The Limestone Rockets (23-9) captured the sectional championship for the first time in school history with a 61-59 over Central (13-17) in front of a standing-room-only crowd at Renaissance Coliseum in the championship game of the Class 3A Peoria Sectional on Friday. Terence Shelby a junior point guard led the Rockets with 19 points and five assists. Senior Josh Augusta had 17 points and 14 rebounds, Eriq Baird scored 15 and Myles Boone scored 10, all in the first quarter, for Central.”Big plays,” Limestone coach Eddie Mathews said. “We made big plays.” The Rockets will face Wheaton St. Francis (22-7) in the Dekalb Supersectional at 6 p.m. Tuesday. The winner will advance to the state finals next weekend in Peoria.
-Bob
A few images from the Peoria Civic Center hosts of the IHSA Class 3A boys basketball semi-finals. The teams advancing to Saturday’s championship game are North Chicago and the hometown favorite Peoria High Lions. The Lions are going for there fifth state basketball title. The game will take place at Carver Arena at 2:00 p.m.
-Bob
The state-ranked No. 4 Central Lions (25-3) defeated the third-ranked Washington Panthers (26-6) 56-53 in overtime before an overflowing Renaissance Coliseum in the Class 3A Peoria Sectional championship game Friday night. Shamar Hill sank two free throws with just under a minute remaining to put Central up for good in the overtime period. Jerrell White made i of 2 free throws with 18 seconds left to put the Lions up by three. Washington had two chances to tie the game as Alec Peters 3-point shot was long and Chase Vogel had his hurried shot blocked by Central senior Trey Kellum to end the game. Peoria High will take on unranked Rockford East (20-10) for the Dekalb Supersectional at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Northern Illinois University.
-Bob
