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Boys basketball: Uni guts out win at Judah in regular-season finale

Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)Senior forward Isaac Radnitzer defends against Judah's Merlin Enright during Uni's 46-37 road win Friday night over the Tribe.

By Chris Yoder
Published: Saturday, February 16, 2008 - 12:58am
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POSTGAME COMMENTS:
Joel Beesley
Click to listen (0:35)

Gargoyle reporter Chris Yoder interviews head coach Joel Beesley about Uni's 46-37 win over Judah Christian.

Note: For a breakdown of the stats from this game, click here for the Gargoyle Scoreboard.

CHAMPAIGN — On a night when nobody’s shots were falling, the Illineks won with their defense, taking a 46-37 conference win at crosstown rival Judah Christian Friday night.

Uni closes the regular season with a 21-6 overall record and a 10-2 mark in the East Central Illinois Conference. Uni finishes second in the ECIC after Thursday’s 58-38 loss to conference champion Decatur Christian.

As Friday’s game began, Uni seemed to feel the effects of Thursday’s tough loss.

The Illineks only scored 9 points in the first quarter, and trailed by 3 at the end of the quarter. The team did not make a single 3-pointer on the evening, despite multiple chances early on.

Uni took the lead briefly in the second quarter — taking an 18-16 lead after an 9-2 run — but the Tribe soon regained the lead, and led 24-22 going into halftime.

Yet something must have inspired the Illineks at halftime, for they came out with newfound energy in the third quarter.

POSTGAME COMMENTS:
Austin Rundus
Click to listen (1:09)

Senior Austin Rundus talks with Chris Yoder about the Judah win and next week's playoff game against Monticello.

The visitors embarked on a six-minute 13-0 run, including a driving layup by center Frankie McFarland that brought the Uni fans to their feet. Uni’s defense held Judah to a mere 4 points in the quarter and led 35-28 to head into the final period.

The Illineks refused to relinquish the lead in the fourth quarter, taking a 43-33 lead into the final minute.

Judah converted on a 4-point play with 21 seconds left, narrowing the lead to 6, but Uni converted on 3 of 4 free throws in the final 15 seconds to close out the win.

"Judah came out and was very aggressive with us," said head coach Joel Beesley. "We did not play very good basketball and we lucked out to win in the end this evening. We need to improve [to win at regionals]."

Senior Isaac Radnitzer led Uni with 15 points and 5 rebounds.

Joining him in double figures was senior Mike Renner, who scored 12 points to go with 7 rebounds.

Senior Chumar Williams had all of Uni’s 8 assists, and fellow senior Austin Rundus added 7 points, 6 rebounds, and a team-high 5 steals.

POSTGAME COMMENTS:
Isaac Radnitzer
Click to listen (0:31)

Chris Yoder interviews senior Isaac Radnitzer about Friday's defeat of Judah and next week's Class 2A first-round regional opponent Monticello.

Uni also defeated the Tribe at Kenney Gym on Jan. 22, in a 71-49 rout. Uni has now won eight consecutive games against Judah, having not lost to the Tribe since the 2001-02 season.

With the regular season in the rearview mirror, the Illineks will begin the Class 2A playoffs Tuesday as they take on third-seeded Monticello at 8 p.m. in the St. Joseph-Ogden regional. The game will be played at SJ-O. Uni is seeded fifth in the nine-team Sub-Sectional B of the Casey-Westfield sectional.

“[It was] important that we get back winning and remind ourselves what it feels like to win before we go into regionals,” said Rundus. “Obviously if you don’t win you go home in regionals so it was important to get the win and it feels good.”

“If we shoot like we can and play like we can, I think we can beat them,” Radnitzer said of Monticello. “But it’s going to be a tough game.”

If the Illineks win that contest, they will play either No. 2 SJ-O, No. 6 Westville, or No. 8 St. Thomas More for the regional title. The game would begin 7:30 p.m. Friday at SJ-O.

In JV action on Friday, Uni held on in the fourth quarter, defeating Judah 33-25. The Uni JV won both of its matchups against the Tribe this season, coming out on top 33-30 on Jan. 22.

MORE PHOTOS: UNI AT JUDAH CHRISTIAN


Senior Ammar Rizwan (left) and sophomore Dan Lilly surround Judah's Shelby Eisenhauer. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)


Senior Austin Rundus (23) on defense. Chumar Williams (11) is in the background. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)


Senior Mike Renner disrupts Judah's Merlin Enright. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)


Junior Alan Kessler fights for the ball as Rundus looks on. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)

THE SEASON SO FAR

2007-08 BOYS VARSITY BASKETBALL: 21-6 overall, 10-2 ECIC
(home matches listed in bold)

Nov. 19: Shiloh (Central Illinois Turkey Tourney), W 80-32

Nov. 20: Buckley Christ Lutheran (Central Illinois Turkey Tourney), W 69-17

Nov. 23: Bement (Central Illinois Turkey Tourney), W 73-59

Nov. 24: Martinsville (Central Illinois Turkey Tourney championship game), W 74-43

Nov. 30: at Shiloh, W 72-23

Dec. 4: St. Thomas More, W 63-45

Dec. 14: at Oakwood, L 67-54

Dec. 18: Uni JV vs. BCL Varsity, W 40-23 (counts toward Uni's ECIC record only)

Dec. 27: Heritage (Hayden's Classic at Heritage), W 67-32

Dec. 27: Georgetown-Ridge Farm (Hayden's Classic at Heritage), W 63-41

Dec. 28: Salt Fork (Hayden's Classic at Heritage), L 71-64

Dec. 28: Atwood-Hammond (Hayden's Classic at Heritage), W 59-42

Dec. 29: Fisher (Hayden's Classic at Bismarck-Henning), L 60-42

Jan. 4: Decatur Christian, L 63-60 (OT)

Jan. 5: Lexington, L 51-48

Jan. 8: at Normal Calvary Baptist, W 74-51

Jan. 11: at DeLand-Weldon, W 70-25

Jan. 12: at Fisher, W 71-60

Jan. 15: Paxton-Buckley-Loda, W 71-57

Jan. 17: Decatur Lutheran School Association, W 69-56

Jan. 22: Judah Christian, W 71-49

Jan. 24: at Georgetown Notre Dame de LaSalette, W 81-52

Jan. 25: Uni JV at BCL Varsity, W 46-33 (counts toward Uni's ECIC record only)

Jan. 29: at Decatur Christian, postponed due to winter weather

Feb. 1: Normal Calvary Baptist, W 68-53

Feb. 5: DeLand-Weldon, W 70-21

Feb. 6: Georgetown Notre Dame de LaSalette, W 66-44

Feb. 12: at Decatur Lutheran, W 59-52

Feb. 14: at Decatur Christian, L 58-38

Feb. 15: at Judah Christian, W 46-37

2007-08 schedule: Click here for the Gargoyle Scoreboard.

Links:
Gargoyle Scoreboard (boys basketball): Uni at Judah Christian
Gargoyle Scoreboard (boys basketball): 2007-08 results, stats, and remaining games

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