DANVILLE — Danville head coach David Gouard has seen a lot of firsts in his first season at the helm, but he is ready for another first on Thursday.
The Vikings will play its first game of the Pontiac Holiday Tournament against Benet at 1 p.m., and while it is not the first time Gouard has been on the Pontiac court, it is the first time leading a team.
“I have been there as a player and I was back at Schlarman as an assistant coach, but coming back as a head coach is a little different,” Gouard said. “I am not intimidated at all, but it moving up a seat. I am excited to get there. It is a great atmosphere. The community comes out and supports no matter what your record is. The kids come out and ask players for autographs, so I am anxious to get there.”
The Vikings are 3-7 after losing against a top team in Alton and will play another top team Thursday against Benet, a team that is 10-1 so far this season.
“We have film but after Alton, we will start preparing for Benet,” Gouard said. “They are the fourth seed in the tournament and a top school in the state year in and year out. Play hard, compete and see what happens.”
If the Vikings win, they will play at 11 a.m. on Friday against either Bloom or Aurora West in the winners’ bracket. If they lose, they will play in the consolation bracket at 8 a.m.
The Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin boys basketball team is 11-0 and will go for its fourth BSN Classic title this weekend. The Blue Devils will host Milford and newcomers Providence Cristo Rey, Irvington Prep Academy and Phalen Academy from Indianapolis.
The Blue Devils will start play at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday against Milford and will finish against Phalen Academy at 7 p.m. BHRA will then play Providence Christo Rey at 11:30 a.m. and Irvington at 7 p.m.
On the Heritage side, Armstrong-Potomac comes in with the best record at 7-2 and will play Salt Fork at 1 p.m. and host Heritage at 7 p.m. on Thursday. The Trojans will next play Mount Pulaski at 10 a.m. on Friday and Georgetown-Ridge Farm at 5:30 p.m.
The Storm will play the Buffaloes at 10 a.m. on Thursday and on Friday, they will play Mount Pulaski at 1 p.m. and Heritage at 7 pm. The Buffaloes play Mount Pulaski at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday and Heritage at 11:30 a.m. on Friday.
After the first two days of the tournament, the matchups for Saturday’s final day at BHRA’s Wilcox Gymnasium will be set. The winner of the Bismarck pool and the Heritage pool will pay for the title at 7 p.m.
Oakwood will travel to the Monticello Holiday Hoopla Tournament. The Comets will face Tuscola at 10 a.m. and Monticello at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday and Colfax Ridgeview at 2 p.m. on Friday.
Westville will also hit the road to the Tri-County Holiday Tournament. The Tigers will play Martinsville at 10 a.m. and Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg at 4 p.m. on Thursday. On Saturday, Westville will play Tri-County at 4 p.m. and on Monday, the Tigers will play Paris at 10 a.m. and Chrisman at 4 p.m.
The Salt Fork girls basketball team is undefeated at 12-0 entering the Blue Devil Classic. The Storm will play North Vermillion at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday at the Bismarck-Henning Junior High Gym and will play Armstrong-Potomac at 5:30 p.m. at the BHRA Multi-Purpose Room. On Friday, Salt Fork will play Unity at 11:30 a.m. and Westville at 5:30 p.m.
The Host Blue Devils will play Benton Central at 11:30 a.m. and Oakwood at 7 p.m. on Thursday and will play North Vermillion at 10 a.m. and Attica at 4 p.m. The Tigers will play Attica at 10 a.m. and Benton Central at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, while the Trojans will play Unity at 10 a.m. on Thursday and Attica at 11:30 a.m. and North Vermillion at 2:30 p.m. on Friday.
The Comets will play Attica at 1 p.m. on Thursday and Benton Central at 1 p.m. on Friday and the Falcons will play Unity at 4 p.m. on Thursday.
The two teams with the best records will play for the title at 7 p.m. on Saturday at the BHRA Multi-Purpose room.
The Danville girls basketball team will play at the Coles County Holiday Tournament. The Lady Vikings’ journey will start on Friday at Mattoon with an 11:30 a.m. game against Galesburg and a 3 p.m. game against Sullivan. The record for the Vikings after the day will determine where they will go in Saturday’s action.