Illini Central Cougars bring home 2nd place in the IESA 8th Grade Class 2A State Tournament

[March 19, 2018] 

The Illini Central Cougars earned the second place trophy Saturday night at the 8th Grade Class 2A State Tournament in Auburn. The Cougars fell in three tight sets to Champaign St. Matthew in the championship match. After winning the first set 25-23, the Cougars then fell 22-25 and 20-25 to Champaign St. Matthew.

The road to the championship match:

Illini Central knocked off Kinmundy South Central (24-1) on Friday night in the opening round. The Cougars won in two sets, 25-10 and 25-19.

Advancing to Saturday's semifinals, the Cougars edged Lewistown (21-5) in an exciting matchup. After claiming the first set 25-13, the Cougars then lost the second set 26-24. Coach Jim Newell's team then bounced back to win 25-23 in set three and earned the right to play for the state championship.

Illini Central Coach Jim Newell had very kind words for his athletes following the championship loss on Saturday night. "Both matches on Saturday had a championship feel to them," said Coach Newell. "It was the third time we played Lewistown this season. They won the first meeting and us the second. We knew they were tough team, so the tie breaker was not going to be easy. The scores of the second and third set tell the story. 26-24 and 25-23.

The St. Matthew match was one tough game. What a way to end the season. This team has done something that no other team at Illini Central has done: get back to the state tournament and place both years. What a bunch of wonderful athletes to work with."

Congratulations to the Cougars!

Illini Central stats for the three tournament games:

Kills Asst - Blks - Aces- Service points:

G. Fangmeier: 25 23 4 6 31
B. Clark 6 23 13 9 29
E. Wallace 8 9 2 2 14
A. Stewart 7 1 14
I. McKinney 17
A. Horn 2 9

Final standings of 2018 8th Grade Class 2A State Tournament:

1st Champaign St. Matthew (26-1)
2nd Illini Central (25-3)
3rd Lewistown (22-6)
4th Ashland A-C Central (18-10)

[Teena Lowery]