Shelby Area prep basketball teams were taking on teams from all over the downstate area and taking on the heat, as well this week in Vandalia at one of the two shootouts to be hosted by the Vandals. Shelbyville, Stew-Stras, Pana and Windsor were four Shelby Area teams involved Monday and Tuesday. On Thursday and Friday in the second shootout, Shelbyville returned and was joined by Central A&M.

Shelbyville hasn’t beaten too many teams in their three shootouts so far this summer, Pana is about .500 and so is Stew-Stras. All the area teams are checking out the new chemistry on their rosters brought about by graduations and underclassmen moving up.

Shelbyville has a new coach Matt Franks and an accompanying change in offensive and defensive philosophies. So, Shelbyville is still a little behind the learning curve, as they try to implement a new system and new mindset on the job at these shootouts.

“We’ll have two good rotations on defense and then have one bad one,” said Coach Franks.

Shelby was 0-3 at the Mahomet Shootout early in the month, and went 1-2 at St. Joe. The Rams beat Momence and came within four points of St. Joe. The Rams also lost to Princeton, a super-sectional team from last year. At Vandy on Monday, the Rams lost to Greenville, lost to Murphysboro and only beat Ramsey.

The Rams were led early this week by senior point guard Caine Cloe, a 3-year starter, and forward Dustyn Fatheree. The rest of the crew at Vandy were all freshmen: Jake Keown, Nathan Standerfer, Brody Bence, Tucker Schwengel, and Kurtis Cameron. Upperclassmen Levi Pruemer and Cody Langan, who were at basketball camp, and Austin Smith are expected to join them for the season.

Stew-Stras is only adding to their existing strength. Point guard Jaden Widdersheim and his fellow shootist Will Rincker were back for more and Jon Hoene was the lone anchor in the post with Chris Koontz on vacation. Add to that Kyle Helmuth, Luke Rincker, Zack Rincker, and some new pieces and they don’t seem to have skipped a beat.

Pana will be relying on Sharpshooter Derek Ade, some inside presence from forwards Nick Spracklen and Jake Adcock. A cast of upperclassmen hustlers like Dominick Rice and Adam Metzger and other former JV players ready to make the next step could fuel a surprise up tempo team.

Windsor has lost a group of seniors like, Jake McIlwain, Travis Trimble, Trevor Warner, but their sophomore-heavy cast from last year are now juniors, more experienced, more mature, and stronger.

Pana played Chrisman on Tuesday and went into overtime. In sudden death, Chrisman missed a shot and Pana came down and got Adcock in the paint for a short jumper and the win.

Shelbyville played Stew-Stras and the Comets gradually made it a 20-point win. Shelbyville didn’t penetrate enough, like their new coach wants, and settled for outside shots, which became the bulk of their scoring.

The Comets tried to break down the Ram defense and drive or dish and also got the ball into Hoene, who was unmatched. After the Shelby Stew-Stras game, Pana played again, this time against St. Elmo, which