The Class 3a state semifinals are today at the State Farm Center.
The Mt Zion Braves are making their first ever trip to state and enter at 35-1 after knocking off Centralia on Monday in the Springfield Super Sectionals. They open at 9:30 against Chicago Mt Carmel who enters at 31-5.
The Braves and 5th year head coach Dale Schuring have put together the best season in the programs history and are led by 6-7 sophomore JC Anderson. The big man dominated the supers in the second half on his way to 20 points. He enters averaging 15 points per game along with 9 rebounds. Lincoln Koester leads the team in scoring at 16 per game and sharp shooting Sam Driscoll can make from anywhere. Since their only loss to defending 4a state champion Metamora on January 19th, the Braves have won 17 in a row.
The Caravan enters out of the Chicago Catholic Conference and is led by Coach Phil Segroves. Mt Carmel has 6 players averaging double figures led by Angelo Ciaravino at 21 and Lee Marks at over 16. They beat St Patrick at UIC in Super Sectional play to advance to their 2nd trip to state in the programs history. The other coming in 1985 when they won the 2a state title back when there were only 2 classes.
The winner advances to tomorrow’s championship at 5:30, while the loser is right back at it tonight at 6:30 against the loser of DePaul College Prep and Peoria Richwoods. The Richwood Knights enter at 29-4 out of the Big Twelve Conference. The DePaul Rams are 33-2 out of the Chicago Catholic Conference.
The 4a state semifinals will follow starting at 2pm with the Normal Community Ironmen at 31-5 out of the Big Twelve Conference taking on the 28-8 Palatine Pirates at 2pm. That game will be followed by last year’s 3rd place winner the New Trier Trevians at 29-7 taking on the Vikings of Homewood Flossmoor who are 31-4.
The 4a 3rd place game is tonight at 8:15 with the championship finishing up the prep season tomorrow night at 7:30.
