Illinois Valley

Putnam County wins IESA 2A boys sectional championship, advances to State

Pumas (18-2) will face Riverdale Washington (15-0) at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Macon-Meridian High School

The Putnam County Pumas punched their way to the IESA seventh-grade state boys basketball tournament by defeaing host Joliet Laraway 32-28 to capture the sectional championship on Monday night. The Pumas (18-2) will play undefeated Riverdale (15-0) at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Macon-Meridian High School. Riverdale beat Bourbonnais St. George 31-14 at the Momence Sectional. Team members for the Pumas are (front row, from left) Luca Carboni, Calvin Fiedler, Davis Carlson, Hayden Doyle, Garrett Billups, Cayden Bush and Anthony Popurella; and (back row) Camden Moriarty, Nolan Weddell, Brennen McDonald, Luke Gabrielse, Geoffrey Pagani, Caius Luncsford and Coach Christian Harris.

The Putnam County Pumas punched their way to the IESA seventh-grade state boys basketball tournament by defeaing host Joliet Laraway 32-28 to capture the sectional championship on Monday night. The Pumas (18-2) will play undefeated Riverdale Washington (15-0) at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Macon-Meridian High School. Riverdale beat Bourbonnais St. George 31-14 at the Momence Sectional. Team members for the Pumas are (front row, from left) Luca Carboni, Calvin Fiedler, Davis Carlson, Hayden Doyle, Garrett Billups, Cayden Bush and Anthony Popurella; and (back row) Camden Moriarty, Nolan Weddell, Brennen McDonald, Luke Gabrielse, Geoffrey Pagani, Caius Luncsford and Coach Christian Harris. (Photo provided)

By Kevin Hieronymus
BCR
Kevin Hieronymus

Kevin Hieronymus

Kevin has been sports editor of the BCR since 1986 and is Sports Editor of Putnam County Record. Was previously sports editor of the St. Louis Daily News and a contributor for the St. Louis Cardinals magazine. He is a 2021 inductee into the IBCA Hall of Fame (Media) and a 2023 inductee into the Illinois Valley Hall of Fame as "Distinguished Media"