There’s almost always a story that comes out of the annual Eldorado Holiday Tournament. The 2023 edition is no different. It wasn’t the Herrin Tigers three-peating however. This tournament will be remembered for a Hamilton County student athlete getting cold cocked in what many say was a pre-meditated move by an Eldorado student athlete with a history of such aggressive moves. The controversy is bringing into question the leadership of adults, coaches, and mentors at Eldorado and within high school sports.
At this point, the ball is in the administration’s hands as well as officials with the Illinois High School Association. Eldorado officials released a statement on Friday, in it saying they were conducting a thorough investigation into the incident. Furthermore, they say they will not tolerate the unsportsmanlike behavior displayed. Some say they not only have been tolerating that kind of behavior, but are even more concerned it’s potentially been encouraged.
The athlete on the receiving end of the elbow was knocked to the floor, bloodied and then collapsed multiple times attempting to stand and make his way off the court. Family have since said the boy is sore and swollen, but that he will heal in time and injuries he sustained aren’t permanent.
See the video here: https://www.youtube.com/live/HBYSmpG8YGU?si=cUkDjevcRPlybMdX&t=3324
Video of the event has been viewed nearly 10,000 times in just days. Since it happened, others have piped up, some with video of other incidents on social media that show what could be construed as a disturbing pattern. There’s also concern over whether this type of aggressive play is taught and encouraged. In talking to community members around the region, some say this has been common practice for decades.
The Bulldogs are set to face the Eagles in Eldorado on Friday, January 5th.
Sharon Terry
December 30, 2023 at 12:20 pmThe boy from Eldorado need kick off the team for a year or permanently
June
December 30, 2023 at 12:33 pmAnd if you read what kyler cook wrote about his past experiences with the coach he mentions a name of Nathen behrens as being the “punisher” to send him to hurt other players .. look up Nathen behrens background he is currently in Williamson county jail for drugs again and 5 times now to prison he just keeps getting out.. eldorado whole town is all family who runs it it will get swept under the rug unless we keep this going and dig further into it I believe these kids
Terry
December 30, 2023 at 1:46 pmI also question the referee who was supposed to be watching for lane violations during the shooting of the free throw.
Cindy Grimes
December 30, 2023 at 4:39 pmThe OFFICIAL who did NOTHING about what happened RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIM should be banned from officiating all sports.
OO Buckshot
December 30, 2023 at 9:40 pmThe more I watch the replay s, the more upset I get. When a player intentionally throws a hard elbow to the face of an opponent is more than a “bad play”. What a joke, that was a will played move. Coach and player both need discipline taken against them.
EaglesRule
December 30, 2023 at 11:11 pmWeak.
Theresa
December 31, 2023 at 8:19 amIf the state a**ociation doesn’t step in and take matters into their own hands, the school and coaches will continue to feel entitled to their aggressive yet flagrant style of play
NCO77
December 31, 2023 at 9:28 amI think the ref also needs to be suspended. From the photo in the story you can see him standing right in front of the play
Lee A
December 31, 2023 at 12:12 pmSadly, this is not new for Eldorado and McLeansboro. Back in the 80’s Hosman barked and his thugs attacked. Hamilton County fans regularly call for violence against other players during the football season. If these young men can’t behave like professionals they have no business representing the community. The tax dollars should be pulled for sports if they can’t be civil. American children need to spend time studying like the Asian countries do. Wonder why America is falling behind? Here you go.
Tyler
December 31, 2023 at 1:37 pmI believe the officials from the game should see some repercussions as well not just the player and coach! The refs missed multiple calls and allowed all kinds of dirty play! All three of the refs were tied in with eldorado in some shape and form! They shouldn’t be allowed to get away with not doing there job properly!
PistolPete44
January 18, 2024 at 12:11 pmEXACTLY
Sandra S.
January 1, 2024 at 12:13 pmThat guy is a bully who had to learn how to be one from someone in his life. I am sure 20 years from now he will be living in his parents basement, driving his jacked up pickup truck around the town square stopping to tell anyone who will listen about his high school basketball career.
There won’t be a college around who will want to have a guy like that on their team.
Blondie
January 2, 2024 at 9:31 amEldorado is also sadly lacking in providing written IEPs and informing parents of available help for students who have disabilities or need extra help. This is in spite of being REQUIRED BY LAW to do so. This ha been an ongoing problem for at least 20 years.
Zack Vanderveer
January 2, 2024 at 11:01 amI’ll be shocked if the Eldorado high school board takes any action on this. Basketball is all Eldorado has and everyone in southern Illinois knows the coach encourages his players to be violent. The fact that there has been ZERO news out of the board meeting speaks volumes.
E a g l e s
January 2, 2024 at 12:00 pmBecause of this there is no reason to come after the middle school boys or girl coaches the girls coaches i know very well and played for them they are fine they never wanted us to hurt another player im not saying what he did was right but everyone wants all the head coaches fired from high school to middle school the real thing is there not gonna fire a Bradley mostly because they have the most power and they are running this town
Glelila
January 2, 2024 at 6:32 pmThe IHSA has the power to end that behavior. We will see if they care enough to wield that power.
Shawn peyton
January 2, 2024 at 7:56 pmSad thing is they play dirty and still lose
Go eagles
Holly
January 3, 2024 at 6:50 amI am in awe of the audacity displayed by the young man who clearly elbowed the heck out of the opposing player for absolutely no good reason. It wasn’t an accident while playing defense. It was a premeditated move. Whether he was coached to do so or not I have no clue. But ANY school, coach, official that would allow this type of behavior is not one I’d want any child to go to. If the elbowed child were mine-i would be on front steps of that school every morning until I got justice for my child no matter how long it took or who I had to call in from IL State Police to the freaking Supreme Court if need be.
Kids have enough issues learning how to become successful adults in the world these days. Bullying “on the court” for the world to see is by far beyond absurd. I think his punishment should be made Public. I feel the kid should never touch a high school basketball court again. Bc obviously there are issues with that basketball program.in some way. The world is an unfair place and will beat you down. But n a high school court-this behavior is despicable at best if not criminal.
Net
January 3, 2024 at 2:20 pmTime for a large lawsuit
Jim
January 4, 2024 at 12:24 pmI am blown away you would fire an entire coach staff over a foul like that. It was a cheap shot for sure but I can’t figure out why you would terminate the coaching staff over it. I guess we really are living in changing times.
GDub
February 19, 2024 at 10:53 amAnd as expected, it’s all been silently swept under the rug…