Washington boys put Mid-Illini title under wraps

The first surge of the second half for Washington didn?t stick. The second one did in a 53-47 victory at Limestone in Mid-Illini boys basketball on Friday.

Washington (25-1, 12-0) clinched the conference title outright and completed the road portion of its league schedule. The Class 3A No. 3-ranked Panthers will take a 14-game win streak into Saturday against visiting Metamora. Canton visits Washington next Friday.

?If you can go unbeaten on the road in this conference that gives you a real opportunity,? Washington coach Kevin Brown said. ?This is a tough place to play and? against a very good team. It was a full house and a lot of emotion. It was like the postseason started early.?

Trailing 38-37 after three quarters, Limestone (17-9, 7-5) opened the fourth with a basket from Terence Shelby and a fastbreak layup from David Anderson to lead 41-38.

Washington got two jumpers from Casey Danley and a putback basket from Alec Peters as part of a 13-2 surge for Washington.

Limestone got as close as 51-47 on a steal and layup by Lorenzo Burns. The Rockets went without a basket over a five-minute stretch midway through the fourth.

?I?m proud of the way our kids battled against a quality, veteran team,? Limestone coach Eddie Mathews said. ?We just need to get six or seven points better.?

Peters had game highs of 21 points and 15 rebounds. The Valpariaso recruit had three baskets, including one on a two-handed dunk, as part of a surge that put Washington up 37-27 in the third.

Limestone junior reserve Nick Page sank two 3s to help the Rockets close the frame on a 10-1 burst.

Page was 3-for-3 on 3s. He and Shelby each scored 11 for Limestone, which got no points and three assists from scoring leader Hank Mathews, who fouled out in the fourth.

?Nick came in and hit some big shots when we needed them,? Eddie Mathews said.

Tucker Harlan sank six of nine shots and scored 13 for Washington. Danley, a junior guard, scored nine in his season debut. He had been sidelined following shoulder surgery in the fall.

?I didn?t plan on using him that much but we got into some foul trouble in the first half and he gave us a huge lift,? Brown said.

Burns scored 10? for Limestone.

Washington and Morton were Mid-Illini co-champions in 2011-12.

Lonnie Schwindenhammer can be reached at 686-3214 or lschwindenhammer@pjstar.com.
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Source: http://www.pjstar.com/sports/preps/x1037512177/Washington-boys-put-Mid-Illini-title-under-wraps

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