Boys Basketball
The Lincoln Trail Conference’s final team remaining in the postseason, the Annawan Braves, took on Colfax Ridgeview in the Class 1A Super Sectionals in Normal. The Braves trailed by three points at 20-17 at the half but would come back to get a 39-32 victory to get their 30th win against just three losses. The 30 wins are a new program record, breaking the mark of 29 set last year. Owen Landwehr led Annawan with 10 points. The Braves will now play Sterling Newman at 11:15 on Friday morning at the Peoria Civic Center in the state semifinals. Newman defeated Chicago Providence St. Mel 61-60 in Dekalb last night.
The Peoria Quest Gators tried to join Annawan in Peoria this weekend but fell to Okawville 65-64 in double overtime. Quest bows out of the playoffs with a season record of (26-8). Okawville will take on Goreville in the second 1A semi-final on Friday afternoon at 1:00. Goreville beat Moweaqua Central A&M 74-61.
In Class 2A, Deer Creek-Mackinaw’s Cinderella season came to an end with a 47-46 loss to Bloomington Central Catholic in the Springfield Super Sectional. Dee-Mack ends the season with a record of (26-7). They were led in last night’s game by Levi Scheuermann’s 20 points. BCC, now (25-6) will play Chicago Orr on Friday night 7:15 in the second semi-final. Orr was victorious Hope Academy 74-64 in Joliet. In the first semi-final at 5:30 from the Civic Center, Pinckneyville will battle Winnebago, who was a 58-55 winner over Chicago Corliss.
Moving on to the big schools, the Western Big Six Conference had three teams left in the Sweet Sixteen of the Class 4A playoffs. Two of those schools met in the Pekin Sectionals. Moline and Rock Island did battle for four quarters and it was the Moline Maroons that will move on to Friday night’s sectional championship game. The Maroons beat the Rocks 55-43 behind Deonte Billups led Moline with 19 points, six rebounds and four blocks. Ben Ellis led Rocky with 13 points and seven rebounds. Moline is now (23-7) on the season.
Quincy attempted to join the Maroons in the sectional finals on Friday night as they took on (27-2) Belleville West in a game that was moved to Alton from Pekin. Quincy got off to a rough start and would trail 41-11 at the half. The Blue Devils would eventually fall 63-33. West is now (28-2) and will tip-off at Pekin High School on Friday night at 7:00 against Moline. The winner moves on to Normal Super Sectional next Tuesday.
In Class 3A, it was Sterling over Peoria Manual 81-78 in triple overtime in LaSalle-Peru and Springfield Lanphier beat Chamapaign Central 71-69 in double overtime.
Junior High
The Monmouth-Roseville 8th grade volleyball team’s season came to an end last night at the United Jr. High Class 3A regional semi-final. The Titans fall to Knoxville in a heartbreaking 26-28, 28-26, 25-9 loss to the Blue Bullets. Leading the way for Monmouth-Roseville was Rileigh Ewing with 10 aces and 6 assists. Karliegh Ashby had 5 kills and 3 blocks. Cristina Dilley and Megan Noel contributed 4 kills. The Titans end their season with an overall record of (6-15).
The ICS Trojans are hosting their own Class 1A 8th grade volleyball regional. The Trojans will play for a regional championship tonight at 5:30 at ICS Jr. High in Monmouth. Leading ICS was Brooke Kane with 16 service points, including 8 aces. Josie and Jenna Bentz each smashed three kills and Maddy Diaz dished out 5 assists. The top-seeded Trojans will take on Cuba after beating LaHarpe last night in two sets, 25-9, 25-22. Cuba beat London Mills Valley in three sets in last night’s second semi-final. Should ICS win tonight, they will head to Williamsfield for the sectional on Monday night at Williamsfield High School.
The Regional Championship will be played Wednesday March 7th at 5:30 at ICS. The Lady Trojans will be up against the Cuba Cardinals for the final match.
The West Central 8th grade volleyball team’s season also came to an end in the Colchester regional quarterfinals. The Heat dropped a 25-15, 25-12 match to the host West Prairie Cyclones last night.
