Junior High Class S State Tournament -- Feb. 5

Altamont Lutheran is in the Final Four.

But it didn't look like the Rockets were going to advance in the SIJHSAA Class S State Boys Basketball Tournament held at Rend Lake College, for a while.

ALIS trailed Rome 9-0 to start the game and were behind at halftime, 18-15. That deficit remained going into the fourth quarter as Rome held a 28-24 lead.

But ALIS finally got going and came on strong with a 13-6 final period to pull out a 37-34 victory.

Rome held leading scorer Noah Klimpel to just four points but Quinn Verdeyen stepped in with a 16 point performance, 10 coming in the second half while the supporting cast turned in good performances. ALIS hit two three-pointers by Avery Jahraus and Mason Robinson in the second period and four for the game as Tyler Robbins contributed in the final period and Robinson hit another trifecta.

In other games, Steeleville defeated Cisne, 45-34 while Bartelso downed Goreville, 56-18. Those two winners meet at 6 p.m. Thursday. Carrier Mills was a 35-25 winner over Aviston. Carrier Mills advances to meet Altamont Lutheran at 7:15 p.m. Thursday. The winners will advance to play for the state championship Saturday at 4 p.m. while the losers will square off for third place at 2:30.

Class S State Tournament

ALIS               6    9      9    13    --    37

Rome           11    7    10      6    --    34

Altamont Lutheran -- Robinson 6, Klimpel 4, Jahraus 3, Cornett 4, Verdeyen 16, Robbins 4

Rome -- Barliszewski 4, Holloway 3, Kujawa 5, Ortiz 4, Swan 16, Duback 2