Defending champs, Fairfield grabs No. 1 seed at EHT

For the second straight season, Fairfield grabbed the No. 1 seed at Wednesday's Eldorado Holiday Tournament pairing meeting at Dad's BBQ in Eldorado.

The Mules are off to a 5-1 start with the lone loss coming to Marshall (83-71) at the Capital Classic in late November.

Fairfield started the season with wins over Olney Richland County (65-47), Salem (44-38) and Red Hill (77-31) all at the Capital Classic and then notched a home win over Sesser-Valier (75-39) and won at Johnston City (62-35) Monday night.

Fairfield - who was the No. 1 seed last year - won the EHT, knocking off Herrin 62-43 in the championship game. It was the Mules' first title since 2006, when they were the No. 8 seed.

Fairfield head coach Scott McElravy appreciates the honor bestowed upon his squad, but also understands there are a ton of good teams in this year's field.

"It's a honor and we have a really good team, but we also know that there are other good teams as well. We have quite a few of them on our side."

McElravy said there are some similarities between this year's team and last year's club that won it all.

Missing are big man Brian Estes and guards Jayzale O'Neal and Reese Lee, all who made the EHT All-Tournament Team.

"We're a little shorter on height, we really don't have anybody bigger than 6-4. As a JV group a year ago, they only lost one game, so the younger kids have stepped in. We are a better shooting team and from a quickness and defensive standpoint, both teams are pretty close to the same."

After Fairfield at No. 1, Massac County was the No. 2 seeded team, while Eldorado is the No. 3 seeded team.

Herrin is the No. 4 seed, followed by Carterville (5), Carmi-White County (6), Anna-Jonesboro (7) and West Frankfort (8).

The EHT will begin on December 26th at the famed Duff-Kingston Gymnasium with Carterville taking on Norris City-Omaha-Enfield at 8:30 a.m., followed by Herrin and Edwards County at 10 a.m. The loser of the first two games will return at 10 p.m. Thursday night in an elimination game.

West Frankfort will play Hamilton County at 11:30 a.m., followed by Fairfield and Gallatin County at 1:45 p.m.

On the bottom half of the bracket and in the afternoon session at the EHT, Anna-Jonesboro will play Harrisburg at 3:15 p.m., followed by Massac County vs. Carrier Mills-Stonefort at 4:45 p.m. Eldorado will play Hardin County at 7 p.m. and Carmi-White County will play Vienna at 8:30 p.m.

Spyder Dann covers prep and college sports for the Southern Illinois Local Media News Group. Follow him on Twitter: @spydieshooter.