TOLONO - In a hard-fought battle at the Rocket Center, the Unity Rockets (21-7) fell 76-69 to the Danville Vikings (8-17) in a non-conference matchup on Tuesday. Despite a strong first-half performance, Unity couldn't hold off Danville’s late surge, fueled by a dominant fourth quarter from CI Dye. The senior guard finished with 21 points—18 in the second half—including 11 in the final period to lead the Vikings’ 23-14 run.
Dye wasn’t the only standout for Danville, as Jerry Reed III added 17 points and went a perfect 2-for-2 from the free-throw line, while Javaughn Robinson contributed 16 points, making all four of his free throws.
Unity controlled much of the game, taking a 38-32 halftime lead after hitting all nine of their second-quarter free throws. They entered the fourth quarter ahead 55-53 but couldn’t maintain their momentum. The Rockets shot well from the line overall, finishing 17-for-19.
Brayden Henry led the way with a perfect 5-for-5 performance, and
Colton Langendorf went 4-for-4. Overall, the Rockets were 17-for-19 from the line.
Dane Eisenmenger led Unity with a team-high 17 points, Henry finished with 13 points, and Langendorf chipped 10 points to lead the team's scoring effort in the loss.
With the loss behind them, the Rockets now turn their focus to a critical road matchup against St. Joseph-Ogden (18-7) tonight at 7 p.m. With an undefeated Illini Prairie Conference record on the line, a Unity win would secure them the outright conference championship. A loss, however, would create a potential tie for the title with the Spartans, who sit at 6-1 in IPC play.
The Rockets have navigated a challenging schedule this season leading up to this game, squaring off against larger programs and top-ranked teams, including three area Big 12 teams: Danville, Centennial, and Central, along with Tuetopolis and Lincoln-Way East. Playing away shouldn't pose a significant challenge for Unity, boasting an impressive 9-1 record on the road this season.
