Marc Rogers

resqmph7@myfrontiermail.com

CLINTON — The Maroa-Forsyth Trojans have been rivals of the Maroons for some time, both in and out of conference play.  These games would be non-conference and not a threat to the Maroons’ record of all wins thus far in the season. 

The junior varsities (JV) were out first onto the court.  The Maroons started with a small 5-point lead in the first quarter as both teams struggled for points.  The second quarter saw the Maroons get up to speed and rattle off 13 points to enter the locker room ahead 21-10 at halftime. 

The third quarter was still heavy on the Maroons side as they held a lead 32-16 lead headed for the final round of play. 

Here the home team stumbled a bit and was out scored 12-6.  Fortunately, their preceding large lead was enough to keep the Maroons ahead for a 38-28 win. 

The Maroons were led by K. Duagherty (#25) and J. Manning (#32) with 11 points each.  Daugherty had two 3-pointers in the game.  J. Reynolds had 8 points with D. Bell following with 7 points.

During the the break between games, the new gym floor was dedicated in remembrance of Clinton High School alumnus Gene Vance.  Gene was one of the Illini “Whiz Kids” in the mid 1940s, who took time off from school and basketball to join the Armed Forces, and then he returned to the University of Illinois (U of I) to complete his education and return to the basketball court. 

Vance then played professional basketball for five years before returning to the U of I, eventually becoming the athletic director.  Gene’s wife and son were on hand to help dedicate the new “Gene Vance Court.”

The first official game on the newly-named court was not a disappointment either.  It was a thriller.  The Maroons would have their hands full in this game as the Trojans came to spoil the night. 

The Maroons kept the Trojans at bay in the first (20-17) and second (35-31) quarters to take a lead into the locker room at halftime. 

The teams were then in a battle for supremacy in the third and fourth quarters with the Trojans whittled away at the Maroons’ lead in the final three minutes. 

With just 9 seconds, left the Trojans scored to take a 68-67 lead. 

With just a few seconds left, Mason Walker (#3) drove the ball up the court and passed the ball to Keaton Graves (#10) on the baseline, who then went around an opposition defender and laid in a reverse layup as time ran out.  This gave the Maroons the 69-68 victory over the Trojans. 

Mason Walker (#3) led the Maroons with 29 points, followed by Dawson Graves (#2) with 17, Keaton Graves (#10) with 9, and Brooks Cluver (#12) with 6 points.