St. Anthony, St. Michael Advance To Seventh-Grade State Basketball Tourneys

Members of the St. Anthony seventh-grade basketball team going to state are, front row, left to right, Thomas Chojnicki, Seth Williams, Brody Niebrugge,  Josh Blanchette and Angelo Mendella. Back row, left to right, Coach Craig Carr, Kyle Stewart, Eli Link, Henry Kemme, Kevin Canales-Gonzalez, Ivan Dong and Coach John Hoene.

Effingham St. Anthony advanced to the Class 7-2A State Boys Basketball Tournament with a victory Wednesday evening to win its own sectional.

The Bullpups trailed Okaw Valley 9-6 after the opening quarter but steadied and came back with a 13-7 second period run to lead 19-16 at halftime.

St. Anthony then had an 8-2 third quarter run and held off a final quarter challenge by Okaw Valley for the 35-28 victory.

The Bullpups were led by Josh Blanchette with 14 points while Thomas Chojnicki and Brody Niebrugge added six each.

St. Anthony improves to 16-6 on the season and advances to the Class 7-2A State Tournament at Clinton High School Saturday to face Lexington (15-9) at 10 a.m. If the Bullpups win their opening contest, they will play again at 5 p.m. against either Joliet Laraway or Peoria Heights St. Thomas.

St. Anthony Sectional

Championship

St. Anthony           6    13    8     8    --    35

Okaw Valley           9    7    2    10    --    28

St. Anthony -- Mendella 5, Chojnicki 6, Stewart 4, Blanchette 14, Niebrugge 6

Okaw Valley -- Harlin 5, Montgomery 11, Nichols 2, K. Miller 10

Class 7-1A Sigel St. Michael Sectional

Sigel St. Michael easily downed Pana Sacred Heart 52-26 to win its own sectional championship Wednesday.

St. Michael improves to 22-1 on the season and will head to East Peoria Central Junior High School Saturday to face Peoria St. Mark (17-0) at 1 p.m. If the Sharpshooters win that game, they will advance to a 6:30 p.m. contest against either Pontiac  St. Mary's or Ottawa Wallace.