Prairie Central, El Paso-Gridley fall short of regional championships
STREATOR — The last time Bismarck-Henning lost a boys basketball game was in December when it fell short at Prairie Central. On Friday, the Blue Devils exacted revenge with a 54-46 victory over the Hawks in the Class 2A Iroquois West Regional championship game.
It took a mighty effort as Bismarck-Henning had to rally in the fourth quarter to finally overtake PC. The Hawks led 37-34 heading into the fourth quarter but seemingly ran out of gas as the Blue Devils, coached by PC grad Gary Tidwell, outscored them 20-9 to advance.
The Hawks were up 19-9 after one period but B-H rallied to trail 25-23 at the half.
Levi Goad led Prairie Central (19-14) with 19 points. Gavin Tredennick added 9 points, Tyler Curl and Talen Steidinger each tossed in 7 and Avery Elder and Gage Steidinger added 2 points apiece.
Prairie Central 55, Iroquois West 27 — At Onarga, despite not having Tyler Curl, who is sidelined with an injury, Prairie Central lived up to its postseason standards with a victory over the Class 2A Iroquois West Regional hosts Wednesday.
PC attacked with the one-two-punch of Goad and Steidinger as the two combined for more points than Iroquois West managed to tally overall. Goad led the Hawks with 20 points and Steidinger tossed in 15. Steidinger checked in with 7 and Jack Schahrer added 5 points.
Prairie Central led by 10 points after the first quarter and built a 25-12 halftime advantage. It was 44-20 through three frames.
Class 2A Peoria Notre Dame Regional
Notre Dame 47, EPG 30 — At Peoria, El Paso-Gridley saw its season come to a crashing end as the Titans lost to regional host Peoria Notre Dame on Friday night.
EPG (25-6) had trouble making shots as it shot just 39% against the Irish. Notre Dame got out to a 10-point lead in the second quarter and El Paso-Gridley was unable to get any closer than seven the rest of the way.
Micah Meiss hit for 10 points to pace the Titans. Jonah Funk added eight points and grabbed nine rebounds and Chancesay Maxon tallied five points.
Kayden Hudson had 14 points for Notre Dame (14-17), who will face Rockridge next week at the Canton Sectional.
EPG 53, Tremont 51 — At Peoria, El Paso-Gridley overcame being a man down as the Titans edged Heart of Illinois Conference rival Tremont on Wednesday to advance to the championship game of the Notre Dame Regional.
Jonah Funk was unable to suit up for the top-seeded Titans but EPG coach Nathaniel Meiss got quality minutes from Lucas Shaffer and Jeremy Yoss off the bench.
El Paso-Gridley trailed 30-27 at the break and 38-37 through three periods. EPG got the lead quickly in the fourth and did not trail despite the contest remaining close.
The Titans went up 50-44 on a Yoss layup with 55 seconds remaining and then held on for the win.
Shaffer and Maxon had 12 points apiece to pace EPG (25-5). Micah Meiss added 11 points and grabbed six rebounds while Braden Hayes scored seven points. Shaffer also snared five caroms.
Class 1A St. Anne Regional
St. Anne 59, Flanagan-Cornell 58 — At St. Anne, Flanagan-Cornell's season came to an end when the Falcons lost a heartbreaking one-point decision to host regional host St. Anne on Wednesday.
The game was close throughout. It was tied at 18-18 after one frame and the Falcons led 31-27 at the break. The Cardinals trimmed the margin to trail by one, 43-42 after three periods. Flanagan-Cornell had a chance to ice the game late but missed free throws allowed St. Anne to advance to the title game.
Kesler Collins led Flanagan-Cornell (19-13) with 29 points while Logan Ruddy added nine points and Mason Rich and Connor Reed each scored five points.
Flanagan-Cornell 68, Cissna Park 44 — At Flanagan, the Falcons scored a first-round win in Class 1A St. Anne Regional play Monday.
Ruddy led Flanagan-Cornell (19-12) with 23 points and Collins added 21 for the third-seeded Falcons.
Class 1A Somonauk Regional
Indian Creek, Dwight 45 — At Shabbona, Dwight let one get away and saw its season come to an end in the process on Monday. The Trojans dropped a first-round regional contest to Indian Creek to see its season end at 7-24.
Dwight got out to a 14-6 lead after one period and held a 28-21 advantage at the intermission. Luke Gallet was perfect from the free throw line over the first two periods by hitting all eight tosses.
The Timberwolves rallied in the second half, outscoring the Trojans 26-17 over the final two frames. DTHS missed eight charity tosses in the last stanza.
Gallet finished with 18 points while Joey Starks added 10 and Evan Cox chipped in eight markers.
This article originally appeared on Pontiac Daily Leader: Hoop seasons come to an end for Prairie Central, EPG
