Prep sports recap for March 1, 2024

PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD/WYZZ) — Normal Community ushered in March Madness with a crazy finish on March 1.

Jaheem Webber grabbed a loose ball and dunked home the game-winning shot just before the buzzer as Normal Community beat Quincy 44-43 to win the class 4A Pekin sectional championship on Friday.

The Ironmen advance to play Downers Grove North in Monday’s super-sectional at Illinois State with a state bid on the line.

Down by a point with 20 seconds remaing, Normal Community ran a play and Braylon Roman missed a jumper from the right side of the lane that could have given the Ironmen the lead. The missed shot was rebounded by Quincy’s Keshaun Thomas and he was fouled with 04.3 remaining.

Quincy had to inbound the ball under the basket and had a difficult time doing so. The inbounds pass was sent to the corner where it was saved from going out of bounds but redirected to Webber, who was playing defense on Quincy’s Tyler Sprick near the basket.

Webber dunked the ball to beat the horn and give Normal Community a crazy one-point win.

Elsewhere: Lathan Sommerville scored 22 points to lead Richwoods past defending state champ Metamora, 61-55, to capture the Class 3A Pontiac sectional title. The Knights advance to play Thornton in Monday’s Ottawa super-sectional.

In class 1A: Hank Alvey scored 22 points to lead Illini Bluffs past Camp Point Central, 47-35, in the title game of the Abingdon sectional. And Heyworth beat Heart of Illinois Conference rival Lexington, 51-43, to capture the Salt Fork sectional championship.

In class 2A: undefeated Beecher ended Fieldcrest’s season, 60-43, in the Clifton Central sectional championship.

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