Moderator: Greetings to all. We're a bit limited on time today, but will attempt to get to as many questions as possible in the next 45 minutes. Thanks for your undersstanding.

Tim, Champaign, IL: How has St. Joe girls compliled the record they have without their top 4 scorers most of the year. I keep looking in the paper and seems like someone different is missing ever game. This morning no R. Graham. There is a great story there, would love to know how they got 3rd in the tough SVC with the players they have lost. Imagine taking the 4 top players off of BCC, Prairie Central, St. Thomas More, Bismark and Unity or any other team

Moderator: Hi Tim. You make some good points. There are several things coming into play. First, if you look at the overall talent at the schools around our area you'll see that this isn't one of the strongest years on record. Next, it appears that SJ-O has some very equally skills players, which makes it less painful when one or two of the players are sidelined for a series of games. It would be a lot more devastating to programs such as St. Thomas More and Bismarck-Henning to be without its top players for a long period of time. Prairie Central and Unity, in fact, have had key players either sidelined for the season or at less than full season for a significant amount of time. Their overall depth is good enough they have still been very competitive. Another thing which has happened at SJ-O is that a number of other players have gained valuable varsity playing time and are not ready to be key contributors. Winning 15 games thus far with what they've been through is a tremendous feat and, as you say, is deserving of praise.

Brian, Urbana, IL: Fred,

everyone knows that the state has major budget problems right now. How will/has this effect sports? Will teams have to cut games? Reduce travel?

Or will schools be forced to make drastic cuts and possibly cut seasons?

Moderator: Hi Brian. Excellent questions. I'm certain athletic directors and administrators are wrestling with this problem. Everything you said could well be a possibility and may happen at more than one of our area districts. Especially in the spring, we may see rained out games not rescheduled. We may see schools trying to send two teams (baseball and softball, for example) to one site on the same day. As for what occurs down the road next season, that will be predicated on when -- and if -- the schools get the monies they believe they have coming. If there are continued delays, it's very likely there will be significant cutbacks, especially at the underclassmen levels. Let's hope for the best.

tom egelston, champaign, il: fred,urbana had a winning week in all winter sports.kudos to wrestling team at lincoln winning 2 matches.girls basketball won a game.swimming won and boys baketball showed great improvement in beating charleston and normal west.definetly coach russell has helped his team win 6 games so far and may still get a big win down the road.

Moderator: Hi Tom. I think the win over Charleston was a big one for the Tigers in light of the fact they were down big in the first quarter and rallied to win. When a team is not used to winning, this can be a very difficult challenge. The win over Normal West was very important as well. Normal West has a 12-8 record and with that victory, Urbana showed it can compete better than what its current record indicates. Teams make progress at different rates, but it seems like the Tigers are hitting their stride here in late January. Urbana has a chance for another statement win on Friday when it hosts a Danville team which went on the road last Saturday and knocked off a state-ranked (Class 2A) Teutopolis team in double overtime. I like what I'm seeing in the other winter sports as well. Tournament time is just around the corner. Wrestling, in fact, has the Big 12 Meet this weekend and the regionals one week later. Thanks for the comments.

Brian , Champaign, illinois: Arthur-okaw christian's boys basketball team has a record of 15-3 against good competition, the losses coming to state ranked and defending state champs meridian and 2 bigger schools in springfield sacred heart griffen (class 3a) and pleasant plains (2a) and yet your paper has given little to no coverage of them and i think your missing a good story.

Moderator: Hi Brian. You're right. In fact, one of the team's wins was over a Georgetown-Ridge Farm squad which played in last week's Vermilion County Tournament championship game. Arthur Okaw Christian is on our radar and we hope to get around to a story on the team sooner than later. They have a couple of players who have put up more than 30 points in a game, so obviously there is some offensive firepower at the school. Thanks for the reminder.

Ken, Urbana, IL: Fred,

when do conference tournaments start for basketball?

Moderator: Hi Ken. Some tournaments for boys are finished (Vermilion County, with Salt Fork winning), some are on going (such as the Little Okaw Valley Conference) and others are about to start. The Okaw Valley Tournament begins on Friday at various locations before moving to St. Teresa on saturday. The Sangamon Valley Conference Tournament starts on Monday before wrapping up on Feb. 6 at Parkland College. Hard to believe the season is winding down. The Class 1A/2A girls have one more week left in their regular season before postseason play commences. Thanks for asking.

Moderator: Thanks to all for the questions. Sorry this is a bit short this week. More interviews to get to. Back in seven days.