03-04-09
VANDALIA CLASS 2A SECTIONAL
BREESE CENTRAL 50, COLUMBIA 26
The rubber match between these two Cahokia Conference teams turned into a blowout as the Cougars held the Eagles to just 19 percent shooting in advancing to Friday night’s sectional title game.

Coach Stan Eagleson’s squad held Columbia (27-5) to just a single point in the second quarter and pulled away with a 30-16 second half.

Brandon Book led all scorers with 15 for the 28-2 Cougars while teammates David Wiegmann and Garrett Gaffner added 13 and 10.

Columbia’s Brad Buettner led the Eagles with nine points as Coach Mark Sandstrom’s team hit just 9-of-47 shots from the floor.

Breese Central – on the other hand – hit 19-of-37 shots overall.

TRICO CLASS 1A SECTIONAL
OKAWVILLE 61, MOUNDS MERIDIAN 57
Playing a brutal independent schedule is paying dividends for the Rockets in the postseason.

Coach Jon Kraus is just one step away from back-to-back Supersectional berths after taking down Meridian on Wednesday night at Trico.

Okawville (17-15) will now face Carrier Mills on Friday night.

Getting 20-points from Clark Weeke - including six 3-pointers – to along with 16-points from Devin Clary – the Rockets held off the Bobcats to advance.

Mounds Meridian saw its season come to a halt at 25-4 but was an eyelash from sending the game into overtime.

Six-foot-three junior Isiah Jones had an open look at a 3-pointer from the right corner that would have tied the game at 60-all.

But the shot rimmed out and Okawville added a free throw for a four-point win.

Jones led the Bobcats with 18-points while Randle Hite added 17.

The difference in the game turned out to be the foul line as Okawville was 12-of-20 from the charity stripe while Meridian didn’t attempt a free throw in the entire game.

RED HILL CLASS 1A SECTIONAL
RED HILL 51, NEOGA 45
The Salukis of the Little Illini Conference will play in a sectional title game on their own floor Friday night thanks to a win over the Indians.

Red Hill improves to 16-10 on the season and will face Woodlawn on Friday night.

Coach Bryan Havill’s club placed three players in double-figures with Matt Wirth leading the way with 15.

Trevor Albertson added 14 while Josh Hawkins chipped in 10.

Coach Jason Hansen team was led by 18-points from Austin Robinson

Neoga shot themselves in the foot by hitting just 4-of-12 free throws in the contest

Neoga saw its season end at 18-12.