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Sports Editor Matt Daniels with a look at what’s going on around the area:
Keison Peoples and the Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin boys’ basketball team brings a 34-1 record into its Class 2A super-sectional game on Monday night against Dyett at Joliet Central High School.
Three reasons we love sports today
➜ 1. Brackets. The ones we all love to fill out — the 68-team ones for the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments — won’t arrive until this upcoming Sunday. But Sunday evening brought about the 15-team Big Ten men’s basketball tournament bracket and the conclusion of the Big Ten women’s basketball tournament.
➜ 2. The IHSA boys’ basketball state tournament tips off at State Farm Center in Champaign on Thursday. All told, 16 teams will spend time in C-U later this week.
➜ 3. But first, those state-qualifying teams need to win super-sectional games on Monday night. Like area program Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin (34-1) and LeRoy (23-10) still vying for a spot at state.
Champaign native JaMonte Williams, right, has helped the Parkland men’s basketball team reach the NJCAA Division II national tournament this season.
Numbers game: 11
times the Parkland men’s basketball program has qualified for the NJCAA Division II national tournament. Including this season. The Champaign community college will continue its impressive campaign into mid-March after easily defeating Rend Lake 104-67 on Saturday during the Region 24 tournament championship game in Canton.
LeRoy sophomore Brycen Umstattd, middle, and the Panthers boys’ basketball team plays Hope Academy on Monday night in a Class 1A super-sectional game at CEFCU Arena in Normal.
Crowd control
Three events I’m paying attention to
➜ 1. Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin vs. Dyett boys’ basketball. BHRA (34-1) is one win away its first state tournament appearance. Beat the Eagles (24-7) Monday night in a Class 2A super-sectional game at Joliet Central High School and it happens.
➜ 2. LeRoy vs. Hope Academy boys’ basketball. The entire town of LeRoy might show up at CEFCU Arena in Normal for Monday night’s Class 1A super-sectional game between the Panthers (23-10) and Eagles (25-7) that tips at 6 p.m.
➜ 3. Quincy vs. Benet boys’ basketball. Quincy (31-3) could make its first state tournament appearance in Champaign since 1990 with a win Monday during a Class 4A super-sectional game in Normal.
Luke Bronowski coaches the Uni High boys’ tennis and girls’ tennis teams.
Coach’s corner
Three questions with Uni High tennis coach Luke Bronowski, who coaches both the Illineks girls’ and boys’ programs:
➜ 1. My favorite sports team is … the Chicago Cubs. Excited to see if they can make a run to the playoffs this season.
➜ 2. Three coaches I’d like to have dinner with are … Pete Carroll, John Wooden and Rick Pitino. A little March Madness flair, but I love how Pete Carroll coaches and the culture he creates.
➜ 3. My biggest pet peeve is … people talking when I am talking. Whether it is teaching or coaching, you can miss a lot when not paying attention and to me, it just shows a lack of respect.
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