Fieldcrest, Dwight drop out of postseason after regional final losses

Fieldcrest had a tough task at hand, while Dwight faced a familiar foe as both programs sought a regional championship on Thursday. Both teams saw their season come to an end after losing in the title round.

Fieldcrest Regional

At Minonk, host Fieldcrest knew its challenge was huge as the Knights faced top-seed and third-ranked Cissna Park in the final of the Class 1A Fieldcrest Regional. The Timberwolves claimed a 55-20 victory to advance to the Iroquois West Sectional.

Cissna Park got out quickly with a 21-4 difference in the first quarter. The margin widened to 36-9 by halftime. The Knights matched their first-half output in the third period but still trailed 48-18.

Pru Mangan led Fieldcrest (15-18) with 13 points. TeriLynn Timmerman scored 7 points as FHS finished its season without star Macy Gochanour.

There were no surprises in the other regionals making up the Iroquois West Sectional field. Cissna Park will face No. 2 seed Heyworth in second semifinal game on Feb. 24. The first game pits top-ranked Dee-Mack against second-seed Roanoke-Benson.

Amboy Regional

At Amboy, Ottawa (Marquette) is playing its basketball at the right time as the Crusaders exacted revenge on Dwight 65- 56 in the Class 1A Amboy Regional final.

The Trojans defeated Marquette 61-31 in their Tri-County Conference matchup on Dec. 11.

Marquette, who was the seventh seed in its sub-sectional, will play No. 1 seed Rockford Christian in the second game of the Indian Creek Sectional at Shabbona on Feb. 24. No. 1 seeded Midland will take on No. 2 Aurora Christian.

Pontiac Sectional

Sectional host Pontiac will take on Monticello for the championship of the Class 2A Prairie Central Regional on Friday. That winner will advance to the sectional and meet third-seed Bishop McNamara. The Irish protected their home floor with a 52-45 win over second-seed Joliet Catholic.

The other sectional semifinal will have No. 1 seeded Manteno, a 50-37 winner over Wilmington at the Seneca Regional, facing second-seed St. Joseph-Ogden, who disposed of regional host Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin.

The sectional semifinals will take place on Feb. 24. The championship game is set for Feb. 26 at 7 p.m.

IVC 63, EPG 58

At El Paso, host El Paso-Gridley fell short in its regular-season finale as Illinois Valley Central left town with a 63-58 decision Thursday.

The Grey Ghosts got off to a fast start in building a 26-14 advantage. The titans saw the deficit reach 15 points at one point, but rallied back.

Down 36-26 at the half, EPG outscored IVC 22-8 in the third to take a 48-44 lead into the last stanza. The Ghosts won the final frame 19-10 to take the contest.

Braden Hayes led the Titans (16-13) with 18 points. Cha’von Maxon contributed 15 points and 9 rebounds while Jack Hempstead tossed in 13 markers. Elijah Webster added 6 points.

Brady Ward led IVC (17-13) with 24 points and Grady Read had 18.

El Paso-Gridley will take on Prairie Central on Feb. 25 in a Class 2A regional semifinal game at Herscher. This will be a rematch from a Dec. 12 game won by the Hawks.

Woodland 90, Earlville 46

At Earlville, Nolan Price and Noah Decker combined to break three single-game records for the Woodland boys’ basketball program in a 90-46 nonconference win over host Earlville on Thursday.

Woodland (21-9) also set two new team standards.

Price added to his season-record 3-point total with a single-game record 11 treys on his way to a single-game record 40 points. Helping out was Decker with a single-game record 11 assists.

As a team, the Warriors dropped 19 treys on the Red Raiders, surpassing the old mark by two makes. This gives WHS a record 248 treys. The old mark was 228, which Price, himself, has passed.

Nate Berry had a personal starring performance with 28 points, including hitting six triples as the Warriors notched 21 wins for the second straight season.

Woodland will face Earlville again on Feb. 23 in the first round of the Class 1A Woodland Regional. The Warriors are the tournament favorite.

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