The Wabash Valley College basketball teams open their home season tonight (Thursday) with the Lady Warriors taking on Jefferson College, of Hillsboro, Mo., and the Warriors going against New Creations Prep of Richmond, Ind.

The women's game will begin at 5:30 p.m. with the men's game to follow at 7:30 p.m.

The WVC Bookstore is tonight's Corporate Sponsor.

Zach Loll, who took over as the Lady Warriors head coach this year, knows his team will have its hands full with Jefferson. The Lady Vikings opened their season with an 85-45 victory over Southeastern Illinois Saturday.

Jefferson has three very talented players. Shaquanda Wiggins, 6-foot-2, is a strong inside player at both ends of the court. Alisha Goodwin, 5-foot-8, and Porsha Porter, 5-foot-6, are both guards that have quickness and the ability to score. Goodwin is a transfer from St. Louis University.

The Lady Vikings like to get up and down the floor, which means the Lady Warriors will have to control the game's tempo.

"They play a very tight defense, they like to pressure you," said Loll. "We are going to have to take care of the ball. When you make turnovers a lot of times that turns into easy baskets."

Loll is pleased with the way his Lady Warriors have progressed so far. They are ready to play and also have some players to watch.

Charnequois Jackson is a point guard who has played well so far. Kristen Washington, a returnee from last season, is expected to have a good start this season. Tara Nidey, from Vincennes, is a very heady player with a passion for the game; Loll likes the way she plays at both ends of the floor.

New Creations played, and lost, at Vincennes on Sunday night and at Olney Central on Monday.

Two players have led New Creations in scoring so far, 6-foot-2 Haydon Annett and 5-foot-10 Phillip Bond; both are guards and both had 20 points against Vincennes. Walter Pitchford, 6-foot-10, had 13 against Vincennes.

Annett had 18 against Olney with Bond pouring in 17.

New Creations likes to shoot the three, and if they get hot from beyond the arc they will be a force with which to be reckoned.

The Warriors are coming off a big win at Moberly on Sunday. It was a big night for 6-foot-8 Brandon McGee, who scored 21, and 6-foot-7 Omar sanders, who added 13. Desmond Holloway, returning for his second season, added 16 points while hitting 10 of 12 free throws.

The Warriors next home game will be Nov. 9, when Kennedy-King visits the Spencer Sports Center. Corporate sponsor for that game will be Taco Tierra.

WVC will also recognize two Mt. Carmel High School athletic teams tonight, the Golden Aces football team and the school's golf team, which placed Second in the Illinois High School Association's Class A State Tournament.