MARION — Jawaan Tucker and Eddie Webb combined for 25 points to lead a balanced attack as Marion Junior High School's boys basketball team downed Carbondale, 44-36, in Big Seven Conference action Thursday.

JOHNSTON CITY — A late rally allowed Johnston City's eighth grade girls basketball team to capture its first Coal Belt Conference title since the 2004-05 season Thursday night.

Down a starter and trailing by five points in the third quarter, the Lady Indians ended the game on a 7-0 spurt to get past Christopher, 28-26, in a conference showdown.

CARTERVILLE — For the first time in six seasons, Johnston City's eighth grade boys basketball team defeated rival Carterville Thursday night.

The Indians avenged a blowout loss on their home court earlier this season by escaping Carterville with a 53-50 victory.

MARION — A brand new sign for Rent One Park sits just off Route 13 as the Southern Illinois Miners professional baseball team prepares for its third season in the independent Frontier League. But the last two names left from the inaugural season's opening day roster won't be with the club when the season opens in May.

Mike Victor, the only player to be with the Miners for every game of their first two seasons, was traded recently to the Florence Freedom in exchange for right-handed pitcher Gary Lee, while first baseman Tim Dorn was snatched up by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Calif., giving the 6-foot-8 slugger yet another shot at the major leagues.

MARION — There’s not denying the fact that if a South Seven Conference championship is in the cards for Marion’s boys basketball team this season, the Wildcats must defend their home court. Even though it’s still early, it’s so far, so good for head coach Aaron Mattox and Co.

Marion, which is 2-1 in the league, has knocked off Mt. Vernon by five points and Belleville Althoff by nine points inside the friendly confines of Cuss Wilson Gymnasium.

MARION — Marion’s girls basketball team has found life on the road to be quite the difficult task this season. The Lady Wildcats opened up with their traditional tournament the opening week of the season and finished second with a 4-1 record, losing only to a Herrin squad that went on to win 15 straight games.

HERRIN — Marion freshman boys basketball coach Jeff Tarlton has been looking for his teams to perform more consistently. He got a glimpse of that inside Herrin's Memorial Gymnasium Wednesday night.

The Wildcats swept a doubleheader against Herrin as each Marion team won by double digits.

Updated 01/07/09, 11:12 a.m.

MARION — Prior to Marion and Mt. Vernon meeting in a South Seven Conference girls basketball clash Monday night, Saeward Mattox gave a special verbal tribute to retiring head coach Sara Rennie.

Then Rennie did what she has done so well during her 33 years on the bench. She guided Mt. Vernon to another win, which have been hard to come by this season.

Mariah Fleming tallied 23 of her game-high 25 points in the second half, and the Lady Rams made 17 of 19 free throws en route to a 54-48 win over the Lady Wildcats in Rennie's final trip to Cuss Wilson Gymnasium.

CARTERVILLE — The long holiday layoff didn't seem to bother the Marion High School girls bowling team.

The girls won two of the three games in Tuesday's match, beating the host Carterville Lady Lions by 51 pins at SI Bowl. The girls built a 43-pin lead after the first game, then maintained the lead on the way to their second victory of the season, 2039 to 1988.

CRAB ORCHARD — It's been a breakout freshman season for Crab Orchard forward Ben Kissing so far this season.

Kissing continued his strong play and nearly had a triple-double to go with a career night, leading the Trojans past Galatia, 70-61, in Greater Egyptian Conference action Tuesday night.

MT. VERNON — Mt. Vernon's wrestling team picked up six pins on its way to a 53-29 dual victory against Marion in a South Seven Conference matchup Tuesday night.

ZEIGLER — Tyler Mitchell scored 25 points to lead Zeigler-Royalton's boys basketball team to a 74-50 win over Goreville Tuesday night.

JOHNSTON CITY — Cory Belsher scored 12 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter as Vienna knocked off Johnston City, 71-53, in Black Diamond Conference boys basketball Tuesday night.

MARION — It wasn't the start Marion eighth grade boys basketball coach Mike Kraus was looking for after enjoying a long holiday break.

Harrisburg took full advantage of its opportunity and beat the Wildcats for a second time this season, prevailing in the latest contest by a 49-33 margin Monday night.