The Clinton High School boy's basketball team opens its 2022-23 basketball season tonight with plenty of optimism and for good reason.

Tonight marks, for the first time since the 80s, Coach Vic Binkley will lead a basketball team other than Warrensburg-Latham. Coach Binkley comes to Clinton after stepping down at Clinton's Central Illinois Conference rival last year and is looking forward to a fresh start.

Being at Warrensburg-Latham last year, Coach Binkley indicates his team would often follow Clinton in it's CIC schedule and so obviously seeing them in person, at the CIC tournament but on film, Coach Binkley is optimistic about what this team can do.

The Maroons struggled at times to find consistency on offense last season, and while a young team, Coach Binkley does not want this young team to be gun shy with it's shot selection this season.

Coach Binkley comes to Clinton with the message it is Clinton's turn to be at the top of the conference and believes this team could do that this year. 

He is thankful for the administration at Clinton High School for being there for him at a difficult time when he was down and discouraged. 

The Maroons are at the Bill Rucks Memorial Thanksgiving Tournament this week. They open things tonight taking on Edinburg at 5 pm. They'll battle Illini Central tomorrow night at 5 pm. You can hear the action on WHOW and all its digital platforms.

The Maroons will continue play Wednesday and then Coach Binkley meets his former team, Warrensburg-Latham for the first time at 8 pm.

Clinton does not host its first home game until Tuesday, Dec. 6 against Mt. Pulaski at 7:30 pm.