EDWARDSVILLE — Normally, February basketball games would bring the start of the push to the regular-season finish line for the Edwardsville Tigers.
This year, it brings the start to the 2021 season that will feature at least 13 games, including a dozen Southwestern Conference, with a league tournament to cap it all off.
“The guys are ready to be playing. They are looking forward to competing in games,” said EHS coach Dustin Battas, who is 33-30 in two seasons with the Tigers.
The season begins at Belleville West at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.
The Maroons and Tigers split the season series a year ago, including a 37-25 win for Belleville West in the SWC opener on Dec. 6, 2019, and a 57-44 win for Edwardsville at home in the return game on Jan. 31, 2020.
With his team just beginning to run through full practices on Thursday, Battas is eager to find out how they respond in a game setting Saturday.
“As a coach, you’re a little apprehensive because we haven’t had full practices,” Battas said. “The players, though, like the games more than practices, which is understandable. They’re excited.
“But you do worry as a coach that you could get shellshocked Saturday. The Southwestern Conference is an athletic, physical conference.”
Edwardsville is coming off a 23-10 season. It finished 6-6 in the SWC.
After winning nine games during the 2018-19 regular season, it won 22 this regular season. Each team won once in the postseason.
The last SWC team to go from a 20-loss season, including the postseason, one year to a 20-win season the next before Edwardsville was Collinsville in 2008-09 (6-22) and 2009-10 (20-10). Belleville East did it in 2004-05 (6-20) and 2005-06 (21-9).
The Tigers are looking for even more this season with All-State honorable mention Brennan Weller and point guard Jalil Roundtree returning to the starting lineup.
“We have a good nucleus back and a bunch of seniors,” Battas said. “Having the returning leading scorer (Weller) in the Southwestern Conference back is a plus and a good leader, selfless teammate (Roundtree) to set the bar.”
Weller, a senior, averaged 19.3 points per game and eclipsed the 20-point mark 15 times. He scored a career-high 34 points in a win over Alton on Feb. 6.
Only Collinsville’s All-State guard Ray’Sean Taylor stood in front of Weller on the conference leaderboard. He averaged 23.6 points. Weller and Taylor were the only two conference players to average more than 15 points per game.
Roundtree, a senior, averaged 3.4 points and 2.0 assists last season.
Senior Caleb Valentine will add depth around the perimeter. As well as handle the ball, he can also score it and will see more minutes this season.
“With the way we play, having that lead guard is really important. It’s a tough position for a first-year guy and we should be able to do more this year with two experienced guys handling the ball,” Battas said.
Joining the three in the senior class are Hayden Moore, Preston Weaver and Ryan Hampton.
Weaver saw the most time of the three, appearing in 26 games and averaging 3.7 points with 18 3-pointers.
“I’m looking forward to guys like Preston and the other seniors playing more because they certainly deserve it. They’ve done everything we’ve asked them to do in the four years,” Battas said.
The junior class will include Gabe James, Shaun Pacette and Hersch Greene.
James played the most last year of the group, averaging 3.3 points in 25 games.
“Those guys will have a chance to help us right away,” Battas said.
Due to the limited number of practices and the quick start to the season, Battas said he’s expecting to use his entire bench to keep guys fresh this year.
“We’re really confident in the top five, six guys, but we’re really expecting contributions from 10, 11 guys,” Battas said.
The winter season will run through March 13 and there will not be a postseason.
Still, the Tigers know there is plenty to play for.
“Our guys like to compete. They would play down at Hoppe Park if they had to. There are also individual accolades to play for,” Battas said.
There’s also an SWC championship on the line. EHS last won the league title in 2016-17.
After Belleville West’s two-year run at the top followed by Collinsville last season, the SWC is wide open this season.
“We’ve had such a loaded conference the past few years with state championship-caliber teams,” Battas said. “This year, everybody is pretty even. It’s going to be competitive.”
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