After discussing some options, Charleston no longer has to worry about how to get to the Effingham St. Anthony Thanksgiving boys’ basketball tournament in case of a bus strike.
“It’s just one of those things you didn’t know,” coach Trevor Doughty said. “If they were on strike, what would we do? All we did was talk about the options and still being able to play. The girls had the same thing with their tournament at Robinson. You can’t just say we’ll load everybody into the suburban because others would need the suburban too.”
That contract dispute has been settled and the Trojans’ bus is available.
Still a concern is that Flora’s super sophomore Paul Knapp and his teammates could spoil the trip to St. Anthony’s gym in today’s 6:30 p.m. season opener.
“He’s going to be a tough one,” Charleston coach Trevor Doughty said. “He had 24 against us last year. He can score. The big thing is we have to harass him and not let him score all his points and at the same time not let the other guys hurt you.”
Knapp was just a freshman getting his high school basketball feet wet last season when the Trojans beat an inexperienced Flora team 71-41.
Now Charleston is a team with five new starters.
Even though Flora went 0-4 in last year’s Thanksgiving tournament, the Wolves wound up with more wins than Charleston finishing 12-17 losing in the first round of an IHSA Class 2A regional.
Charleston highlighted its 10-18 season by winning the Class 3A Mattoon Regional and as a bigger school presents a challenge for Flora.
“I think just looking a little bit at their roster they’ve lost quite a bit but they’ll bring quite a bit of energy,” Flora coach Phil Leib said. “They usually have some shooters to go with their dribblers. They’ll pose some mismatches for us.
“We’ve seen some of the best athletes we’ll see in this tournament. That’s not to take away from the other teams we play but it’s just some good teams at St. Anthony.”
Several of Charleston’s athletes are making their first varsity start and in some cases extensive playing time tonight.
“We played together this summer and we hope a lot of it carries over to the season,” Doughty said. “Especially when you have new guys you have to play with a lot more intensity than you do on junior varsity. We’re trying to make sure that no one person tries to do everything and you play as a team. That’s important for any team but especially, I think, for this team.”
Contact Brian Nielsen at bnielsen@jg-tc.com or 238-6856.
CHARLESTON VS. FLORA
Tip-off: 6:30 p.m. today in Effingham St. Anthony Thanksgiving tournament at the Enlow Center
Radio: WEIU Hit Mix FM-88.9
Probable Charleston starters: forwards-Dylan Doughty, 6-4 sr.; Taylor Nead, 6-5 sr.; guards-Joey Miller, 6-3 jr.; Jason Lord, 6-0 sr.; James Addison, 6-2 sr.
Probable Flora starters: forward-Bryton Krutsinger, 6-3 sr.; Austin Lewis 6-0, jr.; center-Cole Greenwood, 6-3 jr.; guards-Nick Painter, 6-5 so.; Paul Knapp, 6-1 so.; Austin Lewis, 6-0 jr.
Notes: Charleston beat Flora 61-41 in last season’s opener. The Trojans went 2-2 in the tournament losing to Breese Central and Mattoon before defeating Taylorville for fifth place. Flora went 0-4 at St. Anthony.
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