The Mount Zion Braves, who defeated Centralia on Monday in the Springfield Super Sectionals, are making their first-ever trip to the state and are coming in at 35-1. They play Chicago Mount Carmel, who comes in at 31-5, at 9:30.
JC Anderson, a 6-7 sophomore, is leading the Braves, who are enjoying their best season in team history under fifth-year head coach Dale Schuring. On his route to 20 points in the second half, the big man dominated the supers. He comes in averaging 15 points and 9 rebounds per game. With 16 points per game, Lincoln Koester leads the club in scoring, and Sam Driscoll’s accurate shooting allows him to score from wherever. The Braves have won 17 straight games since their lone loss, which came against the reigning 4a state champion Metamora on January 19.
Today at the State Farm Center is the Class 3a state semifinals.
Coach Phil Segroves leads the Chicago Catholic Conference team that joins the Caravan. Six players on Mount Carmel average over ten, topped by Angelo Ciaravino (21), and Lee Marks (over 16). They advanced to their second trip to state in the program’s history after defeating St Patrick at UIC in Super Sectional play. The other occurred in 1985, when there were just two classifications, when they won the 2A state championship.
The victor goes to the championship tomorrow at 5:30, while the loser plays again tonight at 6:30 against the Peoria Richwoods and DePaul College Prep losers. Coming into the game, the Richwood Knights are 29-4 in the Big Twelve Conference. The DePaul Rams are 33-2 out of the Chicago Catholic Conference.
The Normal Community Ironmen, who are 31-5 in the Big Twelve Conference, will play the 28-8 Palatine Pirates in the 4A state semifinals, which begin at 2:00 p.m. The New Trier Trevians, who finished third last year, will play the 31-4 Vikings of Homewood Flossmoor at 29-7 after that.
The championship game will conclude the prep season tomorrow night at 7:30, with the 4A third place game taking place tonight at 8:15.
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