Centralia, Rock Island to play for 3A state title

PEORIA -- R.J. Kwiatkowski scored 23 points to lead Centralia to a 59-55 win over North Chicago in the IHSA Class 3A semifinals Friday at Carver Arena.

The Orphans (30-4) will play Rock Island today at 2 p.m. for the state championship.

The Warhawks (17-14) meet Brooks for third place with the tipoff at 12:15 p.m.

The Orphans overcame a hot start by North Chicago's Aaron Simpson, who scored 10 points in the game's first four minutes to push the Warhawks (17-14) to an 18-12 lead.

But Simpson didn't score again until the seven-minute mark of the fourth quarter.

Tyler Obermeier added 14 points and Bryan Betts had 8 rebounds as the Orphans took control in the fourth quarter.

Jaylin Linson led the Warhawks with 16 points, Simpson added 14 and Maurice Gordon 11.

Rock Island 55, Brooks 36:

Denzel McCauley scored 14 points and Chasson Randle added 12 to lead Rock Island to a 55-36 win over Chicago Brooks in a Class 3A semifinal.

Randle hit 5 shots in 15 attempts for the Rocks (29-3), who meet Centralia today for the state crown.

Behind a strong defense, Rock Island jumped to a 12-1 first-quarter advantage and led by double digits most of the game.

The Eagles (28-4) started the game 3-for-21 from the field, including 0-for-5 from beyond the 3-point arc. But the Rocks established a 12-point lead and and the Eagles were unable to mount a comeback.

The Eagles were led by Keith Gray's double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds.

The Rocks' Romal Davis chipped in 9 points and Keith Keesy had 8.