Kankakee's Larenz Walters goes up for a shot in the fourth quarter in this team's Christie Clinic Shootout game against Peoria Notre Dame. The Kays, who led much of the first three quarters, fell to the Irish 51-46 on Saturday. Walters tallied a game-high 24 points in the loss.
Peoria Notre Dame 51 - Kankakee 46
A lackluster third-quarter performance by Kankakee erased a nine-point halftime lead over Notre Dame. The Irish outscored the Kays 13-3 in the period on the way to a 51-46 win in the final game of the day at the Christie Clinic Shootout. Larenz Walters drained a game-high 24 points for the Kays and was the only player from his bench to score in the third quarter. Jahiem Porter finished with eight points, and Kennarious Chandler chipped in six more in the loss. The Irish were paced by Cooper Koch's 23 points. Missing just one of his 12 free throw attempts, the junior unleashed a 13-point fourth-quarter eruption to keep the chance for victory out of the Kays' reach. Teammate Eoin Dillon was the only other player finishing in double-digits with 12 points.
St. Joseph-Ogden 59 - Nashville 35 The Spartans beat last year's Class 2A state champions with ease. SJO's starting five put the game on cruise control in the third quarter.
Normal U-High 56 - Unity 48
Henry Thomas, who finished with a team-high 13 points, was solid in the paint for the Rockets while senior Will Cowan tossed in four treys for 12 points in a hard-fought battle against the Pioneers. Jay Saunders and Dalton O'Neill contributed seven points apiece in the loss. Down by one at the break, U-High's Ty Blake lept into action delivering nine of this team's 13 points in the third frame. Blake finished with 23 points and a perfect 3-for-3 from the charity stripe. Mason Funk piled on another 13 points over four quarters in the win for the Pioneers.
Mount Zion 70 - Bloomington 49
The Braves (17-2) had a foursome finish in double-figures on their way to knocking off the Raiders in the midday game at the Shootout. Carson Cuddy led all scorers from both sides of the scorer's table with 22 points, 13 tallied in the third quarter. JC Anderson drained 12 points across his first three quarters in the fray and finished with 14 points. Lyncoln Koester and Grant Mcatee each chipped in 12 points for the Apollo Conference frontrunners. Bloomington (3-11) trailed at the half 51-46 and mustered just 23 points the remainder of the contest. Niko Newsome paced BHS with 21 points and Adam Beasley put up 16 to lead their team.
Centennial 39 - Addison Trail 34
Picking up their fifth win of the season, the Chargers (5-7) worked their way out of a 12-point deficit to slide past the Blazers in the lowest-scoring game of the day at the shootout. Silent during the first half, Preston Sledge collected all of his game-high 14 points in the second half. Addison Trail's Charles Little, Jr., led his squad with 11 points. Joey Morales put in four field goals in the second quarter and one in the third to finish the day with 10 points.
Beecher 64 - Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin 48
The Bobcats (17-1) handed senior Brett Meidel and the Blue Devils their fourth loss of the season. BHRA travels to Armstrong on Tuesday to face the Trojans in conference play.
Throughout the years, many of us watched Barbara Walters from NBC to ABC. I always tried to watch her special interviews. Often, the people she interviewed on primetime television specials were “the” high profile people at that given time. She became the highest paid journalist of her day being the first to sign a million-dollar contract with ABC.
Regardless of what we do in life we are still confronted by difficulties that often debilitate us. Walters had survived her own personal struggles, like we all do, including four divorces. Unfortunately, her reported battle with dementia took its toll on her health. We can all accomplish much in life. Maybe not as much as Walters or maybe even more. Regardless, there is much about life we can’t do anything about other than try to deal with it and do the best we can.
At least 37 people died from the recent winter storm in Buffalo, New York. Families are grieving. Hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, freezing temperatures, and snow have wreaked devastation on our country in the last twelve months. Loss of life can come from disease, weather, accidents or unconscionably by design.
We all have been horrified by the death of four college students in Moscow, Idaho. It’s been beyond us how four beautiful people could be stabbed to death in their beds reportedly between 3:00 and 4:00 in the morning. A young man who is a student at nearby Washington State University on the Pullman campus has been arrested at his parents’ house in Albrightsville, Pennsylvania. Moscow police believe they now have the murderer in custody.
How anyone could commit such a heinous crime is beyond our comprehension. I’m sure it was beyond the scope of thought for these innocent young adults. We never know who is taking note of our lives, whereabouts and activities. Regardless of how calm and safe your community seems you can’t take anything for granted. Lock your doors. Lock your bedroom door. Keep your handgun on your lampstand and try your best to create an environment that protects you as much as possible. With so many people sleeping in the rental house in Moscow, I’m sure these young college students felt safe. What appeared to be safe for them became an opportunity for an evil mind.
Typically, the attacker has the element of surprise on his side. It’s always best to try to think ahead. Sadly, four Idaho University students were killed by someone who planned, plotted, and was patient enough to find the right moment to carry out the murders.
Accepting and dealing with what we cannot change is one thing. Preparing for life but rolling with the punches, the turns, and twists, is another. Being watchful, careful, and never taking anything for granted could make the difference between life and death
Pray for these families and all the many friends and loved ones as they grieve and suffer from such devastating loss.
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