The Peoria Rivermen only led when it mattered as their first lead of the game came in the shootout on their way to a 4-3 win over the Abbottsford Heat on Tuesday night at Carver Arena before 3,269 fans. Adam Cracknell tied the score with the net empty and only 47.2 seconds remaining after the Rivermen started the night down 2-0. Ben Walter scored twice in regulation for Abbotsford while goaltender Danny Taylor was peppered with 39 shots in the loss. Two fights occurred within five seconds of the first goal being scored. Chris Bruton and Judd Blackwater dropped the gloves at the 4:54 mark. Three seconds later Anthony Peluso had a lengthy round with Pierre-Luc Letoumeau-Leblond. With 47.2 seconds left the Rivermen, Cracknell’s 14th goal of the season sent the game to overtime. With the puck behind the net, Derek Nesbitt made a pass back to Cracknell at the right post who jammed in the equalizer. Click here for Game Box Score.
-Bob
Eureka High School held Stillman Valley to 38 points and 39 percent field goal shooting Monday night. The Hornets also forced 22 turnovers, instead it seemed to do everything but fall through the net for the ladies in a 38-26 loss to the Cardinals in the IHSA Monmouth Class 2A Super-Sectional. The Hornets were 10 of 53 from the field for 18.9 percent, ending their season with a 24-7 record. Eureka senior guard Kalla Gold, who scored a game-high 15 points on 5-of-21 accuracy from the field. Five-foot-10 senior Jessica Gerig led Stillman Valley with 11 points and nine rebounds. Katie Fowler, also 5-10, added nine points and seven boards for the Cardinals, who outrebounded Eureka, 39-30.
-Bob
Playing without injured scoring leader Taylor Brown, Bradley (7-22) could not come up with enough offense to overcome Loyola-Chicago (7-19) Saturday night in the Sears BracketBusters contest, dropping a 56-44 decision at Carver Arena before 7,680 loyal fans. Junior forward Ben Averkamp put up a double-double by leading all players with 19 points and 10 rebounds to pace the Ramblers, who earned just their fifth road win in 25 tries at Bradley. Freshman guard Jalen Crawford led the Braves with 12 points and sophomore guard Walt Lemon, Jr. added 11 points off the bench. Final Stats and Game Box Score.
-Bob
Bradley was held without a 3-point field goal for an entire game for the second time this season and the cold-shooting allowed Drake (15-12, 8-8 MVC) to escape Carver Arena with a 62-55 victory against the Braves (7-21, 2-14 MVC) Wednesday night. Bradley finished the game 0-for-20 from behind the 3-point arc, but still managed to cut an 18-point deficit with 9:35 remaining to three, 56-53, with 1:20 remaining. Compounding Wednesday’s shooting struggles, season scoring leader Taylor Brown (15.3 ppg) injured his right big toe early in the first half and managed only seven scoreless minutes. Sophomore guard Walt Lemon, Jr. tried to pick up the slack by scoring a game-high 22 points off the Bradley bench. Sophomore center Jordan Prosser was Bradley’s only other double-digit scorer, finishing with 10 points and nine rebounds. Junior swingman Jake Eastman equaled a career-high with 10 boards. Rayvonte Rice paced the Bulldogs with 15 points, while Kurt Alexander added 15 off the bench and Aaron Hawley chipped in with 12, highlighted by an off-balanced jumper from the right wing with 47 seconds left to give the Bulldogs some breathing room, 58-53. Jordan Clarke snared a career-best 16 rebounds to lead Drake’s 44-39 rebounding advantage. Click here for Final Game Stats.
-Bob
Here are some of the finished pieces that will be up for auction on February 24th, 2012 at the 7th annual Black & Blue Ball at the Peoria Civic Center. Last years live auction raised over $40,000.00 for the kids at Easter Seals. Be sure to mark this evening on your calendar and bid on these unique pieces of pottery. The children did an awesome job as always and the finished pieces are breathtaking. A huge thanks goes out to owner Kati Faletti and her manager Heather Hogan at Fired -Up Studios on Prospect in Peoria Heights for being such gracious hosts and making this project possible.
-Bob
