Uni will play Martinsville for third place in the Central Illinois Turkey Tourney after losing in overtime Friday night to Bement

By Gargoyle sports staff
Posted Saturday, Nov. 25, 2006, The OG, sports

URBANA — The chance to play for a tournament championship came down to four minutes of overtime Friday night.

The winner of the showdown between 2-0 Uni and 2-0 Bement would go on to play for first place Saturday night in the eight-team Central Illinois Turkey Tourney. The loser would play for third place.

For most of Friday's contest at Kenney Gym, the Illineks looked to be en route to the title game. They led 22-17 at halftime on the strength of junior Mike Renner's 7 points in the final 4 minutes of the half.

Although the third quarter went back and forth, with Bement taking the lead briefly, Uni seemed in control even when the quarter ended 33-33. When Renner started the final quarter with a 3-pointer, the Illineks seemed on their way.

But a combination of missed shots and possession calls that went against Uni led to the score remaining knotted at 42 with 15.9 seconds left. The Illineks moved the ball effectively after a final timeout, but Renner's potential game-winner bounced off the rim as the buzzer sounded.

Overtime belonged to the Bulldogs, who took the lead 15 seconds into the extra period. Holding the Illineks scoreless for the first 2 minutes, 23 seconds of overtime, Bement outscored Uni 12-4 to win 54-46.

Renner led the Illineks, now 2-1, with 13 points. Junior Isaac Radnitzer, whose tenacious play kept the team on track in the third quarter, scored 11 points, as did senior Michael Belmont. Renner hit two 3-pointers, while Belmont and junior Austin Rundus each connected on one.

The Illineks will play for third place 5:30 p.m. today against Martinsville at Atwood-Hammond High School. Martinsville is the second-place team in the Turkey Tourney's Pool B, which also consists of first-place Atwood-Hammond, Decatur Lutheran, and DeLand-Weldon. Uni is the second-place team in Pool A, which also consists of Buckley Christ Lutheran, the Mahomet-Seymour JV, and first-place Bement.

For directions to Atwood-Hammond H.S., click here.

VARSITY RECORD: 2-1 overall (1-1 against varsity competition)
(Games at Kenney Gym are in bold)

Season Preview: A new era begins

Nov. 20: Buckley Christ Lutheran (Uni/Atwood-Hammond Central Illinois Turkey Tourney), W 50-44
— leading scorer: Michael Belmont, 12 pts
— story: Uni wins season opener over Buckley Christ Lutheran

Nov. 21: Mahomet-Seymour JV (Uni/Atwood-Hammond Central Illinois Turkey Tourney), W 58-53
— leading scorer: Mike Renner, 18 pts
— story: Illineks defeat Mahomet-Seymour JV in Turkey Tourney

Nov. 24: Bement (Uni/Atwood-Hammond Central Illinois Turkey Tourney), L 54-46 (OT)
— leading scorer: Mike Renner, 13 pts
— story: see above