Girls high school basketball regional champions have been decided in Classes 1A and 2A with limited local success.
In 1A, Ridgeview lost 45-35 to Cissna Park at Armstrong, while in the one-day-delayed semifinals at Mount Pulaski, the host Hilltoppers and Heyworth won to set up tonight’s championship. In Class 2A at El Paso, Fieldcrest was eliminated with a 53-39 loss to Peoria Christian, but Central Catholic advanced with a 60-43 win over St. Thomas More at Olympia High School. Eureka won the 2A Regional at Glasford with a narrow 50-48 victory over Heart of Illinois Conference rival Tremont.
In regular season girls hoops, U-High defeated Pontiac 60-38 and Prairie Central nipped IVC 34-30.
St. Mary’s 7th grade boys squad finished fourth in the Class 7-1A Illinois Elementary School Association state tournament in East Peoria, losing the third place game to Decatur Our Lady of Lourdes 34-24. St. Mary’s ends the season 20-4. The team that defeated St. Mary’s in the semifinal, Sigel St. Michael’s, won the title. Evans Junior High of Bloomington lost the 7-4A state championship game to Springfield Grant 50-32 at Kingsley Junior High School.
Boys high school basketball tonight on 98.9 WJEZ features rivals Pontiac vs. Prairie Central. Pre-game is scheduled for 7:00 from Fairbury.
The Fighting Illini host Penn State at 1 Saturday with pre-game on 98.9 WJEZ at noon. Illinois State men host their I-74 rival Bradley in a 9 p.m. contest Saturday at Redbird Arena.
Big Ten hoops from Thursday included Number 16 Purdue holding off rival Indiana 69-64 and Number 7 Wisconsin slipping past Nebraska 70-69 in overtime. Wichita State defeated visiting Missouri State 80-62 in the lone Missouri Valley Conference game.
A game-ending two-run homer sent Number 25 South Florida to a 5-4 win over Illinois State softball in the season opener in Tampa. The Redbirds play Number 6 Michigan at 1:00 and Number 4 Florida at 3:15 as the USF tournament continues.
Youngstown scored a power play goal with 21 seconds left in regulation to beat the Thunder 4-3. The teams rematch at 7 tonight at the Coliseum in Bloomington.
Illinois State women’s basketball takes on the top team in the Missouri Valley Conference as they visit Drake tonight at 7.
The Bulls are in Phoenix tonight. The Blues won at Toronto 2-1 behind 31 saves from Jake Allen. The Blackhawks are at Winnipeg tonight.
If you are a Coach or Athletic Director who would like your High School athletic activities announced on WJEZ, please send your information to greg.halbleib@cumulus.com.
