Some interesting storylines from these semifinals. Both finalists have a chance to make history. Here we go:
Althoff (Belleville) 60 Christ The King College Prep (Chicago) 45:
Senior Oregon footbal commit Dierre Hill Jr and 5 of his teammates won the Class 1A State Football title in November. Hill rushed for 438 yards (record) on 32 carries and 7 touchdowns. He's having a big effect on the basketbll courtDid a little bit of everything yesterday in win over Christ The King. He had 15 of his 21 points in the first half. Hit the glass, passed the ball, and stole the ball in the second half to key the Gladiators at bay. Totaled 7 rebounds 5 assists and 2 steals. He had plenty of offensive help from senior point guard Bryden Grzymala who had a bad shooiting night from three (1 for 6) but was effective in two point range (4 for 6) for 14 points. Zone defense and pressure kept Christ The King out of the paint and held them to 35.6% from the field and 4 for 11 from three. Forced 17 turnovers with their defense. Christ The King was led by senior forward Aaron McClure who had 10 points 7 rebounds and 2 blocks. Senior Darien Green had 9 points and 5 rebounds.
Althoff (Belleville) has won state titles this school year in football (1A), and soccer (2A). 4 of the players won the soccer title. They'll play Dyett (Chicago) on Saturday at 3 pm CST for Class 2A State title. Althoff (Belleville) has a 31-5 record.
Christ The King College Prep (Chicago) made it to state finals for the first time. They will play Manual (Peoria) for third place at 11:15 am today. Christ The King College Prep (Chicago) has a 25-10 record.
Dyett (Chicago) 54 Manual (Peoria) 50:
Dyett's scoring balance is the epitome of a TEAM!!!!First time to Champaign and they did what got them here all year long. Good team defense, going deep into their bench, and wearing teams down. The defense, physicality on and off the ball, and sharing the rock got them the separation they needed in the third quarter outscoring Manual 19-08 in the third quarter. Survived a late rally by Manual (Peoria) to hold them off. Dyett had 5 players that scored between 8 and 11 points in this game. Senior's Jaden McKinnon (11), Aramis Brown Jr (11), Deon Shelton (9), Ricky Coleman (8) and junior Jah'Mir Brown (11). That's 50 of their 54 points for the game. They made things tough for Manual (Peoria)'s Dietrich Richardson, a Bradley commit who still had a double/double of 17 points 14 rebounds 1 steal and 1 block. Senior Terrance Paige had 9 points 6 rebounds and 2 steals for Manual (Peoria).
Dyett (Chicago) moves into title game vs Althoff (Belleville) with a 26-7 record on Saturday at 3 pm CST.
Manual (Peoria) moves into third place game today vs Christ The King College Prep (Chicago) with a 23-13 record.
NOTE: Dyett (Chicago) will try to make it a fibe out of last 6 years that a team from Central (Joliet) Supersectional wins the title. Previously Orr (Chicago) (2017-2019) *(2020 made it to semifinals before shut down by COVID), (2021 no tournament because of COVID), 2022 (DePaul College Prep but came in fourth), 2023 (DePaul College Prep), 2024 (Phillips (Chicago)).
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