Tolono Unity 65; Lutheran North 70 (OT)

Tolono Unity outscored Lutheran North 16-11 in the overtime period to get the 75-70 win over Lutheran North in the first game of the day at Effingham High School.

The Crusaders outscored Tolono Unity 22-15 in the fourth quarter to force the extra period.

Mason O’Neill led the Rockets with a game-high 20 points. Tre Hoggard finished with 15, Coleton Lagendorf scored 12 and Brady Parr added 10.

Osar Tate paced the Crusaders with 16 points, while Berry Benson scored 14 and Karter Blakemore and Kyren Evans added 13 and 12 respectively.

Pleasant Plains 61; Dixon 54

Pleasant Plains erased an early double-digit deficit and rallied for a 61-54 win over Dixon at T.H. Griffin Gymnasium.

The Dukes jumped out to a quick 11-0 lead, but the Cardinals trimmed it to 19-15 by the end of the first eight minutes. Dixon still held a slim 48-46 advantage, but Pleasant Plains went on a 15-6 scoring surge in the fourth quarter to get the win.

Cooper Schallenberg scored 19 points for the Cardinals, who are coached by former Teutopolis standout Kyle Weber. Grady Grisham had 18 and Owen Johnson added 13.

Dixon’s Darius Harrington led all scorers with 31 points.

Lincoln Way East 69; Newton 45

Two-time defending tournament champion Lincoln Way East took a little time to get rolling, but used a big second half to come away with a 69-45 win over Newton in an opening-round game played at Effingham High School.

The Griffins led by nine points, 30-21, at intermission, but quickly expanded that margin. They outscored the Eagles 39-24 in the second half.

Evan Riff knocked down six three-pointers and scored 20 points for Lincoln Way East. Hayden Mulvey and Kody Bergbower had 18 and 17 points respectively for Newton.

Champaign Centennial 83; Belvidere 34

Champaign Centennial showed why they are considered one of the tournament favorites this year, jumping to a quick lead and rolling to an 83-34 win over Belvidere.

The Chargers raced to a 29-9 lead in the first period and never looked back. It was 50-22 at intermission.

Kayden Peat and Sherrod Clark both scored 19 points to lead Centennial. Demetrius Taborn had 13 for Belvidere.