The Limestone Rockets (25-10) made school history by winning the IHSA Class 3A boys basketball 3rd place trophy Saturday by defeating Chicago Orr 58-49 at Carver Arena in downtown Peoria. Limestone opened it’s doors in 1953 and was finally able to bring home a state basketball tournament trophy under the leadership of head coach Eddie Mathews. “We’ve had so much enthusiasm in the building and throughout the community lately, you could smell it in the air,” school superintendent Allan Gresham said. Here are some of my shot’s from the magical weekend of the boys in blue from a proud 1971 alumnus.
-Bob
The Morton High School Lady Potters (30-5) lost to two-time defending IHSA State Champions Quincy Notre Dame (29-0) 67-51 at Redbird Arena in Normal, IL. Kassidy Gengenbacher led QND with 15 points, with her sister Kristen added 13 points and unanimous first-team all-stater Jordan Frericks scored 12 points and grabbed 8 rebounds. Morton freshman Chandler Ryan led the Potters with 18 points on 6-for-9 shooting from the field. Kaitlyn Bryne added 15 points and senior all-stater Sarah Livingston scored 10 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. They play three-time Class 3A state champion Lombard Montini (34-2) in the third-place game at noon Saturday.
-Bob
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The Moline Maroons (30-11) were one strike away from a Class 4A state semifinal win and a berth in the title game when the Bartlett Hawks (32-8) mounted a rally and upset the defending state champs 7-3 Friday at Eastside Centre. Moline entered the top of the seventh clinging to a 3-2 advantage. Sophomore pitcher Alaina Hofmann got the first batter of the inning to fly to center, but hit No. 9 hitter Steph Tomazin. Hofmann struck out the next hitter, but a walk brought Temple-bound junior catcher Kaylyn Zierke to the plate. After working the count full, Zierke singled in the tying run. Two batters later, Kayla Haberstich hit a three-run homer that put Bartlett up for good. The Hawks rally erased a record-tying two-homer effort by Moline senior shortstop Brittny Drish. The Illinois State Redbird commit drove in all three Maroons runs, using a bat that wasn’t even hers. “I got mine confiscated in the very beginning of the game,” Drish said. “I ended up using the same bat that (Jordan de los Reyes) does, but its Lecy Walsbusser’s bat.” Bartlett plays Chicago Marist (26-15) in the IHSA Class 4A Championship game at 5:00 p.m. Saturday. Click here for complete game stats.
-Bob
The Nashville Hornettes (34-4) stunned the St. Joeseph-Ogden Spartans (40-1) in there IHSA Class 2A semifinal game 5-2 at Eastside Centre. Nashville jumped to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a three-run homer by Hannah Yung. Sophomore Kiley Pelker belted a two-run double in second inning for an early 5-0 lead and held on with the strong pitching of Maci Ingram. The Freshman pitcher allowed five hits and struck out 14 in handing SJ-O its first loss of the year. Spartans catcher Mickaela Fleming hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning for their only runs of the game. Click here for complete game info and stats.
-Bob
A few snapshots from the past weekend of some young basketball fans enjoying this years IHSA Class 4A Basketball tournament held at the Peoria Civic Center. I love to photograph people at various sporting events when there is a break in the action, or when they express themselves during the peak of action. The Original March Madness Boys High School basketball championships held at Carver Arena provided me I think with some great expressions. Hope you agree.
-Bob
