Christopher sectional title game bound
Sveda scores 12 in 46-35 win over NCOE; Bearcats face Steeleville Friday night
Macon Meridian edged South Central, 60-57 to advance at Effingham St. Anthony
03/02/2022
BY JACK BULLOCK
Another victory, another hero.

That has been the M-O of the Christopher Bearcats this season as each of the regulars for head coach Eric Stallman have stepped up on their successful postseason journey so far.

It was senior guard Colin Sveda on Wednesday night as the 5-9 point man netted 12-points as his club is on the brink of the program's first ever super-sectional berth after taking care of Norris City-Omaha-Enfield on Wednesday night.

Defensively the Bearcats held the Fighting Cardinals to just five-first half points as they ended the NCOE season at 18-13.

For Christopher 5-11 senior Mason Goins scored 10-points while 6-5 senior Peyton Mazur pitched in nine.

Sophomore Scout Hudgens and junior Trey Cole each scored five-points while senior Cole Freeman added four.

Christopher, now 24-8 on the season, put the game away late by knocking down 13-of-19 free throws in the fourth quarter.

Sveda cashed in 6-of-6 in the game, all in the final frame, as the Bearcats will now face state-ranked Steeleville on Friday night.

The Warriors ended Goreville's season on Tuesday night in the other semifinal.

The Cinderella run of Coach Jordan Johnson's Cardinals came to an end on Wednesday night after a train wreck of a first half.

NCOE managed just a pair of field goals, one each by juniors Preston Long and Joel Hortin and a free throw by Long as they trailed 21-5 at the break.

Long got his club going in the second half as the two teams spent a lot of time at the foul line in the second half as the two teams combined for 40 free throw attempts with most happening in the final 16-minutes.

The junior scored 20-points and grabbed six-rebounds.

He also made 13-of-14 free throws himself while Hortin finished with 10-points.

Senior Cole Roberson (three) and Cord Tucker (two) rounded out the scoring for NCOE.

Mazur led the rebounding for the Bearcats with five as they held a 28-17 advantage.

Christopher ended up 14-of-31 from the floor, 2-of-8 from the arc in the contest with just five turnovers.

NCOE was 10-of-32 from the field overall, 2-of-14 from long range as the Cards struggled.
MACON MERIDIAN 60, SOUTH CENTRAL 57
The Hawks, a staple in the ABV and AP 1A Rankings this season, survived another scare and have reached the sectional title game after holding off a rally by the Cougars on Wednesday night at the Enlow Center at Effingham St. Anthony.

Coach Shannon Houser's club has rode a roller coaster of a season against a gauntlet of worthy foes and are still standing at 27-7 with the win.

The Hawks nailed down eight 3-pointers in the win as they will now face conference rival and nemesis Tuscola on Friday night.

The Warriors dispatched the host Bulldogs on Tuesday night 51-48.

Macon Meridian got 22-points from 5-11 senior Graham Meisenhelter and 13-points from senior Mekhi Phillips in the victory.

Senior guard Riley Day (nine) and senior Grant Meisenhelter (eight) chipped in for the win.

Meridian nailed down 9-of-12 free throws in the fourth quarter to hold off the Cougars.

Coach Blake Doehring as his South Central bunch accomplish a great deal in 2021-22, including a regional championship game win over state and ABV ranked Altamont.

Keenin Willshire, a 6-3 senior, closed out his four-year varsity career as he led his club with 17-points.

Junior guard Aiden Dodson and senior Spencer Johannes each scored 14 in the loss on Wednesday night.

Both teams hit 10-of-16 from the foul line but the Cougars fell behind in the first half being out scored 15-6 to trail 26-20 at halftime.

South Central ended the season at 26-8.

The Hawks will now hook up for the third time with Tuscola with each team winning games on the other squad's home floor.

Macon Meridian beat Tuscola in a double-overtime thriller back on February 11.

A snowed out Central Illinois Conference Tournament championship game was postponed until February 16 where the Warriors got revenge, 47-49 at MM.

The rubber game will decide the who gets to make the long trip south to SIU Arena next Monday for the Carbondale 1A Super-Sectional.

Effingham 1A Sectional
1
2
3
4
-
F
South Central
14
06
14
23
-
57
Macon Meridian
11
15
19
15
-
60

South Central (57) – Hails 0 0 0-0 0, Hiestand 1 1 0-0 5, Watwood 1 1 0-0 5, Dodson 5 0 4-7 14, Johannes 6 0 2-4 14, Buonaura 1 0 0-0 2, Anderson 0 0 0-0 0, Willshire 5 1 4-5 17. 2FG-19, 3FG-3, FT-10-16, PF-16.
Macon Meridian (60) – Ripple 0 0 0-0 0, Phillips 2 2 3-4 13, Day 3 1 0-0 9, Hurelbrink 1 0 3-3 5, Ralston 0 0 0-0 0, Brown 1 0 1-2 3, Clapp 0 0 0-0 0, Graham Meisenhelter 3 5 2-3 22, Grant Meisenhelter 3 0 1-4 8.
2FG-13, 3FG-8, FT-10-16, PF-14.
Fouled Out – None.
Technical Fouls – None.