Mike Renner, Uni High's career-scoring leader in boys basketball, recently received one last accolade: He was selected to The News-Gazette All-Area First Team, one of only 10 players to receive the honor. He joins his older brother Al Renner, a 2006 Uni alum, as a News-Gazette first-teamer. Mike also received all-state recognition from the Associated Press and the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association. Read on for more about Mike and several of his senior teammates.

In the annual basketball awards ceremony held Monday at Uni Gym, seniors Aran Yoo, Mike Renner, and Chumar Williams came away with varsity MVP awards. Other honors included all-conference selections for Renner (unanimous), Williams, Yoo, and junior Rachel Skoza.

Senior Chumar Williams has made it past the second round of the IHSA Class 2A Three-Point Showdown. He is hoping to duplicate on the boys side the accomplishment of junior Jessi Sullivan, who advanced to the girls Class 2A state prelims this year. Her run ended Thursday, when she made five treys at Illinois State University's Redbird Arena.

[UPDATE complete] It was a difficult way to end the most successful four-year stretch in Uni boys basketball history, but Monticello defeated the Illineks 76-55 Tuesday night in a Class 2A regional semifinal playoff game at St. Joseph-Ogden High School. The Illineks finished the season 21-7 overall, 10-2 in the East Central Illinois Conference. From 2004-05 to 2007-08, the Uni boys varsity won 81 games, surpassing the school's previous best four-year mark of 77 victories (1941-42 to 1944-45).

[AUDIO included] It was a night dominated by defense, but the Illineks managed to score just enough to beat crosstown rival Judah Christian 46-37 Friday. Uni, now 21-6 overall and 10-2 in the ECIC, clinches second place in the conference. Seniors Isaac Radnitzer and Mike Renner led Uni with 15 and 12 points, respectively. Uni plays Monticello 8 p.m. Tuesday at St. Joseph-Ogden High School in the Class 2A playoffs.

Decatur Christian won the East Central Illinois Conference title tonight by defeating Uni High 58-38. The Illineks came into tonight's contest having won 11 consecutive games and three straight conference championships. The loss drops Uni to 20-6 overall and 9-2 in the ECIC with one game left to play in the regular season. The Illineks are back in action Friday night as they visit conference opponent Judah Christian.

The Illineks on Tuesday won their 11th consecutive game, defeating Decatur Lutheran 59-52. Senior Austin Rundus led the team with 14 points and 4 steals. Uni (20-5, 9-1) plays Decatur Christian (21-3, 10-1) Thursday night, likely to determine who wins the conference. On Friday, Uni wraps up the regular season at conference rival Judah Christian. Then on Tuesday, the Illineks will take on Monticello in the first round of Class 2A regionals.

[UPDATED with audio and photos] Uni's six graduating players went out with a 66-44 victory Wednesday night over Georgetown Notre Dame de LaSalette in their final home game. Uni also extended its winning streak to 10 games, raising its record to 19-5 overall, 8-1 in the ECIC. The Illineks have three more games before the IHSA Class 2A playoffs begin, and if they win all three, they will likely win the conference.

The Illineks won their ninth straight game by defeating conference opponent DeLand-Weldon 70-21 Tuesday night at Kenney Gym. Uni is now 18-5 overall, 8-1 in the East Central Illinois Conference. The boys will return to Kenney Gym tonight to celebrate Senior Night before playing Georgetown Notre Dame de LaSalette. The ceremony honoring the team's six seniors will begin no earlier than 7:20 p.m.

[UPDATED with photos] The Illineks won their eighth consecutive game Friday night with a 68-53 victory over Normal Calvary Baptist at Kenney Gym. Senior Mike Renner led Uni with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Uni is now 17-5 overall, and 7-1 in the ECIC. Uni has not lost in nearly four weeks.

There may have been no school today because of the snowstorm that swept through the Midwest, but conditions have improved enough to allow Uni and Normal Calvary Baptist Academy to play three basketball games later today at Kenney Gym. The boys JV game will begin at 5, followed by the girls varsity at 6:20 and boys varsity at 7:45. Senior Night ceremonies for the girls will be held before their game.

Tonight's game in Decatur was canceled because of bad weather. Uni, which is seeking its fourth straight conference title, is 16-5 overall, 6-1 in the ECIC. Decatur Christian is 17-2, 8-0. Back on Jan. 4, the visiting Warriors handed the Illineks their only conference loss of the season, a 63-60 overtime defeat at Kenney Gym.

Thanks to junior Malcolm Taylor's game-high 25 points against Buckley Christ Lutheran on Friday, the stage is set for the biggest Uni boys game of the season. Taylor led the visiting Uni JV to a 46-33 conference victory over the BCL varsity. The win, which counts as part of Uni's East Central Illinois Conference record, keeps the Illineks on track to earn at least a share of their fourth straight ECIC title. Uni (16-5, 6-1) will be on the road Tuesday to play conference leader Decatur Christian (17-2, 8-0).

Mike Renner scored 21 points with 9 rebounds and fellow senior Chumar Williams added 10 points and 10 assists to lead Uni to an 81-52 nonconference victory Thursday over host Georgetown Notre Dame de LaSalette. Uni will take its 16-5 varsity record to Decatur Christian on Tuesday in a showdown for the East Central Illinois Conference title.

Uni won a rivalry game and picked up its sixth consecutive victory in a 71-49 conference win Tuesday over Judah Christian at Kenney Gym. Senior Mike Renner led all scorers with 18 points, knocking down three treys. The Illineks improve to 15-5, 5-1 in the ECIC.