple Knights are still a good team built around defense, but their lack of offensive firepower, specifically from the three-point line, leaves a lot to be desired.

South Beloit had such a magical season last year that anything less figured to be a letdown. The SoBos lack of an inside presence, whether it be on the offensive or defensive end has hurt them this year. So reliant on their trio of guards, the SoBos have been coming up short this year. They faced a good opportunity to climb back in the NUIC East race with a win Saturday night over Forreston, but came up short, 90-89, in double overtime.

Parkview is better this season — MUCH better. The Vikings used to be a one-man show with Nick Melton, but a solid supporting cast led by Jay Naatz, Kyle Woodworth and Jamie Wichser has put the Vikings in contention for an RVC South title.

Beloit Turner has undergone a complete face-lift since Ken Watkins took over the program two years ago. Defense and playing their style make the Trojans the favorite in the RVC South.

Here’s this week’s rankings:

(Disclaimer: This is my opinion only, so if you don’t agree with it, feel free to send me a comment on the bottom of the page. Otherwise, it’s not a life-and-death situation.)

1. HONONEGAH (11-2): Even with the departure of key players David Brown, Matt Carroll, Dustin Meier and L.J. Jones, the Indians still are in contention for a NIC-10 title. How? Defense. The Indians took it to lowly Rockford East on Friday night, but their wins have been impressive. Hononegah finished second in the State Farm Classic, losing to 3A power Champaign Centennial in the title game, while also losing to a strong Rockford Boylan team. The Indians are a young team that figures to get better as the season wears on. NEXT: Friday at Belvidere North, 7 p.m.; Saturday/Monday: MLK Tournament at Hononegah.

2. BELOIT MEMORIAL (6-3): If there’s such a thing as good losses, Beloit Memorial has them, losing to all state-ranked teams (Madison East, Racine Park and Madison Memorial). Besides the loss to Racine Park in the Waterford Tournament, Beloit has been in every game. The Purple Knights narrowly missed beating Madison East (63-61) and were a rebound away from scaring Madison Memorial (45-40). But, Beloit has to learn to beat the good teams if it is to make a push in the WIAA Tournament. NEXT: Tuesday at Verona, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday vs. Middleton, 7:30 p.m.

3. BELOIT TURNER (9-1): If there’s a more surprising team in the Stateline than the Trojans, I’d like to know. Turner has the perfect mix of offense (Jordan Conway, A.J. Bernstein and Aaron Jones), athleticism (Tevian Pinckney) and leadership (D.J. Hill). A year after being blasted by Brodhead in the RVC South title-clinching game, Turner responded by knocking off the Cardinals. They held J.J. Panoske to 17 points and controlled the game throughout. NEXT: Thursday at East Troy, 7:15 p.m.

4. PARKVIEW (8-3): The Vikings picked up their biggest win to date on Friday when they upended Big Foot. Parkview controlled the game the entire first half before the Chiefs went on a 16-2 third-quarter run to tighten the gap. But when things weren’t working — like Nick Melton missing a shot in the closing moments — Jamie Wichser was there to clean it up. The Vikings have proved that they are a team that needs to be taken seriously as a conference contender. Can’t wait for the Parkview-Turner matchup. NEXT: Thursday at Jefferson, 7:15 p.m.

5. SOUTH BELOIT (6-3): I still can’t figure out the SoBos. They probably should be better than they are, but records don’t lie. They had to storm back in a win over a below-average North Boone team before surrendering 90 points in a 2OT loss to Forreston. Maybe NUIC teams are getting used to the SoBos defense or maybe they simply aren’t as good as last year. Like I said, it’s tough to figure out. NEXT: Monday at Durand, 7:30 p.m.; Tuesday vs. Orangeville, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday/Jan. 18: MLK Tournament at South Beloit.

STAR SYSTEM

(I award stars to the top five players in the past week, checking out who had star performances in Week 5).

1. K.J. EVANS (BELOIT MEMORIAL) — Evans had only eight points in Beloit’s loss to Madison Memorial, but it was his defense on Vander Blue that kept the Knights in the game. The Matquette recruite was basically a non-factor, scoring only 10 points. A lot of that had to do with Evans, who hounded Blue’s every move.

2. JAMIE WICHSER (PARKVIEW) — Jamie Wichser finished with one field goal and two points, but it was the biggest two points of Parkview’s season. Wichser tipped in Nick Melton’s miss with 8.5 seconds left, helping the Vikings upset Big Foot and create a buzz in the RVC South race.

3. DENZEL WOODS (SOUTH BELOIT) — Woods could have sulked and moped on the bench after picking up a silly technical foul in last week’s win over North Boone, but the 6-foot senior didn’t. Instead, he knocked down NBA three-pointers in the fourth quarter, helping the SoBos stave off an upset bid by the Vikings.

4. JUSTIN LANGLEY (CLINTON) — Langley scored 30 points in victories over Palmyra-Eagle and Juda. Langley remains a constant force for a dangerous Cougars squad that could surprise before the year’s over.

5. STANLEY MOORE (HONONEGAH) — Everyone expected Mario Donaldson to be the star of the Indians this year, not Moore. But Donaldson has been OK, while Moore has been sensational. He scored 17 in Hononegah’s 25-point romp over Rockford East. He has been the Indians best player this season.

Beloit Memorial's Sharod Stone

Most of the Stateline teams competed in tournaments over the past two weeks with some faring well (Beloit Turner) and others doing OK (Beloit Memorial).

But tournaments are made for getting better for the rest of the season, which is what those teams can only hope for.

Even with a month gone by, there still is no clear-cut favorite in the Stateline as far as “best team.” I think there are some good teams this year, but there’s yet to be a dominant one that wows. There were three teams like that last year, but two of the three fell flat in the state tournament.

So, maybe this year will bring better results, if not better teams.

Here’s the rankings:

1. BELOIT MEMORIAL (5-2): I still think Beloit Memorial is the best team in the Stateline even though the Purple Knights lost to sixth-ranked Racine Park in the Waterford Tournament. If there’s such a thing as good losses, Beloit has them (Park and Madison East). In the loss to Racine Park, you could tell how badly the Knights miss Terell Parks and Marshall Davis. Beloit’s perimeter defense is still strong, but once a team gets the ball in the paint, it’s not pretty. With that said, Beloit has a chance to take down a pair of Madison teams this week to solidify its spot in the Big Eight. NEXT: Tuesday at Madison West, 7:30 p.m.; Friday vs. Madison Memorial, 7:30 p.m.

2. HONONEGAH (10-2): Hononegah teases you with offense one night (88 points against North Chicago) then disappears the next night (25 points in loss to Champaign Centennial). Looking at Hononegah’s roster, there’s not an abundance of talent, so the Indians finishing second at the State Farm Classic to a team that’s won 33 games in a row is not a big setback. Stanley Moore (First Team All-Tournament) continues to impress. You have to wonder if Hononegah used Moore enough last year as he certainly could have given them a lift. NEXT: Friday vs. Rockford East, 7 p.m.

3. BELOIT TURNER (7-1): The Trojans should really be 8-0 and looking at a spot in the state rankings. Turner coach Ken Watkins has done an extraordinary job in playing to his team’s strengths and getting the best out of his players — not an easy task. The best example would be D.J. Hill. Mostly a floor leader last season, Hill has stepped up his scoring and has made some big plays down the stretch in key games. Winning the Pardeeville Tournament was a big deal, but beating Brodhead on Friday night would send a message to the rest of the Rock Valley South Conference. NEXT: Tuesday vs. Palmyra-Eagle, 7:15 p.m.; Friday vs. Brodhead, 7:15 p.m.

4. BIG FOOT (4-3): I know Big Foot doesn’t have a better overall record than Brodhead, but the Chiefs are still the only unbeaten team in the RVC South. Of course, all that could change if they lose on Tuesday to the Cardinals. Big Foot’s strength lies in its defense. If the Chiefs are to have any shot at taking down Brodhead, it’ll have to be on the defensive end. We’ll see if they can get it done. NEXT: Tuesday vs. Brodhead, 7:15 p.m; Friday vs. Parkview, 7:15 p.m.

5. SOUTH BELOIT (5-2): The SoBos have been off so long that I’ve kind of lost track of them. Consider that their last game was on Dec. 14 and they won’t play again until Thursday at North Boone. That’s a looooong break. I wonder if Denzel Woods and Katonka Friar have graduated yet. NEXT: Thursday at North Boone, 7 p.m.; Saturday vs. Forreston, 7:30 p.m.

STAR SYSTEM

I am suspending the Star System this week as not every team played in the same amount of games last week, therefore making it difficult to determine who truly had the top five performances. It will return next week!

Beloit Memorial's Leketrius Broomfield.

It had a March feel to it with both teams trading punches and every possession taking on a special meaning.

While Hononegah ended up losing, I think the Indians gained some confidence for the future about what kind of team they’d like to be at the end of the season.

But, make no mistake about it, Boylan is a good team — a VERY good team. The Titans have something the Indians don’t — size — and possess one of the best sophomore talents in Illinois in Austin Angel.

Hopefully, Friday’s game will kick off a string of great Stateline games.

Time for the rankings …

(Disclaimer: This is my opinion only, so if you don’t agree with it, feel free to send me a comment on the bottom of the page. Otherwise, it’s not a life-and-death situation.)

1. BELOIT MEMORIAL (4-1): The Purple Knights played only once last week, but it was an impressive 76-64 victory over Madison La Follette. Beloit really needed to get back in the win column after a tough 63-61 loss to state-ranked Madison East the week before. K.J. Evans big effort off the bench (31 points) gave the Knights a spark. NEXT: Waterford Tournament (Dec. 29-30).

2. HONONEGAH (7-1): Hononegah is a young team still learning to finish. That was evident in Friday’s 48-43 loss to Boylan. The Indians controlled the game for the first three quarters until the more experienced Titans took over in the fourth. Hononegah also could use a third scorer. With double digits coming from Stanley Moore and Mario Donaldson on a consistent basis, the Indians could use one more player to score in double figures. Chase Robinson? Jeff Lewis? David Nelson? Lucas Limberg? NEXT: Bloomington-Normal State Farm Classic (Dec. 28-31).

3. BELOIT TURNER (4-1): This is a pretty big jump in the rankings for the Trojans, considering that they were unranked last week. But Turner has been that solid since its loss to Big Foot. The Trojans were feisty defensively in its 61-40 win over Jefferson last Thursday and were just as proficient from the free-throw line in its triumph over Clinton. Turner seems to be a team on the rise. The Trojans have a good shot at that RVC South title. NEXT: Monday at Juda, 7:15 p.m.

4. SOUTH BELOIT (5-2): The SoBos played once last week and topped Clinton, 65-57. Now, it’s time for a long winter hibernation for the SoBos. NEXT: at North Boone, Jan. 7.

5. BIG FOOT (3-3): The Chiefs remain the only undefeated team in the Rock Valley South, tallying a 3-0 record and a one-game lead over teams like Turner, Parkview and Brodhead. Big Foot is doing it with defense. The Chiefs did it again last Thursday in its 47-27 victory over Edgerton. Big Foot held the Crimson Tide to single digits in three of the four quarters. NEXT: Monday vs. Williams Bay, 7:15 p.m.

STAR SYSTEM

(I award stars to the top five players in the past week, checking out who had star performances in Week 3).

1. K.J. EVANS (BELOIT MEMORIAL) — The reasons are unclear as to why Evans was benched for Beloit’s game against Madison La Follette. But there’s no questions Evans’ contribution off the bench for the Knights. He was the best sixth man off any team’s bench last week, scoring 31 points The Beloit senior scored 23 points in the second and third quarters.

2. STANLEY MOORE (HONONEGAH) — If there was one player that grabbed attention last weekend, it was Hononegah’s Moore. He had, perhaps, the best dunk of the year when he tip-dunked Lucas Limberg’s miss, bringing the Hononegah crowd to its feet. He also proved to be one of the few weapons the Indians had against Boylan, scoring 15 points. Now, only if he could have stayed out of foul trouble.

3. D.J. HILL (BELOIT TURNER) — Hill’s stats aren’t flashy (they never will be), but his leadership has been a big part to Turner’s early-season success. The way Hill broke down Jefferson’s defense last week was a thing of beauty. He also proved to be clutch in Turner’s win over Clinton, knocking down all eight of his fourth-quarter free throws.

4. ANDREW MOEN (CLINTON) — Moen stepped up big time for the ill Ross Oldenburg in the Cougars’ 77-74 victory over RVC North rival East Troy. Moen netted 20 points and Clinton earned a huge inter-conference victory over a team that beat Brodhead.

5. JAY NAATZ (PARKVIEW) — Jay Naatz is the reason Nick Melton can drive through the lane. Teams can’t leave the sharpshooter open as evidence in his team-leading 16 points in Parkview’s 51-48 win over Whitewater.

With the holidays coming up and basketball on somewhat of a hiatus, the Power Rankings will return in 2 weeks!

Happy Holidays!

Hononegah's Mario Donaldson and Boylan's Nick Bauch get tied up last Friday.

Last week’s top three teams (Beloit Memorial, Hononegah, South Beloit) had a chance to really show how good of teams they could be with victories. Two of the three teams lost and the other (Hononegah) looked unimpressive in its 1-point victory over also-ran Freeport.

While last season produced three loaded Stateline teams, this season brings parity and the unexpected. It’s difficult to tell who’s good and who’s not at this point in the season. Are the Purple Knights really that close to being on the same level as Madison East? Did Madison Memorial really lose to Sun Prairie? Yeah, they did.

Is South Beloit a mere shell of itself from last season? Will Hononegah’s reliance on the three-pointer lead to their demise? How good is J.J. Panoske? Is he a better overall player than Nick Melton?

Clinton has improved, but how much? Big Foot is back on track, but for how long?

Questions, questions, questions …

(Disclaimer: This is my opinion only, so if you don’t agree with it, feel free to send me a comment on the bottom of the page. Otherwise, it’s not a life-and-death situation.)

1. HONONEGAH (7-0): The Indians get the top spot, not because they were impressive last weekend — they weren’t — but basically because everyone else lost on Friday night. If there is one good thing that came out of Hononegah’s 42-41 victory over Freeport, it’s that the Indians’ defense remains the team’s strong suit. Things will get a lot tougher this weekend when the Indians host a streaking Boylan team that looks like it could go 16-0 in the NIC-10. NEXT: Friday vs. Boylan, 7 p.m.

2. BELOIT MEMORIAL (3-1): Even with three victories to begin the season — two of which were lopsided — it was still difficult to gauge the Purple Knights. Last Friday’s game at Madison East proved to be a good litmus test. Beloit didn’t exactly fail the test, but it probably should have beaten the Purgolders. If it wasn’t for a 1-for-6 showing at the foul line, Beloit would likely be 4-0. NEXT: Friday vs. Madison La Follette, 7:30 p.m.

3. SOUTH BELOIT (5-2): South Beloit stays in the No. 3 hole because Brodhead surrendered 86 points to East Troy. Last season, the SoBos couldn’t lose against Pecatonica. Now, they can’t seem to figure out the Indians. In South Beloit’s two losses to Pec, the SoBos have been defeated by 19 and 16 points. Cold shooting would probably be the biggest reason for that as South Beloit has shot a combined 24 percent against Pec. That’s not good enough to win anywhere. South Beloit looked like its old self in Monday’s 65-57 win over Clinton. NEXT: Jan. 7 at North Boone.

4. BIG FOOT (2-3): Welcome back to the Power Rankings, only this is a different ranking system than they ‘re accustomed to. Big Foot got off to a slow start, losing its first three games to Woodstock, Beaver Dam and DeForest. But then, Rock Valley Conference play began and the Chiefs took off, earning a big win at Beloit Turner and knocking off Jefferson in inter-conference play. Alec McGreevy (14.8 ppg) and Steve Dowden (10.2) have been the catalysts. NEXT: Thursday vs. Edgerton, 7:15 p.m.

5. BRODHEAD (2-2): The Cardinals narrowly edge out Beloit Turner for the final spot in Week 2. Brodhead is still struggling with the No. 1 thing that plagued them last season: Inconsistency. Just as good as Brodhead has looked, they’ve been just as bad, too. The Cardinals must find that middle ground if they’re to repeat as RV South champs. NEXT: Thursday vs. McFarland, 7:15 p.m.

STAR SYSTEM

(I award stars to the top five players in the past week, checking out who had star performances in Week 2).

1. J.J. PANOSKE (BRODHEAD) — Ever since Rock Valley South play has started, Panoske has been a machine. The 6-foot-9 junior is averaging 32 ppg in conference play and 24 ppg overall. He scored 31 in the Cardinals’ 86-77 loss to East Troy.

2. AHMAD SHAMSID-DEAN (BELOIT MEMORIAL) — Shamsid-Dean was the bright spot in the Knights’ up-and-down week, scoring 15 points in their loss to Madison East and 12 more in their victory over Janesville Craig. Beloit has become a balanced basketball team and Shamsid-Dean is proof of that.

3. STANLEY MOORE (HONONEGAH) — Stanley Moore is not the next coming of David Brown, but the Indians don’t need for him to be. Moore scored a team-high 12 points in the Indians’ win over the Pretzels. If Moore can provide those numbers consistently, the Indians will be tough to deal with.

4. STEVE DOWDEN (BIG FOOT) — Not only was Dowden quarterback of the Division 4 state champs, but he’s pretty much the same thing on the basketball floor. Dowden scored 18 points in the Chiefs’ 59-41 romp over Jefferson. The senior point guard is one of the smartest athletes in the Stateline and he makes the Chiefs’ offense flow.

5. TEVIEN PINCKNEY (BELOIT TURNER) — When you think of Turner basketball, usually Aaron Jones and Jordan Conway come to mind. But, now area fans and teams can think about Pinckney. He had a breakout game in the Trojans’ 47-42 win over Edgerton last weekend, netting 13 points.

South Beloit's Terrel Williams challenges Clinton's Ross Oldenburg.

I guess with prep football over, it’s time for a new Stateline Preps blog — this time for basketball.

Just looking at the Stateline teams in the first week, there’s a feeling that this could be some of the most talent-laden teams in Stateline history.

Consider that nearly every team has some sort of star power from Beloit Memorial (K.J. Evans and Sharod Stone) to Hononegah (Mario Donaldson), to Brodhead (J.J. Panoske), Parkview (Nick Melton), Beloit Turner (Jordan Conway) and South Beloit (Denzel Woods and Katonka Friar).

It should make for an interesting and entertaining season, not to mention a difficult time ranking the top five teams in the area.

But, I’ll give it a shot and see what happens. What could go wrong? Right?

(Disclaimer: This is my opinion only, so if you don’t agree with it, feel free to send me a comment on the bottom of the page. Otherwise, it’s not a life-and-death situation.)

1. BELOIT MEMORIAL (2-0): After losing big men Marshall Davis and Terell Parks to graduation, the Purple Knights figured to be one of the biggest question marks in the Stateline. So far, so good. After a one-point victory over Milwaukee Riverside (52-51), Beloit ran over Janesville Parker (82-61) with balanced scoring (13 players scored) and, gulp, strong defense. While last year’s team gave coach Jay Bryant size for the first time in his career, this seems more like Bryant’s team: Fast, athletic and irritatingly good. NEXT: Tuesday vs. Janesville Craig; Friday at Madison East.

2. HONONEGAH (6-0): After finishing undefeated in the Hoops for Healing Tournament, the Indians got a nice, little warmup schedule in the NIC-10, facing undermanned Harlem and not-yet-ready-for-primetime Guilford. The Indians dispatched both teams, but not in the usual way. Hononegah’s interior defense was surprisingly weak in its win over Harlem, but the Indians have shown they have plenty of scorers. Look out for big seasons from Mario Donaldson and Stanley Moore. NEXT: Friday at Freeport.

3. SOUTH BELOIT (4-1): Perhaps the most startling loss from last week was South Beloit’s 19-point whooping at the hands of Pecatonica. But as coach Mat Parker said, “You can’t shoot 15 percent and win.” The SoBos rebounded nicely, thumping a much-bigger North Boone team and rolling to an 87-70 win last year’s co-NUIC champs Polo. Terrel Williams has given the SoBos another scorer. You can almost hear the rest of the NUIC team sighing. NEXT: Thursday at Durand; Friday at Pecatonica.

4. BRODHEAD (2-1): If this team can grow up and continue to mature, they could be in line for a great season. If not, mediocrity will follow them everywhere they go. There’s no question that the Cardinals have the best big man in the area (Panoske), but will a lack of veteran leadership (one senior) haunt them? Time will tell. NEXT: Tuesday at Parkview; Friday at East Troy.

5. PARKVIEW (3-2): Parkview seems to have the right mix around all-everything Nick Melton. The Vikings have surrounded their star with shooters, which is the right thing to do. When you have players like Jay Naatz to kick it out to, it makes Parkview even more dangerous. Parkview’s 2-2 run at the Hoops for Healing Tournament opened some eyes, especially considering that the Vikings played schools nearly four times its size. The real Rock Valley test begins Tuesday for Parkview when it hosts Brodhead. Remember, Parkview went 0-6 against the top three RVC teams (Brodhead, Turner, Big Foot) last season. NEXT: Tuesday vs. Brodhead; Friday at Evansville.

STAR SYSTEM

(I award stars to the top five players in the past week, checking out who had star performances in Week 1).

1. J.J. PANOSKE (BRODHEAD) — The 6-foot-9 junior scored 33 points in the Cardinals’ victory over Clinton, scoring 20 points in the first and fourth quarters. If he can dominate like this, look out.

2. TERELL WILLIAMS (SOUTH BELOIT) — Williams scored 50 points in the SoBos’ victories over Polo and North Boone. The diminutive guard has shown an early-season propensity for lighting up the scoreboard and an outstanding shooting touch from beyond the arc.

3. SHAROD STONE (BELOIT MEMORIAL) — If the Purple Knights are to repeat last season’s state tournament bid, they’ll have to win in different ways. That’s where guys like Stone come in. He was big in Beloit’s triumph over Milwaukee Riverside (game-clinching free throw) and he had 16 points to lead a balanced Knights’ squad over Parker. He could be the most improved player in the Stateline this season.

4. NICK MELTON (PARKVIEW) — If you want to talk about all-around performances, the discussion begins and ends with Melton. Here’s a sample of his stat line against Palmyra-Eagle: 14 points, 9 assists, 6 rebounds, 5 steals. That’s what you call stuffing the boxscore.

5. CHASE ROBINSON (HONONEGAH) — Usually makes the football Star System, but his basketball prowess puts him on this particular list. There may be no better interview in the Stateline than Robinson, who’s humble and funny. He put together his best showing to date in Hononegah’s 62-51 win over Harlem, scoring 19 points and knocking down four three-pointers, proving he’s not just a player you can leave uncovered.

Beloit Memorial's Leketreuis Broomfield