Looks aren’t everything as Pontiac advances to Manteno Regional title game

By Erich Murphy

Bingo Magic Sports

MANTENO — At this point of the season, teams follow the simple mantra made famous by longtime Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis — Just win, baby!

Amazin King of Pontiac goes in for two of his team-high 19 points in the Indians’ 48-41 Class 2A Manteno Regional semifinal win over Coal City. (Erich Murphy/Bingo Magic Sports)

That’s what Pontiac did Wednesday evening in the first semifinal game of the Class 2A Manteno Regional. The Indians took care of business with a 48-41 win over Coal City to reach the championship round.

“Shots weren’t falling, but sometimes we just find a way,” PTHS head coach Matt Starker said.

The Indians had trouble finding the mark from the field all game. This allowed Coal City, the ninth-seed in the sub-sectional, to hang close throughout.

The Coalers led 5-0 before Amazin King nailed a 3-pointer four minutes into the game to get Pontiac on the board. That was the only field goal for the Tribe in the opening period, which ended in a 9-9 tie.

Cayden Masching eyes the basket on a free throw attempt during Pontiac’s regional game with Coal City Wednesday. Masching made all six of free throw attempts and finished with 10 points in helping PTHS post a 48-41 victory at Manteno. (Erich Murphy/Bingo Magic Sports)

Pontiac’s saving grace was its ability to drain free throws. The Indians made all six attempts in the first quarter and was 22-for-24 from the charity stripe for the game.

Half of Pontiac’s points in the second quarter came from the free throw line as each side netted eight points for a 17-17 treat the break.

The loss of sharpshooter Evan Wolf has been huge. The Tribe’s best 3-point shooter helped open the rest of the offense. It also created a change in player rotations.

“What we tried last week was to figure out rotations with our subs and our other guys,” Starker said. “I think the guys that came off the bench had really good minutes and played their roles really well.”

Pontiac’s Ben Melchers takes a knee to the face in regional semifinal play against Coal City at Manteno Wednesday. (Erich Murphy/Bingo Magic Sports)

The constant for Pontiac has been its defense. The pressure and trapping forced quite a few turnovers. Had the Tribe been able to make a few more shots off those extra possessions, the outcome would not have been as close.

Coal City had one advantage coming into this contest. The Coalers defeated tourney host Manteno Monday. This gave the Coalers a tase of postseason play, something that makes many coaches of higher seeded teams wary. Not Starker, though.

“Our guys were asking for a little rest, so I think the five days really helped them,” Starker said. “They were making shots in practice. Shots in a game are different but we made more tonight than we have recently.”

The Indians finally started finding the range in the third quarter, making four field goals. King scored the first two baskets on break opportunities. His two scores put the Tribe ahead 21-17. Pontiac did not find itself behind the rest of the game.

Ben Melchers buried a 3-pointer later in the quarter as the lead reached 24-17. Although Coal City fought back to pull even at 28-28 by the end of the quarter, King scored quickly to open the final lap to give the Tribe the lead for good.

King’s scoring was huge, but so, too, was his passing as the Indians padded their lead. Three feeds from King to Aden Brummel gave the Tribe a 36-30 advantage with five minutes to play.

The Indians made 10 of 12 free throws in the final 3:15 to seal the victory.

Aden Brummel goes up with a shot against Coal City in regional play at Manteno Wednesday. Brummel scored 10 points in the Indians’ 48-41 victory. (Erich Murphy/Bingo Magic Sports)

King finished with 19 points to lead the Pontiac (20-8) offense. Cayden Masching and Brummel each scored 10 points and Melchers chipped in 7 points. Anderson Horning scored 2 points.

Dane Noffsinger and Gavin Berger paced Coal City (12-17) with 12 points apiece.

NOTEBOOK

Pontiac moved to 20-8 with the victory, marking the first time the Indians have reached 20 wins since the 2022-23 team that reached the Elite Eight. … The win also snapped a three-game losing streak … Pontiac is seeking its first regional title since 2023. If the Tribe wins, Matt Starker will be fifth coach in a row to win regional title. He will also be the sixth of seven coaches in the last 30 years to win a regional title. … Paxton-Buckley-Loda defeated Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin 58-44 in Wednesday’s second semifinal. The Indians defeated PBL (15-15) 62-50 at home on Jan. 29. … The winner of the Manteno Regional will face the winner of the Beecher Regional in the semifinal round of the Wilmington Sectional on March 4.

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Cayden Masching of Pontiac takes a shot as Coal City’s Parker Jacovec tries to defend. Masching scored 10 points in helping the Indians post a 48-41 win in the semifinal round of the Class 2A Manteno Regional. (Erich Murphy/Bingo Magic Sports)

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