Area Roundup: Morris boys return to action, fall to Kaneland

MAPLE PARK – Following its second quarantine of the season, the Morris boys basketball team returned to the court Monday night to take on Interstate 8 Conference rival Kaneland.

The Redskins hung tough with the Knights but fell just short in a 45-43 defeat. Kaneland led throughout, taking a 9-8 lead at the end of the first quarter, and leading 24-21 at halftime and 34-30 entering the fourth.

Myles Johnston led Morris (2-2, 2-1) with 15 points, while Colin Cummings scored 13.

“I was proud of our fight and our toughness,” Morris coach Joe Blumberg said. “We just couldn’t get over the hump.”

BOYS BASKETBALL

Gardner-South Wilmington 53, St. Anne 50: The Panthers (8-5, 8-0) remained unbeaten in River Valley Conference play with Tuesday’s win. Connor Steichen led GSW with 22 points, while Brandon States had 14 points and nine rebounds and Cayden Landry added 10 points and nine boards.

Seneca 59, Streator Woodland 41: Zach Pfiefer led Seneca (7-5) in the win Tuesday with 17 points, while Trey Hauch scored 12, Noah Quigley scored nine and Chase Hauch added eight.

Reed-Custer 52, Coal City 39: The Coalers (3-5) got off to a quick start Tuesday, holding a 13-6 lead at the end of the first quarter, but couldn’t hold off Reed-Custer as the Comets handed them their third loss in a row. Reed-Custer rallied to take a 27-19 lead at halftime and led 43-25 entering the fourth quarter. Carson Headley led Coal City with 12 points, while Carson Shepard added 10.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Minooka 56, Plainfield East 41: Freshman Makenzie Brass led the way Tuesday for the Indians (5-5) with 17 points. Junior Brianna Simmons added 13.

Reed-Custer 30, Coal City 26: Audrey Cooper led Coal City (4-5, 4-3) with nine points in the Illinois Central Eight loss Monday. Grace Norris added six points and Abby Payton had five.

Gardner-South Wilmington 60, Tri-Point 48: Addi Fair led GSW (9-1, 6-1) with 22 points in the River Valley Conference win Monday, while Abby Beck scored 17 points and Kylie Hawks added 10.

Seneca 49, Putnam County 33: Maddie Bromberek paced Seneca on Monday with 16 points in the Tri-County Conference win. Brooklyn Giertz addee 15 points for the Lady Irish (10-1, 7-1), while Carly Greve added six points.

BOYS SWIMMING

Morris 106, West Aurora 76: Morris got first place finishes from Cameron James (400 freestyle, 4:32.94; 100 breaststroke 1:11.60), Jimmy Motsch (200 individual medley, 2:36.72), Aidan Kozlowski (100 backstroke, 1:19.35), and Evan Phillips (diving, 195.35). Second place touches went to Jeff Bzdill in the 200 freestyle (2:21.53), Johnny Halloran in the 200 IM (3:00.94), Teydin Murphy in diving (159.65), Kozlowski in the 100 freestyle (1:03.59) and Wes Zumwalt in the 100 backstroke (1:22.96). The 400 freestyle relay team of Carson Collet, Jeff Bzdill, Jimmy Motsch, and Cameron James took first place (4:23.65), and the 400 freestyle relay team of Austin Aldridge, Nick DeLuca, Caleb King and Billy Glasscock placed second (4:56.89).