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Boys sweep M-I series; one more on deck
East Peoria swept the Metamora boys basketball team after a Friday night nail-biter at Allison Gymnasium.
The Raiders moved up from fifth place in the Mid-Illini Conference to a tie for third after a 49-47 win over the Redbirds.
East Peoria (10-11, 6-5) was led by Alex Cline, who scored six of his team-high 13 points in the first quarter.
Dylan Sparkman also was in double figures for the Raiders with 11 points.
Metamora began a possession with 27 seconds left in the fourth quarter down by two points. After its point guard lost control, East Peoria players scrambled to grab the ball.
"We had four or five guys dive on the ball to get it," EPCHS head coach Ron Kelch said. "We had a chance to win and they were on it."
Joe Kelch hit two free throws to give the Raiders a four-point lead. The Redbirds scored in the final seconds, but the hosts did not have to inbound the ball.
The trio of Shane Moses, Cole Nieukirk and Kelch combined for 21 points for East Peoria, which stopped a brief two-game losing skid.
Kyle Heck had a game-leading 17 points for Metamora. J.D. Kamp tallied 16.
The Raiders were ahead 18-6 after the first quarter until a 19-9 Redbird response in the second.
Sparkman fouled out early in the fourth, but East Peoria was not inhibited.
"Robbie (Rogers) came in and did a great job filling in," said Kelch.
Another sweep opportunity: East Peoria can beat another conference foe for the second time this season.
The Raiders go to Dunlap Friday in their final road game of the regular season.
The Eagles have just one win on the year, against Pekin. They are not a team to be overlooked, however, with an overtime loss at five-time defending M-I champion Washington as evidence.
"They play a lot of people tough," said Kelch of Dunlap. "We're going to have to play well."
Postseason: East Peoria is a No. 4 seed in the Class 3A Limestone Regional.
The Raiders will face fifth-seeded Metamora in the quarterfinals at 7:30 p.m. March 1.
The winner meets No. 1 seed Washington at 7:30 p.m. March 2.
Morton and Limestone, the Nos. 2 and 3 seeds, respectively, meet in the other semifinal March 3.
The regional final is set for 7:30 p.m. March 5.
Boys sweep M-I series; one more on deck
East Peoria swept the Metamora boys basketball team after a Friday night nail-biter at Allison Gymnasium.
The Raiders moved up from fifth place in the Mid-Illini Conference to a tie for third after a 49-47 win over the Redbirds.
East Peoria (10-11, 6-5) was led by Alex Cline, who scored six of his team-high 13 points in the first quarter.
Dylan Sparkman also was in double figures for the Raiders with 11 points.
Metamora began a possession with 27 seconds left in the fourth quarter down by two points. After its point guard lost control, East Peoria players scrambled to grab the ball.
"We had four or five guys dive on the ball to get it," EPCHS head coach Ron Kelch said. "We had a chance to win and they were on it."
Joe Kelch hit two free throws to give the Raiders a four-point lead. The Redbirds scored in the final seconds, but the hosts did not have to inbound the ball.
The trio of Shane Moses, Cole Nieukirk and Kelch combined for 21 points for East Peoria, which stopped a brief two-game losing skid.
Kyle Heck had a game-leading 17 points for Metamora. J.D. Kamp tallied 16.
The Raiders were ahead 18-6 after the first quarter until a 19-9 Redbird response in the second.
Sparkman fouled out early in the fourth, but East Peoria was not inhibited.
"Robbie (Rogers) came in and did a great job filling in," said Kelch.
Another sweep opportunity: East Peoria can beat another conference foe for the second time this season.
The Raiders go to Dunlap Friday in their final road game of the regular season.
The Eagles have just one win on the year, against Pekin. They are not a team to be overlooked, however, with an overtime loss at five-time defending M-I champion Washington as evidence.
"They play a lot of people tough," said Kelch of Dunlap. "We're going to have to play well."
Postseason: East Peoria is a No. 4 seed in the Class 3A Limestone Regional.
The Raiders will face fifth-seeded Metamora in the quarterfinals at 7:30 p.m. March 1.
The winner meets No. 1 seed Washington at 7:30 p.m. March 2.
Morton and Limestone, the Nos. 2 and 3 seeds, respectively, meet in the other semifinal March 3.
The regional final is set for 7:30 p.m. March 5.
