State sectional results -- and then there were 24

[March 11, 2009]  The final 32 teams in Class 3A were whittled down by eight after the first night of sectional semifinal action around the state of Illinois. If the Railers are victorious on Wednesday night, they will face the No. 1 team in the state, Champaign Centennial. The Chargers needed overtime to eliminate Springfield Southeast 73-69.

Finals from around the state:

At Chicago (King) -- Chicago Leo 45, Chicago Kenwood 43

At Decatur -- Champaign Centennial 73, Springfield Southeast 69 (OT)

At North Chicago -- North Chicago 76, Chicago Uplift 57

At Oak Lawn (Richards) -- Chicago Brooks 59, Crete-Monee 57

At Riverside (Brookfield) -- Chicago North Lawndale 74, Glenbard South 54

At Rochelle -- Rochelle 61, West Chicago Wheaton Academy 57

At Rock Island -- Morton 47, Peoria Richwoods 41

At Salem -- Carbondale 66, Charleston 45

[Text from file received from Jeff Benjamin]