Franklin Park won their first boys basketball regional since 2006 as they beat Centralia at Wesclin 40-39. Ben Lux led Salem with 16, Emit Gibson had 10 points and 7 rebounds. Salem will advance to next week’s state tournament opener at Rend Lake against the winner from the Belleville Whiteside Regional at 10:45 on February 14. Whiteside and Belle Valley School play for that title tonight at 6pm.
The Class M boys state basketball tournament opens at Rend Lake College today. Nashville takes on Unity Point at 3:30, Shiloh and St Clare School at 4:45, Wayne City and Pinckneyville play at 6 and then Chester and NCOE tip at 7:15. The winners will play in the semifinals on Tuesday.
