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After a relatively close first quarter
that saw the lead change several times, West Lincoln-Broadwell made
two 3-point field goals near the end of the quarter to lead after
one stanza, 15-11. A strong defensive effort by West Lincoln-Broadwell
held Fieldcrest to just five points in the second quarter and
allowed the Wolverines to take a 25-16 lead into the locker room at
halftime. Fieldcrest turned up
the intensity in the third quarter and outscored West Lincoln-Broadwell
16-9 to trail only 34-32 at the end of the third quarter. For
Fieldcrest, Nathan Ropp had two 3-point goals and a 2-point goal,
while Zach Kirkton contributed six points in the quarter. The
Wolverine points were scored by Ben Brackney, with a 3-point goal
and two free throws, and Hayden Cosby, who had four points.
Ropp scored on a layup for the first
points of the fourth quarter to tie the game at 34. Jordan Nelson, a
sixth grader for West Lincoln-Broadwell, then scored the first two
points of the fourth quarter for WL-B to give the lead back to WLB,
36-34. Fieldcrest countered with a 3-point goal by Ropp to take a
37-36 lead. Two free throws by WL-B’s Ben Brackney put the
Wolverines up 38-37. Another layup basket by Ropp quickly gave the
lead back to Fieldcrest, 39-38. However, the sixth-grade sensation,
Nelson, made consecutive goals, the last one coming with 1:33
remaining in the game, to give WL-B a 44-39 margin, and they never
relinquished the lead. Nelson made one of two free throws with 33
seconds remaining to give the Wolverines the 45-39 victory over
Fieldcrest.
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 A crowd estimated at 2,200 watched
the championship game at Clinton High School.
Nelson led all scorers with 19
points, nine coming in the decisive fourth quarter. Brackney added
16, Cosby had eight points, and Cameron Turner chipped in with two.
Fieldcrest West was led by Ropp with
15 points, Kirkton added 11, Taylor Baxter had five points, and Zach
Meyer and Matt Stevenson had four points each.
WL-B set numerous records during the
tournament. The 34 3-point goals by WL-B broke the all-time record
for most 3-point goals in the tournament, which was previously set
by Buffalo Tri-City in 1999 at the 8A tournament, as well as
smashing the Class 7A record of 15, which was set by Monmouth ICS in
2003. WL-B tied the all-time record for most 3-point goals in a
championship game with seven and tied the Class 7A game record for
3-point goals with the same seven. In addition, the seven 3s set the
Class 7A championship game record.
The 249 total points scored by WL-B
(66, 73, 65, 45) set the record for most points scored in the Class
7A tournament. The 73 points in the second game broke the
single-game scoring record, which had been 63.
[Illinois
Elementary School Association] |
