By JEFF LAMPE
Weekly Post Staff Writer
A flashy record and a beefed-up schedule led the Princeville and Farmington boys basketball teams to No. 2 seeds heading into next week’s start of postseason play.
Princeville (26-3) is favored to win a Class 1A regional on its home floor while Farmington (19-7) is at Class 2A Rushville. Of the two, Princeville’s path looks tougher.
“If you look at our regional, I would argue it’s the toughest one in the area and maybe even in the state,” Princeville Coach Jeff Kratzer said. “To be honest, I think both regionals (including Galva), are absolutely loaded.”
Princeville got a taste of what could come Monday in an exciting 54-53 win at Kewanee Wethersfield, a No. 5 seed that is also assigned to Princeville. After trailing by as many as 18 to Wethersfield, Princeville rallied and won on Sam Streitmatter’s last-second 3-pointer.
Prior to that, the Princes won Saturday at Henry (80-62) and Friday topped United at home, 71-61. Balanced scoring was big in both games, which otherwise played out very differently. While Princeville started strong and kept on scoring against Henry’s surprise man-to-man defense, the Princes trailed United at halftime, 39-30.
As Kratzer told his team, the visitors had more points in two quarters than they scored in losing the Lincoln Trail Conference tournament title game 47-34 days earlier.
“They were hurting us on ball screens in the first half, so at halftime we made a simple adjustment and it worked out,” Kratzer said.
Now the Princes need help to get past Annawan, which has the inside track on the LTC regular season title. Princeville was at West Central Tuesday and closes the regular season at Mercer County on Friday.
Farmington
The Farmers (20-7) had last week’s game with South Fulton called off heading into what proved to be a very good seed meeting.
Farmington avoided being in a regional with Pleasant Plains (21-3) and faces a possible showdown with No. 3 seed Petersburg Porta.
“I feel like we got the best-case scenario for us,” Coach Jeff Otto said. “What helped us this year was our strength of schedule.”
Farmington topped Monmouth-Roseville on Tuesday, 62-57, behind 25 points from Corbin Rutledge and closes at home vs. Brimfield on Friday.
Brimfield
The up-and-down Indians (14-12) struggled last week in a loss to Monmouth-Roseville and then played very well in last Friday’s 73-47 home win over Peoria Heights.
“Heights was playing a 2-3 (defense) most of the game and the middle was wide open and Ash (Johnson) was getting all kinds of good looks,” Coach Scott Carlson said.
Johnson finished with 28 points and also had 11 assists, many to Brett Novak (18 points) after drawing multiple defenders.
Brimfield closes with tough games, falling 39-35 Tuesday at Abingdon-Avon and facing a game at Farmington on Friday before a regional rematch with Elmwood. Brimfield held on to win the last matchup with Elmwood, 53-52, after leading by 15 with three minutes to play.
“Down the stretch we turned the ball over too much,” Carlson said.
“We’ve seen a lot of pressure throughout the year since then so hopefully that won’t be an issue.”
Elmwood
The Trojans (21-6) routed North Fulton last Friday, 54-32, despite Braden McFall being held to two points.
“There are coaches trying to really take McFall out of it, and then I think you see our guards are able to take advantage of that,” Coach Josh Fugitt said. “Bushnell played him straight up and he had 20. It’s an adjustment from game to game and our players are starting to understand how to attack it based on what they see.”
Andrew Marincic led Elmwood with 18 points and Kody Hightower had 12 vs. North Fulton.
Elmwood topped Peoria Heights Tuesday at home behind 15 points from Luke Hoffmann, 12 from Adam Centers and 11 from McFall. Friday is Senior Night vs. Havana, and then comes the rematch with Brimfield. The Trojans are seeded No. 6 despite yet another 20-win season.
“We’re going to have to play better for the first three quarters than we did the last time,” Fugitt said.
ROWVA-Williamsfield
The Cougars (11-18) won at Mercer County on Feb. 11 (65-60) and lost at Annawan Friday (79-47) and Illini Bluffs on Saturday (58-56).
R-W closes at Wethersfield Friday and is seeded No. 11 at Galva.
CLASS 1A – GALVA REGIONAL
Monday, Feb. 24
Game 1, 7 pm: (8) Ridgewood vs. (11) ROWVA-Williamsfield
Tuesday, Feb. 25
Game 2, 6 pm: (4) Abingdon-Avon vs. (15) Galva Game 3, 7:30: (7) United vs. (13) West Central
Wednesday, Feb. 26
Semifinal 1, 6 pm: (1) Peoria Quest vs. Winner Game 1 Semifinal 2, 7:30 pm: Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3
Friday, Feb. 28
Championship, 7:00 pm: Semifinal winners
CLASS 1A – PRINCEVILLE REGIONAL
Monday, Feb. 24
Game 1,6 pm: (2) Princeville vs. (14) Stark County Game 2, 7:30: (6) Elmwood vs. (9) Brimfield
Tuesday, Feb. 25
Game 3, 6 pm: (3) Peoria Christian vs. (12) North Fulton Game 4, 7:30: (5) Kewanee Wethersfield vs. (10) Peoria Heights
Wednesday, Feb. 26
Semifinal 1, 6 pm: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2 Semifinal 2, 7:30: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4
Friday, Feb. 28
Championship,7:00 pm: Semifinal winners
CLASS 2A – RUSHVILLE REGIONAL
Monday, Feb. 24
Game 1, 6 pm: (10) Rushville vs. (11) Macomb Game 2, 7:30 pm: (8) Quincy Notre Dame vs. (12) Illini West
Tuesday, Feb. 25
Semifinal 1, 7 pm: (2) Farmington vs. Winner Game 1
Wednesday, Feb. 26
Semifinal 2, 7 pm: (3) Petersburg PORTA vs. Winner Game 2
Friday, Feb. 28
Championship at 7 pm: Semifinal winners
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