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. — Robinson victory one for the ages
As teenagers, the young men comprising the Robinson High School basketball team probably won’t soon realize the legacy they just crafted.
Their names will echo through the history of their small Illinois hometown, population 6,822. The story of the Maroons’ run to the Class 2A state championship will be told and retold by their families, friends, neighbors, co-workers and future generations of players at their alma mater.
The tales may grow taller through the years. Big center Meyers Leonard — prolifically tall himself, at 7 feet — sank a long 3-pointer as the first-quarter buzzer sounded from 55 feet away in their victory over Hales Franciscan in Peoria’s Carver Arena on Saturday night. Or was it 70 feet? And, the Maroons scored half their team points at the free throw line, right? (Actually, it was almost half; they sank 35 of 43 free throws in a 76-68 overtime win.) And, the Maroons had to play the OT period without No. 2 scorer Ben Jones. (That’s true. Jones fouled out just before the end of regulation, after scoring 22 points. Derek Hannahs led Robinson with 28, and Leonard added 16 points and 14 rebounds.)
One portion of their newly minted legend that can’t be exaggerated is the enthusiasm shown by the community. Robinson brought the largest and loudest contingent to Carver Arena during the weekend, overwhelming the other three Final Four teams. Amazingly, Robinson is farther away from Peoria than the other three schools. Clearly, community spirit is alive in the Crawford County town, and the Maroons’ season — with 27 victories in 32 games — exposed that civic pride.
It is, after all, the town’s first boys high school basketball state title. In fact, it’s the first time since 1916 that Robinson even reached the championship game.
That’s 94 years.
No doubt, their team picture will hang prominently at their school for decades. The faces of Coach Bob Coffman and his players will always be familiar in Robinson.
“It’s awesome,” Hannahs told Tribune-Star sports reporter Andy Amey moments after winning the title game. “I don’t think it’s hit me yet. I’m numb right now.”
That euphoric numbness may linger awhile.
T-Birds taste title for the first time
Another Wabash Valley boys high school basketball team is in the midst of a historic run. The North Central Thunderbirds won the Class A Martinsville Regional last Saturday, and a berth in this weekend’s Seymour Semistate. No North Central boys team has ever advanced this far.
Like Robinson, the Thunderbirds finished strong in their 56-44 win over Edinburgh in the regional final. Now, Coach Ryan Kamaan and his team must play Barr-Reeve at 4 p.m. Saturday in Seymour. Barr-Reeve carries a more glittering record (23-3), compared to North Central’s 15-9 mark. But the Thunderbirds have some strong 3-point shooters, and one small piece of karma in their advantage — their first-ever regional title came on a court named after Indiana legend John Wooden, who led Martinsville to a state title in 1927.
Maybe a little magic from the Wizard of Westwood will follow the Thunderbirds to Seymour. Good luck, guys.
