Mason savors unusual 3-point state experience

Westminster Christian boys basketball player Andrew Mason finished in a five-way tie for 15th out of 32 shooters at the Class 1A 3-point shooting contest at Carver Arena in Peoria after he connected on 7 of 15 shots Thursday.

"It was awesome," the junior guard said of traveling to the state finals. "I just hope to do it again next year, hopefully, with my team."

Finishing 15th in the state was quite an accomplishment considering Mason wasn't originally slated to compete in the contest at all. He was the Warriors' first alternate at the regional shootout but gained a spot in the contest when a teammate was suspended for a game.

Mason was eliminated in the regional semifinals but gained new life when one of the regional finalists bowed out of the competition. Mason canned 10 3-pointers that night to advance to the Somonauk sectional. He advanced to the sectional final and survived two tiebreaker shootouts to qualify for Peoria.

"The whole thing was kind of crazy with everything that went on with how I was out and in," Mason said, "but it was amazing just being down here and seeing all these great shooters. The whole experience was great."