IHSA STATE FINALS: Massac Helps South Rise Again

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ In March of 1994, Southern Illinois sent two teams- Pinckneyville and Carbondale- into the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) State Championship games.

A decade-and-a-half later, in the second year of four class basketball in Illinois, its happened again.

Massac County (33-1) handled previously undefeated Marshall 60-43 late Friday night, advancing into Saturday night's final against South Holland's Seton Academy. Seton ripped another unbeaten, #1 ranked Winnebago, 83-58, to start Class 2A semfinal play.

The title game is set for 8:15 p.m.

Marshall (31-1) battles Winnebago for third place at 6:45 p.m.

"I'm going to try and not tear up when Saturday night comes around," veteran Massac County coach Joe Hosman said. "This just means so much for this team, our school and community."

The Patriots held Marshall's all-state twins, Logan and Lucas Eitel, to a combined 13 points in the game and held a double-digit lead for most of the final 2 1/2 quarters.

Dustin Korte came off the bench to score 15 points for Massac. Despite foul problems, all-stater Byron Bailey added 13. Jarelle Johnson and James Lang each netted 11 points.

Massac opened a 32-17 lead by halftime before Marshall sliced the margin down to just eight points on at least three different occasions.

"All year long we've been able to fight back some pretty good runs," Hosman said. "We knew Marshall wasn't going to quit. That's an excellent basketball team and a great program."

About seven hours before Massac's first-ever state championship game appearance, Woodlawn will attempt to become the deep south first titlist since Pinckneyville in 2001.

The Cardinals meet Macon-Meridian, a 51-47 semifinal winner over Annawan, in the 1A championship at 1:45 p.m.

Korte finished second in the Country Financial Three-Point Showdown finals prior to the game, hitting 11 shots. Tom Norton of Bloomington Central Catholic (12) was the winner.

Myers Leonard of Robinson captured the 2A Slam Dunk Contest.