Putnam County, Princeton hoping for sectional success

The Putnam County and Princeton boys basketball teams ended long regional title droughts last week.

The Panthers defeated Midland in the Class 1A St. Bede Regional to claim their first regional plaque in eight seasons, while the Tigers topped Kewanee in the Class 2A Hall Regional to bring home their first postseason hardware in 11 years.

Here’s a look at each team’s sectional:

Class 1A Woodland Sectional

Tuesday

Yorkville Christian (20-13) vs. Chicago Ellison (18-4), 7 p.m.

Wednesday

Putnam County (20-14) vs. Chicago Fenger (17-11), 7 p.m.

Friday

Championship, 7 p.m.

Outlook: In their first sectional appearance in eight years, the Panthers draw a Fenger program that’s had recent postseason success. The Titans have won four consecutive regional titles and claimed a sectional championship in 2020, the last time the IHSA held a postseason. Fenger averages 48.9 points a game on the season but averaged 72 points a contest in the regional. Senior Lonnel Strickland, a 6-foot-4 guard, averages 18.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, two steals and a block, while 5-9 junior guard Isaiah Hall contributes 12.9 points, 4.1 assists and 3.2 steals a game. The Titans played a schedule with several Class 3A and Class 4A teams. In the postseason, Fenger has beaten its three opponents by an average of 35.3 points a game. “They have very athletic kids,” PC coach Harold Fay said. “They will get up on us with man pressure and a 2-2-1 press. They like to ball screen then go hard to the basket. On long shots, they rebound very well.” Austin Mattingly (26 points) and Jackson McDonald (20 points) led the Panthers past Midland in the regional final, avenging an earlier loss to the Timberwolves. “They keys for us are to keep on the perimeter and shoot from the outside,” Fay said. “Our rebounding will be the biggest key. We also have to handle the ball pressure, try not to play too fast and execute.” On the other side of the sectional is No. 1-ranked Yorkville Christian, led by Duke recruit Jaden Schutt, a 6-6 guard who averages 25.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.1 steals per game. The Mustangs, who average 81.6 points a game, won their three regional games by an average of 49 points.

Next: Winner advances to the Illinois State University Supersectional to play the winner of the Watseka Sectional at 6 p.m. Monday, March 7.

Class 2A Mendota Sectional

Tuesday

Princeton (19-9) vs. Farmington (24-7), 7 p.m.

Wednesday

Eureka (24-6) vs. Rockridge (21-6), 7 p.m.

Friday

Championship, 7 p.m.

Outlook: As slow as Princeton started the season, losing four of its first six games by a total of seven points, the Tigers are red hot now, winning 10 of their past 11 games, dropping only their regular-season finale at Rochelle, a Class 3A regional champion. PHS will face a Farmington team that has beaten three teams – Kewanee (49-31), Rockridge (44-31) and IVC (63-56) – that went 4-0 against Princeton in the regular season. PHS coach Jason Smith describes Farmington as an “athletic team with good guards who can shoot the 3 well and likes to play man to man and run and jump.” He compares them to the Fieldcrest team that beat the Tigers in the regional final in 2020. “If we can cut down on our turnovers and play solid defense, we have a good chance,” Smith said. The Farmers rely on defense, holding 15 opponents to 40 points or fewer, including seven to 35 points or fewer. Offensively, the Farmers are well rounded with four players scoring in double figures in seniors Corbin Rutledge (12 points a game) and Riley Embrey (10), junior Logan Morse (11) and sophomore Keauntrey Barnes (10). Eureka beat Farmington, 55-30, just before the New Year. It also beat IVC (64-45), a common opponent of Princeton. The Hornets finished second (10-1) in the Heart of Illinois Conference behind regional champ El Paso-Gridley, which also beat the Hornets for the HOIC tournament title. Rockridge upset Three Rivers Conference West Division champ and host Riverdale, 58-52, for its regional title.

Next: Winner advances to the Sterling Supersectional to face the winner of the Marengo Sectional at 7 p.m. Monday, March 7.