Basketball
The Galesburg Silver Streak boys basketball team took the floor for the first time in the postseason last night, hosting Peoria Richwoods in a semi-final game at John Thiel Gym at Galesburg High School. Galesburg, the 4th ranked team in the state of Illinois according to the latest class 3A AP poll, got off to a slow start as they were tied with the (12-17) Knights at 14 after the first quarter horn. The defense kicked in for the Silver Streaks in the middle two quarters, while the offense started to get untracked. Galesburg opened up a nine point lead at 30-21 at the half and 42-32 heading into the final period. The Streaks would make ten free throws in the 4th quarter to thwart any comeback by Richwoods. Galesburg will move on to Friday night’s regional championship game with a 67-47 victory. Jaylin McCants scored 24 points to lead all scorers in the game for Galesburg. McCants scored 12 of the Silver Streak 25 fourth quarter points. McCants was joined in double figures by Alex Egipciaco with 14 and Eric Price and Dre Egipciaco with 11 points each. Galesburg is (29-3) overall and will take on the winner of tonight’s second semi-final from Galesburg High School between (15-11) Peoria Manual and (11-20) Limestone. The Streaks beat Limestone 85-58 last week in their final regular season game and have not played Manual this season.
It was a great night for the Western Big Six Conference. Rock Island also won a class 3A regional semi-final, beating LaSalle-Peru 86-57. Geneseo knocked off Dixon 62-45 in the 3A Sterling regional. United Township upset 2nd seeded Pekin 48-47 in a class 4A regional at Wharton Fieldhouse in Moline. The only loss of the night for the Big Six was Quincy falling to Edwardsville 54-32 in a class 4A regional semifinal at Edwardsville.
Small school boys basketball sectional semifinals were on tap last night. The Rockridge Rockets’ season ended in Princeton. The Rockets fell behind early and could not catch up to the Fieldcrest Knights. Rockridge ends their season at (27-6) after losing to Fieldcrest 52-41. In class 1A, Peoria Quest’s season also ended at the hands of Athens 67-60.
Junior High
Junior High girls volleyball 7th grade regional tournaments continued last night. The ICS Trojans will play for a class 1A regional title tomorrow night after beating Galva by identical scores of 25-10 and 25-10. The Trojans will play Kewanee Visitation, a straight set winner over Annawan in the second semifinal last night, at 5:30 on Thursday night at ICS Junior High in Monmouth.
The United Red Storm ladies lost to Lewistown at the Lewistown class 2A regional tournament. The Red Storm fall 25-14, 27-25. West Central beat London Mills in the first semifinal so they will battle the host Indians tomorrow night at 6:00 at Lewistown Junior High School.