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Saints come up short in state quarterfinals

erich murphy, pontiac daily leader
·3 min read
St. Mary's seventh grade Saints reached the Elite Eight in Class 1A boys' basketball. The Saints fell to Pana (Sacred Heart) Saturday in the quarterfinal round to end its season at 20-5. The Saints are, in front from left, Henry Yedinak, Zain Pierce, Adam Vitzthum and Graham Mennenga. In back are coach Matt Milhauser, coach Julio Carranza, Jack DeYoung, Sam Dewald, Aden Brummel, Chris Gray, coach Adam Lawrence and coach Matt Brummel.

EAST PEORIA — St. Mary's ran into trouble in the second half of its seventh grade Class 1A state quarterfinal matchup with Pana (Sacred Heart) Saturday at East Peoria Junior High. The Saints, who lead after each of the first two quarters, dropped a 38-24 decision to end its season as a member of the Elite Eight.

St. Mary's jumped out to a 9-5 lead after the first quarter. Sacred Heart then began its rally in the second by cutting the margin to 15-14 by the intermission.

Sacred Heart came out of the break hot as it put up 14 points in the third period alone to take a 29-20 lead into the last stanza. St. Mary's was outscored 10-4 in the fourth quarter as the Saints saw their season end with a 20-5 record.

Aden Brummel led SMS with 17 points. Sam Dewald added 4 points and Zain Pierce threw in 3 markers.

Sacred Heart was led by Easton Malisia who scored 19 points. Sacred Heart defeated Royal Prairieview-Ogden in the semifinals and will face Peoria (St. Jude) for the state title.

Dwight 62, Roanoke-Benson 57 OT

ROANOKE — Dwight outscored Roanoke-Benson 5-0 in overtime to leave town with a 62-57 Tri-County Conference boys' basketball victory Friday.

The Trojans stumbled a bit in the fourth quarter as the host Rockets shot back from a seven-point deficit to forge a 57-57 tie at the end of regulation. DTHS led 43-36 after three quarters.

Roanoke scored 21 points in the fourth frame to knot the game and force overtime. But the Rockets fizzled in the extra period as Dwight shut them down. The Trojans managed just five points but that proved to be the difference.

Dwight jumped out to a 16-13 advantage after the first quarter and held a 31-18 edge at the halftime break.

Wyatt Thompson poured in 29 points, including nine in the fourth quarter and overtime, to pace Dwight (13-13). Dawson Carr scored 10 points, Connor Telford scored 9 and Jack Duffy tallied 6 points. Luke Gallet and Jace Gall tallied in 3 points apiece and Joey Starks scored 2 points.

EPG 79, Tremont 63

EL PASO — Micah Meiss and Jonah Funk combined for nearly 50 points in leading El Paso-Gridley to a 79-63 Heart of Illinois Conference basketball victory over Tremont Friday.

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Meiss hit for 29 points to lead the EPG offense and Funk recorded a double double with 20 points and 13 rebounds. Both were key as the Titans opened up a close game in the third period.

EPG led 44-38 at the half and then outscored the Turks 23-10 in the third for a 67-48 lead heading into the homestretch.

Chancesay Maxon added 15 points for the Titans.

Nashville 40, EPG 39

BENTON — Friday's success nearly carried over to Saturday for El Paso-Gridley,but the Titans came up short at the end to southern Illinois power Nashville. The Hornets stung the Titans 40-39 at the Rich Herrin Shootout hosted by Benton High School.

Funk made a layup to give EPG a 39-37 lead late, but Nashville scored the final points of the game with a 3-pointer in the final seconds.

The Titans jumped out to a 9-2 lead in the first quarter but Nashville answered with a 10-point difference in the second in taking a 17-14 lead into the break. EPG then scored 15 points in the third to hold a 29-24 edge heading into the fourth period.

Funk finished with 22 points and 11 rebounds to pace EPG (13-13). Maxon added 10 points and Meiss scored 7 points.

This article originally appeared on Pontiac Daily Leader: St. Mary's Saints come up short in state quarterfinals