Peoria Manual evens the season series with a win tonight at home against Peoria!!!! Top performances for 3 JAN 2025!!!!

Big Tim

Jan 33 min read

Two Mr Basketball candidates went at it tonight. Bradley commit Dietrich Richardson (6'7" point guard) and Miami, Ohio commit Leshaw Stowers. The hero though was senior Terrance Paige of Peoria Manual (6'3" guard/forward). Plus top performanes including high scoring Luke Smith of Addison Trail putting up a 40 piece extra crispy added 5 rebounds and 6 assists. Here we go:

Peoria Manual 47 Peoria 43 Final: My first time in the historic gym of Peoria Manual. Pictures and murals celebrating their 5 state championship teams (1930 (one class), 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 (2A in a 2 class system)). Something this young generation can see the greatness of the past in the program. Onto the game. Peoria gets out to an 11-0 lead as senior shooting guard Spencer Russell was red hot with all 14 of his points in the first half, and Stowers scored 5 points in the quarter, but Manual went on a 12-7 run of it's own to cut it to 18-12 at end of first quarter.

Second quarter Manual kept coming back with multiple contributions from Richardson, and Paige. They cut the deficit to 26-25 at halftime. Second half was a see saw battle as neither team had more than a three point lead till the final score. Stowers scored only one basket in the second half as Richardson put the clamps on him. Richardson did not shoot well the entire game as Stowers and other multiple defenders combined to slow him down.

Manual held a slim 36-35 lead at the end of the third quarter. With Richardson and Stowers cancelling each other out, someone had to step up on one of the teams. Enter Paige. He not only scored, he was everywhere!!!! He hit the glass, blocked shots, made nice passes, and was clutch down the stretch. Game was 45-43 when Richardson stepped up and hit two clutch free throws to put it away with 5 seconds left in the game. Peoria had 4 fouls to give with 15 seconds left and gave them quickly. Richardson was 3 for 12 from the field and 12 points 8 rebounds 4 assists and 1 block. Paige ended up with 15 points 7 rebounds 3 steals and 4 blocks. Peoria junior Fenix Foy (6'5" forward) who ended up with 13 points and 4 rebounds.

Manual ups its record to 9-5 spliting the season series with Peoria as both won at home. Peoria drops to 14-3. Not sure of their conference records unfortunately.

Addendum: first matchup was at Decatur Thanksgiving Tournament title game. Peoria should get another matchup at home.