IHSA STATE FINALS: Steady Woodlawn Reaches Title Game
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ First-time Illinois High School Association (IHSA) State Basketball Finals qualifier Woodlawn is making quite a splash on its maiden voyage to Carver Arena and the Peoria Civic Center.
The Cardinals jumped ahead for good late in the opening half and pulled away to oust Lewistown (25-8) in Friday's Class 1A semifinal curtain-raiser. The final score was 56-44.
At 1:45 Saturday, Woodlawn (30-1) plays the Macon-Meridian vs. Annawan winner in the state championship game.
"We made some shots and took pretty good care of the basketball," Cardinals coach Shane Witzel said. "In the fourth quarter, we hit our free throws and played well enough with the lead."
Bronson Verhines- a 6-5 Class 1A All-State selection, led Woodlawn's balanced attack with game-high totals in points (16) and rebounds (10). He also blocked two four shots. Younger brother Dawson blocked five shots in the game to set a new IHSA Class 1A single game record.
Dawson Verhines, only a sophomore, netted 14 points. Teammate Jase Green added 10 more. Woodlawn also had solid contributions from Casey Hammond and Josh Wiggs with six points apiece. Kyle Boldt (four) was the only other Cardinal to score.
A long three-pointer by D. Verhines pushed Woodlawn ahead for good, 23-22, at the 2:04 mark of the second quarter and carried a 29-23 edge into the intermission.
Down the stretch, the Verhines' combined for 12 fourth quarter points and were both 4-for-4 from the foul line. All totalled, the Cardinals hit 13-of-16 charity tosses and slowly extended a seven-point lead in the final five minutes of play.
Kyle Hatfill was the lone Lewistown Indian to reach double digits, scoring 14 points. After finishing fourth last year, Lewistown will again drop into Saturday's third place game.
"The biggest factor with this team is chemistry,'' Witzel said. "That's why we've reached the level we've reached. We have talented players, but team chemistry has made us successful night in and night out."
Woodlawn's defense- a staple all season long- was again stout on Friday. Joseph Jugovic, Lewistown's 6-foot-9, 250 pound center, was held to just six points and six rebounds. Overall, the Indians enjoyed a 33-26 rebounding edge.
Witzel, a prep standout at Woodlawn, played on the school's first two regional title teams (1987, 1988) and has coached the Cardinals to the school's other crowns the past two years.
Class 1A Shooutout
Southern Illinois also has Country Financial Three-Point Showdown champion. Patoka's Derek Backs won a 5-4 shootout over Nathan Koller of Kewanee-Wethersfield to win the championship after each hit 10 three's in the prelims. Waltonville's Joseph Lewis made nine and shared third place.Ethan Koehler of Midlands won the IHSA Slam Dunk Contest, also held Friday afternoon. Backs and Koehler advance to next week's "King of the Hill" final round.
Woodlawn 56, Lewistown 44
Woodlawn (30-1): Green 2 4-4 10, B. Verhines 6 4-4 16, Boldt 2 0-0 4, D. Verhines 5 3-4 14, Hammond 3 0-0 6, Wiggs 2 2-4 6.
Lewistown (25-8): Simpson 3 1-1 8, Jugovich 3 1-2 7, Parrish 1 0-0 2, Hatfill 4 6-7 14, Burrows 4 0-0 8, Duncan 1 0-0 3, Shubert 1 0-0 2.
Woodlawn 14 15 12 15- 56
Lewistown 10 13 11 10-44
Three-pointers" Woodlawn 3 (Green 2, D. Verhines). Lewistown 2 (Simpson, Duncan).
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