Around the State: Sectional Finals Notebook
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What. A. Night! It was quite a night of high school basketball around the state on Friday with four classes of sectional finals. Game winners, upsets, and big performances! We have it all right here in Around the State: Sectional…
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Continue ReadingWhat. A. Night! It was quite a night of high school basketball around the state on Friday with four classes of sectional finals. Game winners, upsets, and big performances! We have it all right here in Around the State: Sectional Finals Notebook!
1A
Southeastern defeats Peoria Christian 45-34
Two of the more unheralded players in central Illinois match up here. Senior Wes Hunt Wes Hunt 6'7" | PF Peoria Christian | 2022 State IL had 19 for Peoria Christian, but Southeastern 2023 power forward Danny Stephens Danny Stephens 6'7" | PF Southeastern | 2023 State IL had 24 points in the win.
Macon Meridan defeats Tuscola 82-79
Crazy game here as Meridan moves on in double OT as Graham Meisenhelter dropped a 60 footer at the buzzer for the win finishing with 23 points. Loyola commit and top 10 senior Jalen Quinn Jalen Quinn 6'3" | PG Tuscola | 2022 State #136 Nation IL ended his career with a 37 point performance.
Yorkville Christian defeats Putnam County 81-47
Duke commit Jaden Schutt Jaden Schutt 6'5" | SG Yorkville Christian | 2022 State #42 Nation IL lights up the nets for 21 points. The top senior and his squad should cruise into Champaign as favorites. Sleeper junior David Douglas David Douglas 6'5" | SG Yorkville Christian | 2023 State IL drops 17 points.
2A
Nashville defeats Breese Central 47-45
Brady Moore Brady Moore 6'4" | SG Breese Central | 2022 State IL had 14 points for Breese Central, but it wasn’t enough as Nashville moves on with a 23 point outing from Saxton Hoepker Saxton Hoepker 6'6" | PF Nashville | 2022 State IL .
Leo defeats Longwood 73-53
Leo moves on with an impressive win over a good Longwood squad. Tyler Smith Tyler Smith 6'0" | SG Kenwood | 2023 State IL led the way with 26 points for Leo. Longwood sleeper senior Terrance Jones Terrance Jones 6'2" | SG Longwood | 2022 State IL had 18 points.
DePaul Prep defeats Michelle Clark 64-48
Dylan Arnett Dylan Arnett 6'9" | PF DePaul Prep | 2022 State IL went to work for the Rams in the win! The UW-Milwaukee commit had 16 points. Small college gem Trevon Thomas Trevon Thomas 6'1" | PG DePaul Prep | 2022 State IL had a nice game as well. Darius Perryman finishes his career with 13 points for Clark.
Bloomington Central Catholic defeats Quincy Notre Dame 57-52
Cole Certa Cole Certa 6'4" | SG IMG Academy | 2024 State #129 Nation FL is that dude! We moved up the sophomore wing in our last rankings and it has been much deserved as he had 32 points in the sectional final!
3A
St. Ignatius defeats De La Salle 69-58
Iggy has recovered from a roller coaster season to be one game away from Champaign. Star junior Richard Barron Richard Barron 6'5" | SF St. Ignatius | 2023 State IL led the way with 25 points. Senior AJ Redd AJ Redd 6'3" | SG St. Ignatius | 2022 State IL had 16 points and Jackson Kotecki Jackson Kotecki 6'9" | PF Saint Ignatius | 2023 State IL stepped up big time with 14 points against De La Salle’s formidable front line. De La Salle’s senior scoring savant Dajuan Bates Dajuan Bates 6'1" | PG De La Salle | 2022 State IL went for 32 points in the loss.
Lemont defeats Thornton 56-49
We watched this game live on Friday night and you can see the full story on PHI. In short Rokas Castillo Rokas Castillo 5'11" | PG Lemont | 2023 State IL dropped 21 points and can shoot that thing!
Wheaton St. Francis defeats Burlington Central 37-35
Low scoring game helped Wheaton St. Francis pull off the upset over a Burlington Central team who had been in the top 15 of Chicago rankings all year.
Sacred Heart Griffin defeats Decatur MacArthur 55-53
SHG knocks off MacArthur in a battle of two great central Illinois squads. Jake Hamilton Jake Hamilton 6'3" | SG Sacred Heart Griffin | 2023 State IL had 17 points to lead the way.
Simeon defeats Hyde Park 71-51
Wolverines move on with a blowout victory over Hyde Park. Impressive margin for Simeon over a good Hyde Park squad. One of states top unsigned seniors Jaylen Drane Jaylen Drane 6'2" | PG Simeon | 2022 State IL had 20 points in the win. Balanced effort with Wesley Rubin Wesley Rubin 6'7" | PF Homewood Flossmoor | 2023 State IL (13 points), Avyion Morris Avyion Morris 5'9" | PG Simeon | 2022 State IL (12 points), Jalen Griffith Jalen Griffith 5'9" | PG Simeon | 2023 State IL (12 points), and Miles Rubin Miles Rubin 6'7" | PF Homewood Flossmoor | 2023 State #243 Nation IL (10 points) all contributing.
East St. Louis defeats Chatham Glenwood 56-47
The best 1-2 punch in the 618 continue to roll along as Mizzou commit Christian Jones Christian Jones 6'4" | SG East St. Louis | 2022 State IL and Macaleab Rich Macaleab Rich 6'5" | SF East St. Louis | 2023 State #261 Nation IL each had 23 points.
St. Patrick defeats Lake Forest 53-52
St. Pats scores a close victory over Lake Forest despite 23 points from star Asa Thomas Asa Thomas 6'6" | SF Lake Forest | 2023 State #91 Nation IL .
Metamora defeats Rock Island 68-64
Metamora protected their turf in a win where Tyson Swanson Tyson Swanson 6'2" | SG Metamora | 2023 State IL and Ethan Kizer Ethan Kizer 6'6" | SF Metamora | 2023 State IL had big outings. Rock Island senior guards Amarion Nimmers Amarion Nimmers 6'2" | PG Rock Island | 2022 State IL and Marieon Anderson Marieon Anderson 6'3" | SG Rock Island | 2022 State IL both had 15 points in the loss.
4A
Barrington defeats Libertyville 56-47
Daniel Hong Daniel Hong 6'2" | PG Barrington | 2022 State IL had a big night dropping 17 in the win for Barrington. Libertyville was led by 17 points from Chase Bonder Chase Bonder 6'6" | PF Libertyville | 2022 State IL .
Glenbard West defeats Wheaton Warrenville South 68-41
Another game. Another blowout. Gonzaga commit and PHI Player of the Year Braden Huff Braden Huff 6'11" | PF Glenbard West | 2022 State #58 Nation IL with 20 points. Next!
Quincy defeats Normal Community 56-51
Upset of the night! Quincy led Normal 45-23 with 5:45 left. Normal stormed back but came up just short. The Quincy freshman Bradley Longcor Bradley Longcor 6'3" | PG Quincy | 2025 State #337 Nation IL (16 points) and Keshaun Thomas Keshaun Thomas 6'5" | PF Quincy | 2025 State IL (13 points) helped senior New Orleans commit Jeremiah Talton Jeremiah Talton 6'6" | SF Quincy Senior | 2022 State IL who dropped 19 in the win. Liberty commit Zach Cleveland Zach Cleveland 6'8" | PF Normal West | 2022 State IL had 18 points.
Glenbrook South defeats New Trier 55-52
New Trier came up one jumper shy in this one. Glenbrook South wins the season series 2-1 and moves on. Cornell commit Cooper Noard Cooper Noard 6'2" | PG Glenbrook South | 2022 State IL led the way with 27 points. Nick Martinelli Nick Martinelli 6'6" | SF Glenbrook South | 2022 State #235 Nation IL had 12 points with a bunch of free throws. Dartmouth commit Jackson Munro Jackson Munro 6'8" | C New Trier | 2022 State IL finished his career with 12 points.
Whitney Young defeats Lyons 67-54
Miami commit AJ Casey AJ Casey 6'8" | PF Whitney Young | 2022 State #55 Nation IL shows why he is one of the best in the state. The senior had 17 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 blocks in the W for the Dolphins.
Larkin over DeKalb 70-56
Fernando Perez Fernando Perez 6'3" | SG Larkin | 2022 State IL went for 25 points and North Dakota State commit Damari Wheeler-Thomas Damari Wheeler-Thomas 6'0" | PG Larkin | 2022 State IL had 24 points in the win for Larkin. Lane Mcvicar Lane Mcvicar 6'5" | SG Dekalb | 2022 State IL had 18 points for DeKalb.
Bolingbrook defeats Oswego East 52-51
Bolingbrook is always tough in March. They knocked off a team that only lost one game all season coming in with this double OT win. Sleeper senior guard Jaydin Dunlap Jaydin Dunlap 6'1" | PG Bolingbrook | 2022 State IL led the way with 14 points while their force inside Michael Osei-Bonsu Michael Osei-Bonsu 6'4" | PF Bolingbrook | 2022 State IL scored 10 points. UMSL commit Patrick Robinson Patrick Robinson 6'4" | SG Oswego East | 2022 State IL had 12 points for Oswego East.
Kenwood defeats St. Rita 75-68
The Kenwood backcourt does their thing behind Nevada signee Trey Pettigrew Trey Pettigrew 6'3" | PG Hillcrest Prep | 2022 State #143 Nation IL who had 18 points and top ranked junior Darrin Ames Darrin Ames 6'1" | PG Kenwood | 2023 State #99 Nation IL with 23 points. Kaiden Space Kaiden Space 6'2" | SG St.Rita | 2023 State IL continued his late season run with 20 points for St. Rita while Illini commit Morez Johnson Morez Johnson 6'9" | PF Thornton | 2024 State #33 Nation IL ended his sophomore campaign with 16 points and 11 boards.