Bucky Dent

Johnston City

Sports Writer at The Southern Illinoisan

Full-time freelance sportswriter, covering mostly SIU sports. Umpire, jack of some trades and awesomely sarcastic according to a friend.

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Articles

Nico Iamaleava’s Exit From Tennessee Marks New Era of College Football

3 weeks ago | deadspin.com | Bucky Dent

Way back when I wasn’t 59 years old and my right hip and back didn’t hurt every morning from 36 years of umpiring, I was in Winchester, Virginia, one July week to work a Little League softball state tournament and rooming with a chap named Kat Stapleton. Among other things, Kat was looking to beef up the ranks of the state umpires’ association.
Althoff battles past Teutopolis to earn first state semifinal appearance since 2016

2 months ago | stltoday.com | Bucky Dent

CARBONDALE — When Dierre Hill Jr. stepped to the foul line early in the first quarter Monday night, the Teutopolis student section offered him some not-so-friendly advice. “Stick to football,” they chanted at the Oregon-bound running back. They’ll get their wish — just not soon enough to keep their Wooden Shoes alive.
Okawville's resurgent season ends with sectional semifinal loss to Goreville

2 months ago | stltoday.com | Bucky Dent

COBDEN — Their T-shirts read Raise the Bar. Okawville’s boys certainly did that this year, flushing three straight losing seasons with a trip to the Class 1A Cobden Sectional. And it was no shame that the Rockets’ best year in a while ended against a better, deeper, tungsten-tough team that might have what it takes to cut down nets next weekend in Champaign. Goreville’s 55-41 win in a sectional semifinal was an accurate summation of the difference between the teams.
Goreville boys roll past Okawville

2 months ago | thesouthern.com | Bucky Dent

COBDEN — If it’s worked all year, why change it? Goreville coach Todd Tripp has used a 10-man rotation all year to ring up 32 wins and become a contender for the Class 1A championship. kAm%96 q=24<42ED 7=6I65 E96:C 4@==64E:G6 >FD4=6D %F6D52J ?:89E :? E96 r@356? $64E:@?2=[ ?6G6C EC2:=:?8 2?5 =625:?8 3J 2D >2?J 2D `g A@:?ED :? E96 E9:C5 BF2CE6C @7 2 >6E9@5:42= dd\c` H:? @G6C ~<2HG:==6]k^AmkAmv@C6G:==6 H:== E2<6 @? E96 H:??6C @7 2 A@H6C\A24<65 >2E49FA 36EH66? |6C:5:2? 2?5 (2=E@?G:==6[ H9@ A=2J @?
Late loss in regular season helps spur Althoff to decisive win over Pinckneyville

2 months ago | stltoday.com | Bucky Dent

CHESTER — One week ago, Althoff's boys basketball team ended its regular season with an unexpected home loss to Metro-East Lutheran, a team it inhaled by 23 points on Jan. 14. On Friday night, the Crusaders were cutting down nets at jam-packed Colbert Gym to celebrate a 74-56 win over Pinckneyville in the championship game of the Class 2A Chester Regional. Did one have an effect on the other? To hear guard Dierre Hill and coach Greg Leib talk, it sure seems like it did.
Althoff's hot start leads Crusaders past Pinckneyville to Chester Regional championship

2 months ago | thesouthern.com | Bucky Dent

CHESTER — The No. 2 team in the final Associated Press Class 2A poll was also No. 2 on the Colbert Gym floor Friday night. Of course, the No. 1 team in the 2A poll was on the other bench. kAmx? 2 A@H6C\A24<65 r96DE6C #68:@?2= 7:?2=[ p=E9@77 C@2C65 @FE E@ 2 ad\`` 7:CDE BF2CE6C =625 2?5 6=:>:?2E65 AC@F5 !:?4<?6JG:==6 fc\de :? 7C@?E @7 2 DE2?5:?8\C@@> 4C@H5 >@DE=J 4@?E2:?:?8 D96==\D9@4<65 !6CCJ r@F?E:2?D]k^AmkAm%96C6 AC@323=J :D?’E `g A@:?ED @7 5:776C6?46 36EH66?
Fourth-quarter rally propels Okawville past Sesser-Valier

2 months ago | thesouthern.com | Bucky Dent

CHRISTOPHER — There will be no March Madness for Sesser-Valier. Instead, it will be replaced by February frustration. kAm%96 `_E9\D66565 #65 s6G:=D E@@< 2 =625 :?E@ E96 7@FCE9 BF2CE6C (65?6D52J ?:89E @7 E96:C r=2DD `p C68:@?2= D6>:7:?2= >2E49FA 282:?DE }@] a ~<2HG:==6 3FE >2?2865 ;FDE D:I A@:?ED :? E96:C 7:?2= A6C:@5 @7 E96 D62D@?[ =@D:?8 dd\cg]k^AmkAm“&?7@CEF?2E6=J[ H6 <:?5 @7 7:KK=65 @FE :?
Best Sports Betting Picks Today: College Basketball Predictions for February 24th

2 months ago | deadspin.com | Bucky Dent

Michigan Wolverines center Vladislav Goldin (50) reacts after missing a shot Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, during the NCAA men’s basketball game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Ind.. PHOTO USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES The race to March Madness is already underway in the topsy-turvy Big 12. Colorado hosts Kansas in another road challenge for the Jayhawks, and Houston has a chance to avenge its only conference loss when the Cougars travel to Texas Tech.
Marion pulls away from Freeburg late for first regional title since 2005

2 months ago | stltoday.com | Bucky Dent

HERRIN, Ill. — With no seniors on its roster, the Freeburg girls basketball team unquestionably possesses a bright future. But its present contains no more games on the schedule after Marion used depth and pressure defense to break away from a tie late in the third quarter Friday night at the Class 3A Herrin Regional title game. The Wildcats rattled off an 8-0 run that forced the Midgets into chase mode for most of the last nine minutes of a 61-47 loss in Memorial Gym.
Marion girls win first regional in 20 years

2 months ago | thesouthern.com | Bucky Dent

HERRIN – For the first time in 20 years, Marion’s girls basketball program has won a regional title. And with all but one player returning next year, logic suggests the Wildcats might not have to wait another 20 to capture their next regional title. kAms6AE9 2?5 AC6DDFC6 5676?D6 >256 E96 5:776C6?46 :? E96 7:?2= `_ >:?FE6D @7 uC:52J ?:89E’D r=2DD bp w6CC:? #68:@?2= 7:?2=[ |2C:@? 7:?:D9:?8 E96 82>6 @? 2 ae\`a CF? E@ 62C? 2 e`\cf H:? @G6C 82>6 3FE D9@CE92?565 uC663FC8 :?