The Central Illinois Drive beat the Sauk Valley Predators for the second game in a row at U.S. Cellular Coliseum. The final score was 102-92 before 2,310 fans. The Drive won 116-115 at Sauk Valley last Sunday in a battle of unbeaten teams in the PBL. Tony Lewis led the Drive with 22 points and was followed by Perry Petty who had 19. The Drive were 9-21 from three-point range and shot 25 of 40 free throws. They were 53.13 from the floor. The Drive’s Jemal Farmer, who had three dunks, finished with 15 points. The Drive posted a 53-44 rebound advantage. Teen actress, dancer, singer, and model Bella Thorne made a special appearance at the game and signed autographs. Click here for game stats.
-Bob
Traveled over to U.S. Cellular Coliseum to photograph the Ice Racing event in Bloomington, IL. Jammin’ Jared Mees dominated the professional motorcycle racing program winning easily. Kevin Anderson placed second and Jake Mataya finished third. Current tour points leader and defending ICE champion “Wild Child” Mandy Brodil won both of her heat races, but was DQ’ed after she was wrecked and was unable to get her ATV up and running in time and finished 8th in the main event for Unlimited Outlaw Quads. Ryan Jensen of Neola, IA won the event with Drew Bergquist finishing second and Justin Ebbing placing third.
-Bob
The Central Illinois Drive (3-0 in PBL) demonstrated the simple beauty of fundamental basketball Saturday while downing the Chicago Muscle, 113-79, in front of 1,558 fans at U.S. Cellular Coliseum. Rodney Edgerson led the Drive with 25 points on 8-of-11 shooting including 4-of-7 accuracy from 3-point range. Illinois State University grad Tony Lewis was in the paint wrecking havoc for the Drive with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Chicago, which had lost an exhibition game here 96-90 on New Year’s Eve, broke on top, 12-8, but a 10-0 run sparked by a Todd Peterson 3-pointer put the Drive in front to stay. Click here for complete stats.
-Bob
The Annawan Lady Bravettes defeated Brimfield High School 61-51 in a opening round game of the State Farm Holiday Classic basketball tournament at U.S. Cellular Coliseum. Center Celina Vanhyfte led Annawan in scoring with 21 points as they advance to the winners bracket against El Paso Gridley on Wednesday. Brimfield guard, Dura Kerrigan scored 20 points in a losing effort, and play Camp Pt. Central/Southeastern in second round action at NCHS.
-Bob
The Bloomington Blaze used a second-period offensive surge to win their first-ever game in the CHL, 5-4 in overtime over the Dayton Gems on Saturday night at U.S. Cellular Coliseum in Bloomington before 3,375 energetic fans. Jason Dale scored the game-winner on a rebound with 1:32 left in the extra session. Dayton scored first with just 2:15 gone in the game when Damien Surma took a centering pass from behind the net from Nick Fanto and buried it on the glove side of Blaze goalie Marco Emond.
Game Box Score: Bloomington 0 4 0 1 – 5 Dayton 1 1 2 0 – 4
First Period – Dayton, Surma (Fanto), 2:15 (pp).
Second Period – Bloomington, Laughlin (Krantz, Fournier), 4:53 (pp); Dayton, Naurato (Duff, Lutes), 6:27; Bloomington, Sheahan (Krantz, Dale), 8:52 (pp); Bloomington, Sheahan (Booras, Dale), 11:15 (pp); Bloomington, Znutas (Zbriger), 15:04.
Third Period – Dayton, Ornelas (Duff, Townsend) 10:58; Dayton, Fanto (unassisted), 16:16 (sh).
Overtime – Bloomington, Dale (Sheahan, Krantz) 3:28 Shots on goal – Dayton 8-5-10-3-26; Bloomington 7-14-6-4-31. Penalties-minutes – Dayton 7-25; Bloomington 4-8.
Goalies – Dayton – Westblom (26 shots, 31 saves, 63:28); Bloomington – Emond (20 shots, 24 saves, 62:14), DelBuono (2 shots, 2 saves, 1;14).
Power play opportunities – Dayton 1 of 4; Bloomington 3 of 6;
-Bob
