URBANA - The roster of players for the 2024 Illinois All-State boys basketball team for Class 1A was released today. Tuscola's Jordan Quinn was the only area player that earned attention from voting media representatives from around the state.
The Illinois Media is a group consisting of sportswriters and broadcasters from different parts of the state. They selected five players for the first team and five players for the second team in each class. The players have received five points for a first-team vote and three points for a second-team vote.
Below are the all-staters from Class 1A.
The Rockets got the first basket of the game and enjoyed their only lead of the conference contest for a brief moment. It lasted until SJO's Ty Pence took control of the ball in Unity territory, dribbled it down the floor past two defenders to score on a layup making the score 2-all.
SJO went on a scoring spree tallying seven more points for 11-2 run before the Rockets' Austin Langendorf drilled a pair of free throws that marked the start of a short rally for his team.
Blake Kimball, the game's leading scorer, and Nate Drennen scored on the next two possessions to close the scoring deficit to three, 11-8. Kimball, whose was 9-for-18 overall performance proved to be a sharp thorn in the Spartans' side, finished the night with 22 points.
"He got in the lane almost every possession," said St. Joseph-Ogden head coach Kiel Duval about the junior guard's play. "We have to keep guys out of the paint because it never leads to good things for us. Kimball did a great job using his body and change of pace to put us on our heels. He was tough on Friday."
Late in the third quarter the Spartans doubled their five-point, 25-19 lead at half to eleven. Unity whittled it down to nine before the start of the final period of play.
But Friday, Unity head coach Matt Reed wisely chose to double team him, a move that limited Pence's output - he had just six first half points - to finish with a season-low 20 points.
Reed's strategy however, created an opportunity for SJO's Evan Ingram to step out of the shadows. The team's second leading scorer with 12 points, Duval says the junior guard has what it takes to be a top notch basketball player.
"I have said it from the beginning, I think Evan will be a very good high school basketball player. He has all the tools," Duval explained. Ingram was 2-for-2 from the charity stripe and hit two of his six shots in three-point territory. "Evan doesn't shy away from the big moment. He never has. He doesn't care if he is facing the #1 team in the state, all-state player, or a guy that is six inches taller than him. He will not back down and he wants to hit the big shot."
The coach added: "Those tools are starting to come together one at a time and that is why he is performing this year."
After starting the final quarter down 38-31, the Rockets made a gutsy come-from-behind effort behind Kimball and his two teammates Nate Drennan and Brady Porter. The trio positioned the team within range to tie the game score five times.
Drennan finished with 11 points for Unity, and chalked three steals and nine rebounds. Porter rounded out the Rockets' top three scorers with nine points.
| Unity | 8 | 11 | 10 | 22 | - 51 |
| St. Joseph-Ogden | 17 | 8 | 13 | 20 | - 58 |
St. Joseph-Ogden
Brazelton 0 (0) 0-0 -- 0,
Costa 0 (2) 0-0 -- 6,
Hutcherson 2 (0) 0-0 -- 6,
Smith 0 (0) 1-2 -- 1,
Burch 0 (0) 0-0 -- 0,
Grindley 0 (0) 0-0 -- 0,
Wetzel 0 (0) 0-0 -- 0,
Rydell 3 (0) 2-5 -- 8,
Beyers 1 (0) 5-5 -- 7,
Atwood 0 (0) 0-0 -- 0,
Pence 4 (1) 9-14 -- 20,
Ingram 2 (2) 2-2 -- 12.
After long, dramatic hiatus due to the state's attempt to keep the number of positive cases at manageable level for hospitals around the state, the Unity boys basketball program was finally back in action last week and the squad has a few moving parts to oil.
Despite their best effort, the Rockets dropped the road contest against Maroa-Forsyth in unsatisfying 58-36 loss.
"We did not shoot well last night," said head coach Matt Reed after the game. The Rockets were just made just seven of their 20 attempts from the free throw line. "Our top three offensive weapons, coming into the season, went a combined 5-29 from the field. Tough to win on the road with that kind of shooting."
Maroa-Forsyth led 19-8 after the first quarter and allowed Unity just six second quarter points to close out the first half with a comfortable 32-14 lead. The Trojans kept their foot on the gas until the final quarter behind the efforts of Riley Jackson and Egan Franzen, both who were in double figures at the half to pace their program's victory last Tuesday.
Unity was led by sophomore Austin Langendorf with 8 points. Junior guard Blake Kimball had seven, Brady Porter scored six and Dillon Rutledge finished with five points.
Only five of the Rockets' 30 shots from beyond the arc found their way through the hoop.
Normally, the program would be preparing for a deep playoff run in the IHSA postseason but this season's pandemic restricted six-week schedule Reed said he has a different focus.
"We are looking to continue to develop our players for next season, while also giving the seniors the best possible basketball experience they can have."
Unity (0-2), after a loss to Paris on three days ago, will host two home games this week in search of their first pair of wins this season.
Tomorrow night, Illinois Valley Central (1-1) will ride into town. Last week the Grey Ghost knocked off Peoria Christian 67-62 with impressive point productions from seniors Holt Geltmaker, a University of Illinois baseball commit, with 17 points and Kam Wollard, who contributed another 14 points.
At the end of the week on Friday, the Rockets invited Pontiac to the Rocket Center for their second Illini Prairie matchup this week. Varsity tipoff is scheduled for 7pm.
| Unity | 8 | 6 | 11 | 11 | - 36 |
| Maroa-Forsyth | 19 | 13 | 18 | 8 | - 58 |
Maroa-Forsyth
Jostes 0 (0) 0-1 - 0, Gilbert 3 (1) 0-0 - 9, Jackson 3(3) 2-3 - 17, Franzen 5 (0) 5-7 - 15, Bellazhi 1 (0) 2-2 - 4, Blunck 2 (0) 0-0 - 4, Ohlemeyer 2 (0) 1-2 - 5.
Under normal circumstances due to the COVID-19 state health department protocols, spectator capacity is limited to just 25 spectators for the away team. However, Rocket fans can catch tonight's game on the NFHS network from the comfort of their home at 7pm. The junior varsity contest at 5:30pm will also be streamed.
The cost to watch NFHS Network streaming events start a monthly subscription cost of $10.99 per month. Fans can save almost half of the year fee by purchasing an annual subscription at $69.99. The NFHS will donate a portion of the annual subscription fee to the school you select when you sign up. Schedule and times for all Unity high school and middle school basketball games can be found here.
The Rockets will host seven opponents on their 13-game schedule this season. Here is the current schedule for the 2021.
02/02/2021 Tue • 7:00 PM @ Maroa Forsyth High School
02/05/2021 Fri • 7:00 PM vs. Paris High School
02/09/2021 Tue • 7:00 PM vs. IVC High School
02/12/2021 Fri • 7:00 PM vs. Pontiac High School
02/16/2021 Tue • 7:00 PM @ Prairie Central High School
02/19/2021 Fri • 7:00 PM vs. St. Joseph-Ogden High School
02/20/2021 Sat • 3:30 PM @ PBL High School
02/23/2021 Tue • 7:00 PM @ Olympia High School
02/26/2021 Fri • 7:00 PM vs. Monticello High School
03/02/2021 Tue • 7:00 PM @ St. Thomas More High School
03/05/2021 Fri • 7:00 PM vs. Rantoul High School
03/06/2021 Sat • 4:30 PM vs. Tuscola High School
03/09/2021 Tue • 7:00 PM @ Central Catholic High School
To protect players and fellow fans, every spectator will be screen for COVID-19 symptoms upon entry to the facility.
The latest IHSA guidelines also require all student-athletes to participate in masks -- with the exception of swimming and diving, gymnasts on an apparatus and outdoor events where social distancing can occur -- all game personnel not participating in the contest and spectators must wear masks and observe social distancing.
Below are the entry and seating information for SJO basketball games this season.
• The home team will provide a list of two spectators per athlete for each freshmen, JV, and varsity home game. Athletes and their families will need to communicate who is on this list ahead of game time so that we can keep accurate records of who is in the building.
• Spectators will be allowed to enter St. Joseph-Ogden High School through the north Commons doors fifteen minutes prior to tip-off. All spectators should park in the north parking lot, just outside of the Commons.
• Upon entry, spectators will be screened for symptoms. After being symptom screened, all spectators will need to report to the balcony seating area in the SJO main gym. Please sit on the Spartan head stickers taped to the balcony bleachers. Members of the same household may sit together.
• The gym will be cleared after the JV game is over, and the spectators from the JV game (or prelim game) need to exit the gym and return to their respective vehicles.
• Remember, masks must be worn at all times.
• No gathering in the gym or outside.
• Failure to follow IDPH guidelines will result in immediate removal from the facility.
• Concessions will not be available. There are water bottle filling stations located outside the main gym.
• Restrooms are located right outside of the northeast corner of the gym.
(Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)
The Spartans improve overall to 19-6 on Tuesday thanks largely to a huge scoring effort by Chance Izard.
The senior, who spend 30-1/2 minutes on the floor for SJO, dropped a magnificent 29 points behind a 52% shotmaking effort against the Eagles in the Illini Prairie matchup.
Ty Pence logged another double digit output, his fifth in SJO's last six games, to finish the evening with 14 points. Like Izard, he did not miss a shot from the free throw line. The frosh star made all four of his attempt.
Izard made all five of his shots and fellow senior Drew Coursey closed out the game with perfect free throw shooting going 2-for-2.
Under the rim, Conner Hodge and Jordan Kelly led the Spartans with five rebounds apiece.
The Eagles scoring effort was led by Kamryn Rome, who mustered 14 points as his team dropped to 2-4 in the conference and 5-19 with season coming to a quick conclusion in a few weeks.
Rantoul's Lorenz Lee added another eight points to his team's effort and Colin Wilkerson contributed another seven. Bryant Shaw led all rebounders with seven boards.
Spartans are back in action this Friday night at home to face Illinois Valley Central for senior night. It will be an oh-so-gooey, sweetheart of a deal for Izard and the other nine seniors on Valentine's Day with a win over the Grey Ghosts. The 'W' will all but guarantee outright ownership the 2020 conference title.
Tip-off for the varsity game at the high school is slated for 7pm.
| St. Joseph-Ogden | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | - 54 |
| Team 2 | 10 | 10 | 16 | 10 | - 46 |
