Matyi leads Sesser into Class 1A final

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PEORIA – Senior center Justin Matyi scored 29 points and grabbed 15 rebounds to lead Sesser to a 54-50 win against Madison on Friday in an IHSA Class 1A boys basketball state semifinal.

Matyi, a member of the Associated Press first-team All-State team, scored 17 points in the first half as the Red Devils (26-9) never trailed.

Forward T.J. Eubanks contributed 15 points for Sesser.

Center Cory Hardin led Madison (23-8) with 19 points and eight rebounds.

Sesser will meet Catlin Salt Fork in today’s Class 1A championship game, and Madison will play Lanark for third place.

Catlin Salt Fork 48, Lanark Eastland 38: Joel Learnard scored 20 points, and Ryan Anderson added 17 to lead top-ranked Catlin Salt Fork against Lanark Eastland in the other Class 1A state semifinal.

Catlin (32-1) led, 25-21, at halftime and fell behind early in the second half before going on a 13-0 run midway through the third quarter.

Learnard also grabbed 12 rebounds to lead the Storm.

Senior guard Tony Dunlap led Lanark (28-5) with a game-high 22 points.

Class 2A

Peoria Manual 39, Breese Central 38: Peoria Manual held on for a Class 2A state semifinal win against Breese Central.

Associated Press All-State first team player Lawrence Alexander led the Rams with 16 points.

Forward Brandon Book led Breese with 11 points, and teammate Garrett Gaffner scored 10 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.

Manual, having earned its 21st trip to state, will face Robinson tonight.

Robinson 64, Hales Franciscan 61: Senior guard Ben Jones led Robinson with 21 points in the Maroons’ state semifinal win against Hales Franciscan.

Associated Press All-State center Meyers Leonard, a University of Illinois signee, chipped in 19 points for Robinson (26-5).

All-state guard Patrick Miller led the Spartans (28-3) with a game-high 22 points.

Robinson plays Manual today for the Class 2A state title.