With a two-game win streak, the Trojans are playing streaky basketball right now. Taylorville, meanwhile, is 0-7 in the Apollo Conference. Charleston has a chance to become one game away from being at .500. 

Here is the preview of tonight’s game. 

Team Records: Charleston (8-10, 3-4) @ Taylorville (3-20, 0-7)

Where: Dolph Staley Gym

Tickets: Tickets can be purchased at Taylorville

School Size: Charleston (796), Taylorville (756)

JV Tip-Off: 6 p.m.

Varsity Tip-Off: 7:30 p.m.

Taylorville’s  History: Dolph Stanley is the legendary coach from Taylorville’s earlier days. Stanley coached the Tornadoes to a state championship in 1945. After enduring numerous losing seasons since then, the team has turned a corner in the last decade. That started with Hall of Fame coach Carey McVickers, leading the team to their last Regional Championship in 2013. McVickers retired in 2015 and former Mount Zion head coach Ryan Brown stepped in. Prior to the season, Brown was 116-90 at Taylorville. In three seasons at Mount Zion, Brown was 53-36. Last year, the team was 16-15. 

Taylorville’s Past Results: Taylorville was 0-5 when the team took on Charleston on December 3. The Trojans defeated Taylorville at Baker Gym 76-69. The loss to Charleston was a part of a 14-game losing streak to being the season. Taylorville’s first win was not until December 29th against Rantoul (60-54). Since the start of the new year, Taylorville has won two more games, 47-44 over Nokomis and a 74-66 win over Father McGivney. Among their Apollo games, Taylorville has been defeated b Charleston, Lincoln 61-28, Mahomet-Seymour 74-52, Mattono 63-57, Mount Zion 73-55, Effingham 60-57, and Effingham again 55-53.

Taylorville’s Top Players: Will Bitschenaurer leads the team in scoring, while Will Turvey is right around his scoring average. Drake Howard is also in the mix for scorers. In the team’s narrow loss to Effingham last week, Howard scored 16 points, Turvey added 15 points, and Bitschenauer added 13 points. 

Taylorville’s Team Stats:  The Tornadoes are averaging 49.6 points per game and allowing 66.3 points per game. 

Charleston’s Past Results: Charleston is rocking a two-game winning streak since their 70-40 loss to Moun Zion on Jan. 12. Last Saturday, the Trojans defeated Rantoul 69-53. On Tuesday, the team held off Champaign Centennial, 51-48. 

Charleston’s Team Stats: William Applegate has pushed his scoring average to lead the team with 13.8 per game. Caleb Oakley is right behind with 12.1 points per game. Luke Bonnstetter adds 10.5 points and James Hess is averaging 8.3 per game.