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Prep Confidential

Bunnies, Maroons advance

Posted by: Marcus Jackson

Friday, February 29, 2008 11:22 PM

Can't blame the Fisher faithful who made their way onto the court following the Bunnies Class 1A sectional championship win against Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley.

After all, the Bunnies had just toppled their arch-rivals and won the first sectional championship in school history.

Orange was everywhere on the floor at Parkland, from kids asking for autographs, to adults hugging to fellow students posing for photos with the Fisher players after the game.

The Bunnies even had "Elite Eight" victory T-shirts on shortly after the final buzzer.

Coach Deon Mennega got emotional afterward and said it's always been a dream of his to advance to the Elite Eight.

Fisher's gift for advancing to the ISU super-sectional – a date with 29-1 Warrensburg-Latham, the favorite to win the Class 1A title. But if the Bunnies continue to play defense the way they have the last two games – 25 points to Tuscola, 37 to GCMS – they might have a shot.

Here's how they got past the Falcons:

– Four players – Jared Hayden (15 points), Mitch Elkins (14), Sam Estes (14) and Jacob Browning – reached double figures.

– They out-rebounded GCMS 27-13, led by Elkins' game-high 13.

– They held GCMS leading scorer Cody Birky to eight points. Birky, who advanced in the three-point shooting contest prior to the game, went 0 for 6 from beyond the arc Friday.

Expect a large following of Fisher folks in Normal on Tuesday.

Champaign Central beat Centennial for the second time this season to win its third straight regional title.

– The Maroons avenged a loss to their arch-rivals a month earlier with Friday's 81-69 triumph.

– Centennial's Rayvonte Rice led all scorers with 31 points. The 6-foot-2 sophomore also pulled down nine rebounds.

– Central got 22 points from Verdell Jones and 12 boards from Keith Biggers.

– In the three games played between the two this season, the road team has come out on top. The Maroons have won twice.

– Central will face Normal West on Tuesday at Mt. Zion in a Class 3A sectional semifinal.

MJ