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Boys basketball: Season ends with playoff loss to Monticello

Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)Senior Mike Renner goes in for a basket against Monticello during Uni's 76-55 Class 2A playoff loss. Renner, Uni's all-time leading boys scorer, finished with 20 points in his last game as an Illinek.

By Chris Yoder
Published: Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 8:06pm
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POSTGAME COMMENTS:
Mike Renner
Click to listen (1:27)

Gargoyle reporter Chris Yoder talks with Mike Renner, Uni's all-time boys scoring leader, about the Monticello game and the 2007-08 season. Renner, a senior, also looks ahead to next year's team.

Note: This is an updated version of an article originally posted Tuesday night. For a breakdown of the stats from this game, click here for the Gargoyle Scoreboard.

ST. JOSEPH — It was a difficult way to end the most successful four-year stretch in Uni boys basketball history, but Monticello defeated the Illineks 76-55 Tuesday night in a Class 2A regional semifinal playoff game at St. Joseph-Ogden High School.

The Illineks finished the season 21-7 overall, 10-2 in the East Central Illinois Conference, and 0-1 in the IHSA playoffs.

Uni entered the game seeded fifth in its bracket of the Casey-Westfield sectional; Monticello was seeded No. 3.

“I think we just got outplayed, outdone, up and down, on offense and defense,” said senior Mike Renner. “They were a taller team, a more physical team, and it just showed out there on the court if you were watching the game. They didn’t have any more heart than we did — we played our butts off the whole game — but they just had the personnel.”

Monticello asserted its control early in the game, taking a 20-15 lead at the end of the first quarter. But it was in the second period that the Sages went on a run, sparked by quick scoring off turnovers.

By about midway through the quarter, the Sages led 28-18. The Illineks cut the margin down to 28-22 with 3:22 left and seemed to be back in the game.

But Monticello scored 5 points in the next 43 seconds to extend its lead to double digits again, 33-22, and went on to take a 42-28 advantage into halftime.

Uni kept the Sages from taking much more of a lead in the third quarter, holding them to 12 points, but the Illineks could only manage 11 themselves.

By the fourth quarter, the game was out of reach, and Uni couldn’t keep Monticello from taking the 21-point victory.

Renner, Uni's career scoring leader, led the Illineks with 20 points, while also contributing 4 assists and a team-high 6 steals.

Chumar Williams added 17 points and 4 assists. Austin Rundus scored 12 points, and Isaac Radnitzer grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds.

Renner, Williams, Rundus, and Radnitzer were among six Uni seniors who played their final high school basketball game Tuesday night. The others were center Frankie McFarland (2 points, 3 rebounds, 1 block) and forward Ammar Rizwan (2 blocks, 1 steal).

Before the game, two Illineks advanced to the next round of the IHSA Three-Point Showdown: Williams and sophomore Dan Lilly. They will compete again Friday prior to the 7:30 p.m. regional final between Monticello and host St. Joseph-Ogden.

Mike Renner is the last of three Renner brothers to play Uni sports. Andy graduated in 2005, followed by Alex a year later. Al held Uni's career-scoring record for boys (1,372) until Mike broke it Jan. 17 on a layup with 1:31 left in the second quarter against Decatur Lutheran.

Mike finished his senior year with 446 points, giving him 1,517 for his career. The 6-foot guard/forward averaged 16.5 points per game this season to lead the team. (It should be noted that those figures are based on the Gargoyle's own unofficial tallies and could be subject to change.) Uni's overall career-scoring leader is Sophia Neely, 1986 graduate who finished with 1,967 points.

The 2007-08 Illinek record of 21-7 ranks among the best in Uni boys history. Only three other Uni teams won more games: 1943-44 (24-4), 2004-05 (23-5), and 2005-06 (22-6). Renner was a varsity member of the latter two squads as a freshman and sophomore, respectively.

In fact, this year's team could have won 23 games, but the Uni JV played Buckley Christ Lutheran's varsity twice in place of the Illinek varsity (and won both contests).

During the past four years, the varsity won 81 games, making 2004-05 to 2007-08 the most successful four-year period in Uni boys basketball history. The previous best was 1941-42 to 1944-45 (77 wins).

Though he won’t be a part of it, Mike is optimistic about next year’s team.

“We do lose six seniors, the bulk of the scoring,” said Renner, who also leaves as Uni's career leader in 3-point shooting.

“But we return guys with varsity experience. Lilly, [junior] Malcolm [Taylor], and [junior Alan] Kessler all have two years experience on varsity already, so it’s not going to be a huge drop-off in the personnel that we’ve got coming back. Hopefully above .500, that’s got to be a goal for them next year.”

MORE PHOTOS: UNI VS. MONTICELLO


Senior forward Isaac Radnitzer tries for a steal against Monticello's Nathan Swarts. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)


Mike Renner looks for a teammate as Uni tries to cut Monticello's lead during the second quarter. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)


Austin Rundus was one of six Uni seniors who played their final high school basketball game Tuesday night. The others were Radnitzer, Renner, Chumar Williams, Frankie McFarland, and Ammar Rizwan. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)


Renner attracted the attention of Monticello's defense all night, but he still managed to drop 20. Center Frankie McFarland (50) sets a pick. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)


Senior point guard Chumar Williams gets ready to run a play. He finished with 17 points and 4 assists. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)


Mike is the last of three Renner brothers to play Uni sports. Andy graduated in 2005, followed by Alex a year later. Al held Uni's career-scoring record for boys until Mike broke it this winter. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)

THE SEASON IN REVIEW

2007-08 BOYS VARSITY BASKETBALL: 21-7 overall, 10-2 ECIC
(home matches listed in bold)

Nov. 19: Shiloh (Central Illinois Turkey Tourney), W 80-32

Nov. 20: Buckley Christ Lutheran (Central Illinois Turkey Tourney), W 69-17

Nov. 23: Bement (Central Illinois Turkey Tourney), W 73-59

Nov. 24: Martinsville (Central Illinois Turkey Tourney championship game), W 74-43

Nov. 30: at Shiloh, W 72-23

Dec. 4: St. Thomas More, W 63-45

Dec. 14: at Oakwood, L 67-54

Dec. 18: Uni JV vs. BCL Varsity, W 40-23 (counts toward Uni's ECIC record only)

Dec. 27: Heritage (Hayden's Classic at Heritage), W 67-32

Dec. 27: Georgetown-Ridge Farm (Hayden's Classic at Heritage), W 63-41

Dec. 28: Salt Fork (Hayden's Classic at Heritage), L 71-64

Dec. 28: Atwood-Hammond (Hayden's Classic at Heritage), W 59-42

Dec. 29: Fisher (Hayden's Classic at Bismarck-Henning), L 60-42

Jan. 4: Decatur Christian, L 63-60 (OT)

Jan. 5: Lexington, L 51-48

Jan. 8: at Normal Calvary Baptist, W 74-51

Jan. 11: at DeLand-Weldon, W 70-25

Jan. 12: at Fisher, W 71-60

Jan. 15: Paxton-Buckley-Loda, W 71-57

Jan. 17: Decatur Lutheran School Association, W 69-56

Jan. 22: Judah Christian, W 71-49

Jan. 24: at Georgetown Notre Dame de LaSalette, W 81-52

Jan. 25: Uni JV at BCL Varsity, W 46-33 (counts toward Uni's ECIC record only)

Jan. 29: at Decatur Christian, postponed due to winter weather

Feb. 1: Normal Calvary Baptist, W 68-53

Feb. 5: DeLand-Weldon, W 70-21

Feb. 6: Georgetown Notre Dame de LaSalette, W 66-44

Feb. 12: at Decatur Lutheran, W 59-52

Feb. 14: at Decatur Christian, L 58-38

Feb. 15: at Judah Christian, W 46-37

Feb. 19: vs. Monticello, L 76-55 (at Class 2A St. Joseph-Ogden regional semifinal)

2007-08 statistics: Click here for the Gargoyle Scoreboard.

Links:
Gargoyle Scoreboard (boys basketball): Uni vs. Monticello (Class 2A playoffs)
Gargoyle Scoreboard (boys basketball): 2007-08 results, stats, and remaining games

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