The Mt Zion Braves finished 4th in the IHSA State 3a Tournament at the State Farm Center in Champaign after dropping both games yesterday. The Braves opened with a semifinal loss to Chicago Mt Carmel 65-49. JC Anderson had 17 in the loss, but 16 of those came in the first half and pulled down 8 rebounds. Lyncoln Koester added 13. Cameron Thomas and Grant Best had 14 each for Mt Carmel, Angelo Ciaravino added 13.
The Braves then lost in the 3rd place game to Richwoods 62-50 after Peoria lost to DePaul College Prep in their semifinal game 52-41. The Braves again were led by Anderson with 16 points 9 rebounds, Koester added 16. Rutgers commit Lathan Sommerville had 22 in the win for Richwoods and Daquan Little added 16.
In the 4a state semifinals, Normal Community beat Palatine 58-38. Braylon Roman had 19 points to lead Normal and Jaheem Webber added 15. In the loss, Connor May had 17 for Palatine.
In the 2nd semifinal, Homewood Flossmoor knocked off New Trier 40-35. Bryce Heard had 16 points in the win and Gianni Cobb added 12. Christopher Kirkpatrick led New Trier with 13.
New Trier bounced back to win the 3rd place game 53-35 behind 12 from Danny Houlihan in a balanced attack. In the loss, Tony Balanganayi had 15 and Tommy Elter 11.
Today is championship Saturday in the IHSA season. The 1a state title game opens the day in Champaign with Mounds Meridian taking on West Central at 11. Then at 1pm the Benton Rangers play for the 2a title against Chicago Phillips. Chicago Mt Carmel and DePaul College Prep play for the 3a title at 5:30. The tonight at 7:30, the 4a title game will finish the basketball season with Normal Community taking on Homewood Flossmoor.
