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Hoisting some regional hardware

Matt Daniels, The News-Gazette, Champaign-Urbana, Ill.
·6 min read

Feb. 16—DANVILLE — A few underclassmen broached the idea to Chad Benedict on Thursday night.

After the Mahomet-Seymour girls' basketball team pulled off a 53-40 win against Decatur MacArthur to win a Class 3A Danville Regional title, could the Bulldogs stop for some ice cream?

"Great," Benedict said. "Let's do it. Regional championships are hard to come by. They should feel excited and proud."

That's exactly the sentiment Benedict, serving as the Bulldogs' interim coach the last week-plus after, and his players felt.

Third-seeded M-S (14-19) relied on superb defense and balanced scoring to defeat the second-seeded Generals and keep their unlikely run going into next week.

The Bulldogs, who have had three coaches this season, await Quincy Notre Dame at 6 p.m. next Tuesday in a MacArthur Sectional semifinal game.

"Super proud of them," Benedict said. "They have stayed together as a team in the last eight days. They've listened. They've been very coachable, and they've done what we've asked them to do."

Tom Garriott started the season as the M-S coach, but resigned in January. Jessica Hurless stepped in an on interim basis, but cited a "toxic environment" within the program and resigned last week.

"Even though there's been some ups and downs this season, it's not lost upon me the contributions other people have made to this point," said Benedict, the M-S Principal who was the Bulldogs' boys' basketball coach from 2006-18. "We've tried to keep them together."

Junior Kylie Waldinger scored a game-high 15 points for the Bulldogs, with fellow juniors Reese Gallier and Selah Campion each finishing with 13 points. Waldinger and Gallier have been the Bulldogs' primary scorers most of the season, but Campion has caught the attention of Benedict in the last week-plus.

"Selah is a competitor, and she's got a motor that doesn't stop," Benedict said. "She can make things happen in a hurry."

M-S led 11-8 at the end of the first quarter, but extended its lead to 31-15 by halftime and maintained its double-digit lead in the second half.

By doing so, the Bulldogs salvaged a bright spot amid a challenging season, securing the program's third straight regional title.

"It was their collective effort," Benedict said. "They've been very coachable, and they've done what we've asked them to do."

Class 3A Champaign Central Regional

Maroons stumble. Fourth-seeded Champaign Central couldn't pull the upset on Thursday night, with top-seeded Mt. Zion prevailing 67-48 in a regional championship game at Combes Gym in Champaign.

The Maroons fell behind 32-20 at halftime and cut their deficit to 43-34 by the start of the fourth quarter, but couldn't pull off an epic comeback.

Central (13-18), which was trying to win its first regional title since 2010, received a game-high 21 points from Alex Parastaran, while Carleigh Parks added nine points and five rebounds.

Class 2A Clifton Central Regional

. The St. Joseph-Ogden girls' basketball team lost 50-18 to Bishop McNamara on Dec. 27 during the first round of the State Farm Holiday Classic.

Thursday night, however, was a different story. With a much different result.

The Spartans received a stellar performance from senior Addy Martinie, lifting third-seeded SJ-O to a close 45-41 win against the second-seeded Fighting Irish.

Martinie scored a game-high 21 points for the Spartans, who held a slim 18-17 halftime lead and went into the fourth quarter only ahead 29-28. Martinie did most of her damage in the second half, making a trio of three-pointers in the third quarter and scoring 15 points after halftime.

Senior Addison Frick came through with 11 points for SJ-O (17-11) to help the Spartans win their third consecutive regional title. A sectional semifinal game with Peotone awaits the Spartans at 7:30 p.m. next Tuesday in Gilman.

"I am so proud of our girls and the way they have continued to battle so much adversity on and off the floor," SJ-O coach Drew Arteaga said. "Our girls believe in each other so much. They deserved to win."

Class 2A Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin Regional

Watseka wins. Top-seeded Watseka defeated fourth-seeded St. Thomas More 43-27 on Thursday night in a regional championship game at Wilcox Gym in Bismarck.

The victory advances the Warriors (26-4) to a 6 p.m. sectional semifinal game next Tuesday against Manteno in Gilman. Megan Martin and Jasmine Essington each had 10 points for Watseka, which led 22-8 at halftime.

Ava Swartz and Brianna Denault each added seven points.

Ruari Quarnstrom scored a game-high 12 points for STM (13-16).

Class 2A Monticello Regional

Rockets fall. Third-seeded Paris defeated second-seeded Unity 41-21 on Thursday night in a regional title game at the Sievers Center. Raegen Stringer led Unity (19-12) with eight points.

Class 1A Okaw Valley Regional

Warriors win again. Top-seeded Tuscola relied on on production from seniors Sydney Moss and Zoey Thomason to earn the a 49-41 win against fourth-seeded Tri-County on Thursday night, securing Tuscola's third straight regional championship.

Moss scored a game-high 20 points and Thomason complemented her with 14 points for Tuscola (28-2), which will play Altamont at 7:30 p.m. next Tuesday in a Central A&M Sectional semifinal game in Moweaqua.

"As a follow-up from last year, I don't think anybody knew who we were going to be," Tuscola coach Tim Kohlbecker said. "These girls had it it in their mind they would do everything we would do last year and more. They just simply refuse to lose."

Josie Armstrong paced Tri-County (21-10) with 14 points and six rebounds.

"The Armstrong girl is the real deal," Kohlbecker said. "I thought we were going to extend the lead a little bit in the first half, but Tri-County made it tough. Our girls just found a way."

Class 1A Fisher Regional

GCMS cruises. Lily Sizemore scored a game-high 31 points and second-seeded Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley rolled to a regional title on Thursday night, defeating sixth-seeded Ridgeview 57-15.

The Falcons (22-9), who won their first regional championship since 2019, will play either Peoria Heights or Midland at 6 p.m. next Tuesday in a sectioanl semifinal game in Colfax.

Class 1A LeRoy Regional

Panthers prevail. Emily Bogema scored 18 points, Molly Buckles had 13 points and Natatlie Loy finished with 10 points, leading third-seeded LeRoy to a 51-40 win against second-seeded Mt. Pulaski on Thursday night at Dud Berry Gym in LeRoy.

It is the first regional title for the Panthers (20-12) since 2016 and advances them to a sectional semifinal game against Cissna Park at 7:30 p.m. next Tuesday in Colfax.

"We had a great crowd," LeRoy coach Chris Houser said. "The community really showed up to support this team. It was great to see."

Class 1A Cissna Park Regional

Timberwolves earn title. Top-seeded Cissna Park overcame a nine-point deficit in the first quarter to rally for a 46-33 win against third-seeded Dwight and win a regional title on its home court.

Lauryn Hamrick scored a team-high 17 points for the Timberwolves (25-7), while Sophie Duis and Josie Neukomm each added 11 points. Cissna Park will play LeRoy at 7:30 p.m. next Tuesday in a Ridgeview Sectional semifinal game.