PEORIA | Before arriving in Carver Arena, Winnebago had marched to a 32-0 record by scoring nearly 70 points per game.
All of that was derailed by Seton Academy’s smothering defense in the Sting’s resounding 62-37 win Friday night in a Class 2A state semifinal.
Seton (22-10) held the Indians to a season-low offensive output in a 62-37 triumph. Winnebago’s previous low was 53 points in a 21-point win over Marengo in December.
The Sting advanced to the title game by shutting down Winnebago’s outside game that produced 219 3-pointers before Friday.
“We’ve been that kind of team in terms of defense all season,” Seton coach Brandon Thomas said. “We did a good job of making sure we knew where certain guys were.”
Winnebago’s Matt Reinke and Jacoby Posley went a combined 4 for 23 from beyond the arc.
“I’ve been coaching a long time and have had teams shoot bad,” Winnebago coach Joe Murphy said, “but not that bad. I think most of it was we just took a lot of bad shots.”
Madison, Illini Central to meet for 1A crown: Senior Deontay Starnes made two free throws with eight seconds to go to lift Madison to a 51-50 victory over Lanark Eastland in a Class 1A semifinal.
Illini Central used a big first half to run away from Nokomis, 52-38, to win the second semifinal. Madison faces Illini Central in the 2 p.m. title game today.
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