Illinois Valley lends hand in North win in IBCA game

Pat Cinotte and his two Lady Red Devils’ curtain call was a winner.

The former Hall coach directed the North squad to a 76-68 win in Saturday’s Illinois Basketball Coaches Association 1A/2A Al-star game in Bloomington. He was reunited with former Hall players, Lindsay Wallaert (3) and Carly Prokup (2), who combined for five points for the winning effort by the North squad.

St. Bede product Sam Galas, the co-BCR Player of the Year, chipped in with six points and five rebounds.

“It was a great experience,” Cinotte said. “I can’t say enough about the way the Illinois Valley was represented by these three girls. They did very, very well. It was great to have them play and participate in the great North win. It was a great way to close their high school careers.”

The South was favored going into the game, but the North took control, leading 40-27 at half and by as much as 21 points in the second half. The South closed within eight, but no closer than the final margin.

“We played a very good game for 43 minutes, the last three minutes we played very, very sloppy,” Cinotte said. “If we would have stopped after 43 minutes, we would have won by 16. If the game would have went another three minutes, I don’t know what would have happened. I guess we only prepared for 43 minute, but I’ll take that.”

Katie Yohn, a Bradley University recruit from Elgin St. Edward, led the North with 14 points.

The North side also won the 3A/4A game 75-64 played at the Shirk Center at Illinois Wesleyan.

American Legion Baseball

At Farmington: Princeton’s Daniel Murray drove in three runs and doubled and Drew Compton added two RBIs for the Henry County Sr. Legion Post 31 in a 9-3 victory at Farmington Saturday. Kewanee’s Ryan Bumphrey went the full seven innings for the win. Bureau Valley’s Ryan Hix added a base hit.

The Cobras collected seven hits in a 5-1 loss in Game 2. Compton and Murray singled and Bureau Valley’s John King and Annawan’s Heath Walker each doubled.