CLINTON — This past weekend saw the return of the Maroons-sponsored New Year’s Showdown at Clinton High School (CHS) and Clinton Junior High School (CJHS).  

The junior varsity teams played at CJHS, while the varsities played on the hardwood at CHS.  Besides the Maroons, there were nine other schools participating this year with both their varsity and JV teams.  

The teams were from Heyworth, Maroa-Forsyth, Virden (North Mac), Seneca, Monmouth-Roseville, Rochester, Bloomington (Central Catholic), Bartonville (Limestone) and Illiopolis-Harristown (Sangamon Valley).

The hullabaloo began around 11:30 a.m. at CJHS and ended at CHS at approximately 9 p.m.  The only score relayed from the JV arena was a 30-point win (54-24) for the Clinton Maroons.  The first, and toughest, game of the tournament went to Heyworth and North Mac going wire to wire tied until a buzzer beating 3-point basket that won the barn burner for the Heyworth Hornets.  

Other games at CHS (in the order the games were played) were Maroa-Forsyth in a loss to Monmouth-Roseville 43-61, the Rochester Rockets downing the Seneca Irish 57-55 (another close one), And the Central Catholic Saints over the Limestone Rockets 69-39.  In the final contest of the day, the home town Clinton Maroons faced the Sangamon Valley Storm.  If there had been a storm brewing, it was quickly quelled by the Maroons.  the home town favorites shot to a 15-9 lead in the first quarter and rained on the Storms parade with a 41-13 halftime lead.  Starting the second half seemed no problem for the Maroons as they took a 60-17 lead into the final stanza and decisively ended the Storms day with a 77-20 win.  This win gives the Maroons a 6-10 record overall for the season.  On the evening the Maroons had 12 players score in the game with Mathew Overton leading the way scoring 18 points and Cal Case close behind with 12 points.