The Centralia Orphans basketball team secured a decisive victory in the Marion regional semifinals, defeating Carbondale by a score of 50-35. This win propels their record to an impressive 29-2 and advances them to the regional finals where they will face Marion. Notably, Michael Organ emerged as a key contributor for the Orphans, leading the team in scoring off the bench with 9 points. The team showcased a balanced offensive attack, with seven players contributing points, all ranging between 6 and 9 points. This balanced effort signifies the depth and versatility of the Orphans’ offense.
Other Regional Finalists Emerge Across the State
Across the state of Illinois, numerous high school basketball teams secured victories in their respective regional semifinals, advancing to the championship round. In the Charleston regional, Mount Vernon triumphed over the host team with a score of 64-45. They will face Olney, who edged out Mattoon in a close contest with a final score of 59-56.
Elsewhere, the Mascoutah Meteors defeated the Freeburg Midgets 66-44, while Highland bested Waterloo by a score of 53-36 in the Freeburg regional. At the Jerseyville regional, East St. Louis secured a convincing win over the host team with a final score of 66-53. Triad also advanced from the Jerseyville regional, defeating Civic Memorial 43-26.
Breese Central Stages Dramatic Comeback, Several Upsets in Class 2A
In the Breese regional, Breese Central staged a remarkable comeback in their semifinal matchup against Nashville. Despite trailing 26-21 heading into the final quarter, they rallied to secure a 42-31 victory. They will now face Pinckneyville in the regional finals, who defeated Carlyle 48-40.
The Class 2A regional semifinals witnessed several notable upsets. At the Columbia regional, the host Eagles soared to victory over Althoff by a score of 58-42, with San Donald leading the charge for Columbia with an impressive 29 points. At the Massac County regional, the host team emerged victorious against Harrisburg 77-59, while Vienna defeated Carmi 73-47.
High-Scoring Performances and Upsets Mark Class 1A and 4A
The Class 1A regional semifinals also saw several exciting matchups. In a major upset, the #9 seeded Edwards County squad stunned the #2 seeded Dieterich team with a final score of 67-62. Christ Our Rock also advanced to their regional finals after defeating Red Hill 75-44.
Several players delivered noteworthy performances in Class 1A. At the Newton regional, Parker Wolf of the host Eagles dominated the court with a remarkable 41 points in their 91-59 win over Hutsonville.
The Class 4A regional finals witnessed several close contests. At the Edwardsville regional, Quincy narrowly edged out Alton 48-47, while O’Fallon defeated the host Tigers 63-54. Similarly, at the Granite City regional, Collinsville emerged victorious over the host team 61-53, and Belleville West won a nail-biter against Belleville East with a final score of 49-48.