Seventh-Grade State Basketball -- Feb. 4

Effingham St. Anthony will play for third place after action in the Class 7-2A State Boys Basketball Tournament Saturday.

The Bullpups took a 52-34 win over Lexington in the opening contest. St. Anthony held a 27-12 halftime lead and never looked back.

Kyle Stewart scored 22 for the Bullpups while Josh Blanchette chipped in with 14.

In the other opening round games, Joliet Laraway defeated Peoria Heights St. Thomas 51-29, Ashland A-C Central won over Colchester West Prairie 39-28 and Decatur Robertson bounced Sparland Midland 53-12.

In the second game, St. Anthony fell to Joliet Laraway 37-32. Laraway took an 11-4 opening quarter lead and led 26-14 at halftime. St. Anthony had an 18-11 second half but the first half proved to be the winner.

Angelo Mendella tallied 15 for the Bullpups who are now 17-7 on the season.

In the other semifinal contest, Decatur Robertson beat Ashland A-C Central 34-22.

St. Anthony will now meet Ashland A-C Central (23-4) Thursday at 6 p.m. for third place.

Joliet Laraway (16-1) will take on Decatur Robertson (16-2) at 7:30 p.m. for the championship Thursday.

Class 7-2A State Tournament

At Clinton High School

Game One

Lexington                6       6    10    12    --    34

St. Anthony           12    15    12    13    --    52

Lexington -- Thomas 2, Larsen 4, Kunkel 2, Peacock 3, Coffman 8, Tolan 13, Laesch 2

St. Anthony -- Chojnicki 6, Stewart 22, Mendella 3, Link 2, Blanchette 14, Niebrugge 5

Game Five

St. Anthony                  4    10    7    11    --    32

Joliet Laraway           11    15    6       5    --    37

St. Anthony -- Chojnicki 6, Stewart 5, Mendella 15, Blanchette 5, Niebrugge 1

Joliet Laraway -- Sanders 5, Brown 2, Finch 4, Sterrett 8, Anaman 16, Jones 2

Class 7-1A State Tournament

Sigel St. Michael will be playing for the championship of the Class 7-1A State Tournament at East Peoria Central Junior High School after claming two wins Saturday.

The Shapshooters won the opening contest 40-38 over Peoria St. Mark. St. Michael moved ahead 14-8 in the opening quarter and held a 22-19 halftime lead.

Peoria St. Mark came back with a 9-6 third quarter and tied the score at 35-35, sending the game into overtime. In the overtime period, St. Michael had a 5-3 run to pull out the two-point win.

Craig Croy scored 23 for the Sharpshooters.

In other opening round contests, Decatur Our Lady of Lourdes downed Jacksonville Our Saviour 37-17, Bartonville Monroe beat Rantoul St. Malachy 52-16 and Pontiac St. Mary's defeated Ottawa Wallace, 39-22.

In the semifinal contest, St. Michael trounced Pontiac St. Mary 41-17. The Sharpshooters had an 18-9 opening half and then had a 10-2 third quarter.

Croy tallied 19 while Max Niebrugge chipped in with 10 for the winners who improve to 24-1.

In the other semifinal contest, Bartonville Monroe edged Decatur Our Lady of Lourdes 29-28. Bartonville Monroe moved into the title contest against St. Michael at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Both teams have a 24-1 record. The third place game at 6 p.m. will feature Decatur Our Lady of Lourdes against Pontiac St. Mary's.

Class 7-1A State Tournament

At East Peoria Central JHS

Game Three

Peoria St. Mark          8    11    9    7    3    --    38

St. Michael               14      8    6    7    5    --    40

Peoria St. Mark -- Taylor 3, Mathews 11, B. Osmulski 3, Dykeman 4, A. Osmulski 17

Sigel St. Michael -- Gaddis 2, Croy 23, Niebrugge 5, Young 8, Lee 2

Game Six

St. Michael          9    9    10    13    --    41

St. Mary's           6    3      2      6    --    17

Sigel St. Michael -- Croy 19, Fearday 5, Niebreuge 10, Young 7

Pontiac St. Mary's -- Bauknecht 4, Trevino 7, Rice 2, Cheek 4