By Alan Liang
Gargoyle staff reporter
Posted Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2007, The OG, boys basketball & sports

Mike Renner goes up for another shot during
Uni's 65-52 win Tuesday over rival Judah.
Renner scored a game-high 24 points.
(Gargoyle photo) (click to enlarge)

CHAMPAIGN — Junior Mike Renner scored 24 points, including 15 in the first quarter, to lead the visiting Illineks to a convincing 65-52 victory Tuesday night over conference opponent Judah Christian.

The win gives Uni control of first place in the East Central Illinois Conference as the Illineks seek their third straight title. Uni improves to 9-11 overall and 5-1 in the ECIC. Judah, which had been undefeated in conference play going into Tuesday's game, falls to 13-4, 5-1. The tie-breaker belongs to Uni.

“Everything came together,” said Renner, who scored more than 20 points for the seventh time this season, including his last three games. “We outshot their zone and outmuscled their [big men]. [This is] our first real complete game.”

After Renner sprained his ankle Saturday during practice, the Illineks seemed to be at a disadvantage. Not only was Renner averaging 16.8 points per game, but against Judah the Illineks would face one of the top scorers in the area, senior John Miller. They would need all the firepower they could get if they were going to match Miller's 21.5 points per game.

When game time arrived, Renner was ready to go and amazed the crowd despite his injury.

Knowing that the winner would be in control of the ECIC title race, the crosstown rivals went into the first quarter aggressively. Renner quickly grabbed the lead for the Illineks, making a 3-pointer, followed by a layup with the assistance of fellow junior Isaac Radnitzer.

With 4 minutes remaining in the quarter, junior point guard Chumar Williams nailed a 3-pointer to give Uni a 10-6 lead.

The Illineks fell behind 11-10, but Renner put them back ahead with another 3-pointer 2 minutes before the first quarter ended. Renner would finish the game with four treys to his credit.

The game looked as if it would be close, but Uni picked up the pace and expanded its lead. Just before the first-quarter buzzer went off, Renner hit yet another 3-pointer to boost Uni's lead to 22-15.

The Illineks kept their heads throughout the second period. At first the Tribe tried a trapping zone, but they soon found it ineffective and stopped. Uni continued to shoot 3-pointers, and the Illineks went into halftime ahead 43-31.

Renner owned the first half, scoring 22 points and giving Uni a double-digit cushion that Judah would never seriously challenge.

Although the Tribe outscored the Illineks 10-8 in the third quarter, they were still behind 51-41 going into the final 8 minutes.

The fourth quarter started with some foul trouble for the Illineks, but they were able to keep their lead, never allowing the Tribe closer than 10 points. Uni expanded its margin to as much as 16 with 4:30 left.

“We played as well as we should be playing,” said junior Frankie McFarland, who scored 6 points. “Defense was great [and] offense was solid.”

Still, Judah gave the home crowd a reason to cheer as Miller & Co. cut the lead to 59-48 with 3:03 remaining — plenty of time to mount a comeback with the help of good defense and a steal or two.

But Radnitzer and sophomore Alan Kessler came up with key rebounds, and Renner killed the home team's last chance with a steal at the 1:42 mark. By then Judah had resorted to fouling in hopes of narrowing the score, but they were unable to stop the Illineks. Uni would hold the Tribe scoreless until only 27.4 seconds remained.

The game ended with Uni winning by double digits for the fourth time this season. The Illineks were especially impressive in preventing Judah from going on a late scoring run to get back in the contest.

“We pulled it together,” Williams said. “We finished the game, which we had trouble [doing before].”

Renner's 24 points lifted his average to 17.3 per game, good enough for 15th in the area.

Right behind Renner in scoring were Radnitzer with 14 points and Williams with 10 (including two 3-pointers).

For Judah, Miller led the way with 22 points, followed by Jason Peterson with 12. Miller is now averaging 21.7 points per game, second highest in the area.

Renner and Radnitzer grabbed 5 rebounds each. Williams had 8 assists, followed by Renner with 3.

Williams and Radnitzer recorded 4 steals apiece; Renner added 3. Senior Michael Belmont blocked 1 shot.

The Uni varsity team will be back in action Friday in a 7:30 p.m. home game against ECIC opponent Buckley Christ Lutheran. But for the time being, the players and their coach want to enjoy their latest victory.

“Today was an entire team win,” head coach Joel Beesley said. “Every person contributed something. Today was close to a perfect game.”

VARSITY RECORD: 9-11 overall, 5-1 East Central Illinois Conference
(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 (vs. Uni varsity) (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: Illineks fall in overtime

Nov. 25: Martinsville (Uni/Atwood-Hammond Central Illinois Turkey Tourney, at A-H), L 51-48
— leading scorer: Mike Renner, 24 pts
— story: Illineks go down to the wire again

Dec. 1: Shiloh, W 55-46
— leading scorer: Mike Renner, 29 pts
— story: Illineks get back on winning track, defeat Shiloh

Dec. 5: at St. Thomas More, L 54-32
— leading scorer: Mike Renner, 7 pts
— story: Illineks suffer tough road loss to crosstown rival

Dec. 9: Fisher, L 53-39
— leading scorer: Mike Renner, 21 pts
— story: Renner scores 21 but Uni falls to Fisher

Dec. 12: at Buckley Christ Lutheran, W 79-51 *
— leading scorer: Mike Renner, 18 pts
— story: Uni wins conference opener against Buckley Christ Lutheran

Dec. 15: Oakwood, L 74-61
— leading scorer: Michael Belmont, 19 pts
— story: Oakwood denies Uni comeback bid

Dec. 27: Shiloh (Hayden's Athletic Classic at Heritage H.S.), L 65-61
— leading scorer: Mike Renner, 17 pts
— story: Uni finishes eighth out of 12 teams in holiday tourney

Dec. 27: Salt Fork (Hayden's Athletic Classic at Heritage H.S.), L 53-32
— leading scorer: Dan Lilly, 10 pts
— story: Uni finishes eighth out of 12 teams in holiday tourney

Dec. 28: Heritage (Hayden's Athletic Classic at Heritage H.S.), L 62-48
— leading scorer: Mike Renner, 15 pts
— story: Uni finishes eighth out of 12 teams in holiday tourney

Dec. 28: Atwood-Hammond (Hayden's Athletic Classic at Heritage H.S.), W 62-51
— leading scorer: Mike Renner, 24 pts
— story: Uni finishes eighth out of 12 teams in holiday tourney

Dec. 29: Oakwood (Hayden's Athletic Classic at Heritage H.S.), L 52-50
— leading scorer: Mike Renner, 17 pts
— story: Uni finishes eighth out of 12 teams in holiday tourney

Jan. 5: at Decatur Christian (DC's “JV,” as explained in article linked below), W 66-52 *
— leading scorer: Mike Renner, 15 pts
— story: Illineks remain unbeaten in conference play

Jan. 9: Normal Calvary Baptist, L 51-36 *

— leading scorer: Michael Belmont, 11 pts

— story: Normal Calvary hands Uni first conference loss of season

Jan. 12: DeLand-Weldon, W 79-43 *

— leading scorer: Mike Renner, 16 pts

— story: Uni rebounds from ECIC loss to win by 36

Jan. 16: at Paxton-Buckley-Loda, L 69-60 (OT)

— leading scorer: Mike Renner, 21 pts

— story: Illineks lose a heartbreaker in overtime

Jan. 18: at Decatur Lutheran School Association, W 62-56 *

— leading scorer: Mike Renner, 21 pts

— story: Uni defeats Decatur Lutheran, takes control of second place

Jan. 23: at Judah Christian, W 65-52 *

— leading scorer: Mike Renner, 24 pts

— story: see above

Remaining games: see schedule

*East Central Illinois Conference game