Looking back and ahead: Cahokia Conference Mississippi Division

Throughout the next week we will take a look back at the conferences in southern Illinois and  the results of the 2017-2018 season. We will look at the standings and the All Conference/Top players that will return for the 2018-2019 season. we will share a little insight and then later on in the summer/fall we will get more in depth by team in a full preview of next season. The next conference to look at is the Cahokia Conference, Mississippi Division. The standings for last year were: 1. Breese Central 10-0 2. Freeburg 7-3 3. Columbia 5-5 4. Salem 5-5 5. Carlyle 3-7 6. Wesclin 0-10 This conference has been dominated by Breese Central recently and last year was no different. It was an outstanding 29-5 year that ended with a trip to state for the Cougars. With a senior dominated team it will be interesting to see if the Cougars can continue to reload and keep the rest of the conference chasing them. Freeburg ended up winning 21 games and lost in the Regional final to Breese Central. Columbia won 17 games including the Candy Cane tourney at Waterloo Gibault but unfortunately had to face Breese Central in the first round of the Regional tourney. Top returning players for next year are: <ul> <li><strong>Allyson Fehrmann </strong>Senior guard Breese Central</li> <li><strong>Colleen Cockrell </strong>Senior forward Freeburg</li> <li><strong>Lily Oliver </strong>Senior guard Freeburg</li> <li><strong>Sophia Bonaldi </strong>Senior guard Columbia</li> <li><strong>Lexi Touchette </strong>Senior forward Columbia</li> <li><strong>Chloe Harness</strong> Sophomore forward Salem</li> <li><strong>Taylor Gillett </strong>Junior center Salem</li> <li><strong>Brooklyn Smith </strong>Senior forward Carlyle</li> <li><strong>Molly Diekemper </strong>Junior forward Carlyle</li> <li><strong>Jenna Haselhorst </strong>Senior guard Wesclin</li> </ul> The upcoming season may be the opportunity for someone other than Breese Central to take control of the conference. Columbia returns Bonaldi who earned post season honors after her Junior season and will have two other returning starters to support her in bringing the Eagles to the top of the standings. Carlyle returns two strong players in Smith and Diekemper and will look to improve their 3-7 record of last season. We will have a more in depth preview later in the summer or early fall, but we look at this conference as one that should be fun to see who steps forward.