Benton Downs Teutopolis In Boys Super-Sectional

The Wooden Shoes trailed Benton by only two points after the opening quarter and the Rangers' 6-foot-8 junior Docker Tedeschi had picked up three fouls with around three minutes left in the period and had to sit the bench. Put that together with four of 12 shooting from the field for only 33.3 percent from Benton and the game was looking to head the Wooden Shoes' way.

Unfortunately, Benton found the range in the second quarter with 70 percent shooting to move into a 27-12 halftime lead. T-town got only one basket in that second quarter from Tyler Pruemer. The other three points came from free throws by Garrett Gaddis, Joey Niebrugge and Mitch Koester.

The Rangers put in four three-pointers in that quarter as Isaac Billington, Grant Owens, Luke Melvin and Evan Munoz each connected. They ended up hitting 50 percent at the half from the field, 40 percent from three-point land while Tedeschi sat the bench.

But the Shoes didn't give up. They scrambled back after halftime to make a 13-6 run at Benton. T-town pulled within 33-25 going into the final quarter. J. Niebrugge scored two baskets and was two of two at the line for six points while Mitch Koester nailed a three-pointer.

T-town cut the lead to two at 33-31 in the final quarter with an 11-10 run.

Gaddis hit a basket and two free throws while Koester knocked in another three-pointer. J. Niebrugge and Austin Bloemer hit a basket each.

But the Rangers held on for the victory and improved to 32-3 on the season. 

Only one Benton player finished in double figures as Isaac Billington tallied 13 on five field goals and one of two at the line. He also led in assists with five. Tedeschi led in rebounds with four. The Rangers hit 43.2 percent from the field and 62.5 percent at the line.

Teutopolis had no players in double digits. J. Niebrugge and Koester tallied nine each. Niebrugge hit three field goals and three of four free throws while Koester connected on two field goals, two of those three-pointers, and one of two at the line.

T-town hit only 35.1 percent from the field for the game and was 50 percent at the free throw line. The Shoes did have a 28-15 rebounding edge with J. Niebrugge leading the way with five. He also had three assists.

The Wooden Shoes end the season with a 24-11 record.

Benton moves into the Class 2A State Tournament field at Champaign's State Farm Center and will meet Byron at 3:45 p.m. Thursday. Byron beat Chicago Latin 85-71 at Sterling. In other super-sectionals, Chicago Phillips downed Beecher 73-58 at Joliet Central and Williamsville won over Macomb 36-32 at Springfield Bank of Springfield Center.

In the opening State Tournament game Thursday, Williamsville meets Chicago Phillips at 2 p.m. The losers will play for third place at 8:15 p.m. Thursday. The winners advance to the championship Saturday at 1 p.m.

In Class 1A action, Mounds Meridian beat Centralia Christ Our Rock Lutheran 60-53 at the Charleston Super-Sectional, Aurora Christian edged Pecatonica 68-66, Winchester beat Glasford Illini Bluffs 46-42 and Chicago Hope Academy downed Heyworth 69-54.

Chicago Hope Academy faces Mounds Meridian at 9:30 a.m. Thursday while Aurora Christian takes on Winchester at 11:15 a.m. The third place contest is set for 6:30 p.m. Thursday while the championship is scheduled at 11 a.m. Saturday.

In Class 3A, Chicago Mount Carmel downed Chicago St. Patrick 56-46 in overtime, Chicago DePaul College Prep won over Crystal Lake South 51-31, Peoria Richwoods downed Harvey Thornton 58-52 and Mount Zion edged Centralia 47-46.

Mount Zion will meet Chicago Mount Carmel at 9:30 a.m. Friday while Chicago DePaul College Prep meets Peoria Richwoods at 11:15 a.m. The third place game is set for 6:30 p.m. with the championship game Saturday at 5:30 p.m.

In Class 4A, Homewood-Flossmoor edged Chicago Curie 60-58, Palatine won over Gurnee Warren 55-53, Winnetka New Trier handed Carol Stream Glenbard North a 65-41 loss and Normal Community defeated Downers Grove North 53-29.

In Friday play, Palatine meets Normal Community at 2 p.m. and Homewood-Flossmor and Winnetka New Trier will square off at 3:45 p.m. The third place contest will be at 8:15 p.m. The championship game will be Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

Class 2A Carbondale Super-Sectional

TEUTOPOLIS (36)

Gaddis 1-4 -- 6, Kremer 2-0 -- 4, J. Niebrugge 3-3 -- 9, Koester 2-1 -- 9, Pruemer 2-0 -- 4, Z. Niebrugge 1-0 -- 2, Hoene 0-0 -- 0, Bloemer 1-0-- 2, Lawson 0-0 -- 0. TOTALS 13 FG, 8 FT.

BENTON (43)

Billington 5-1 -- 13, Owens 2-0 -- 5, Melvin 3-2 -- 9, Munoz 3-0 -- 8, Tedeschi 2-2 -- 6, Thomas 1-0 -- 2, Schafer 0-0 -- 0. TOTALS 16 FG, 5 FT.

Teutopolis                 7       5    13    11    --    36

Benton                      9      18     6    10    --    43

3-point FG -- Teutopolis 2 (Koester 2), Benton 6 (Billington 2, Munoz 2, Owens 1, Melvin 1).