Last year Dan Lilly broke the season record for most points scored by a Uni boys basketball player. More importantly, he helped his team to a 16-8 record and a share of the conference title. Now a senior, Lilly is ready to lead the Illineks to an even better season, which gets underway Monday at Kenney Gym with the Central Illinois Turkey Tourney.

Dan Lilly capped his record-breaking junior year by being named to the News-Gazette's all-area second team on Thursday. Lilly was fifth in the area in scoring, at 20.1 points per game, and broke Uni single-season records for scoring and three -pointers made. The 16-8 Illineks shared a conference title, their fourth in five years.

A season's worth of dedication and hard work by Uni basketball players received its due Monday night as players, coaches, and parents gathered at Uni Gym for the annual winter athletic awards ceremony. Senior Rachel Skoza won the most valuable player award for the girls varsity, while junior Dan Lilly won varsity MVP honors for the boys.

The Illineks' season ended Tuesday night with a 63-37 loss to rival St. Thomas More in the Class 2A playoffs. Uni finished with a 16-8 record and a share of the East Central Illinois Conference title. Junior Dan Lilly went out on a high note, setting Uni's single-season points record for boys (483), breaking Tim Monahan's 14-year-old mark by a single point.

In his final regular-season game, senior Alan Kessler scored Uni's first eight points (and 18 in all) as the Illineks defeated Judah Christian 65-54 tonight at Kenney Gym. Thanks to the Senior Night victory, Uni claimed a share of the East Central Illinois Conference title with Normal Calvary Baptist. This is Uni's fourth title in five years.

As Adam puts it himself, "I've always liked sports, but I've always been bad at sports." Luckily, he found his voice over the PA system at Kenney Gym, where he has been The Voice of the Illineks since his freshman year. With his final call coming Friday, when the boys basketball team hosts Judah Christian on Senior Night, here's a look at the man behind the mic.

The Illineks achieved one of their preseason goals Tuesday when they won their 15th game of the year, the sixth consecutive season they've accomplished that feat. Behind Dan Lilly's 29 points, they also avenged a January loss to Decatur Lutheran. Uni can claim a share of the conference title with a win Friday on Senior Night.

The host Eagles were no match for the Illineks, who used pressure defense (18 steals) to run away with a 35-point conference victory and keep their title hopes alive. Dan Lilly's six treys gave him 60 for the season, just one behind 2008 alum Mike Renner's season record of 61, set in 2006-07.

After losing to the Crusaders at Kenney Gym earlier this year, the Illineks were determined not to repeat that result. After a thrilling four quarters, Uni outshined Normal Calvary in overtime, winning 61-48. The Illineks now control their destiny, and they will clinch at least a share of the conference if they win their final three regular-season games.

With an easy victory Tuesday against Decatur Christian, Uni has set up a showdown on Friday with Normal Calvary Baptist that will most likely determine the conference champion. With the victory, the Illineks improved to 12-7, 6-2 in the ECIC while Calvary Baptist only has one conference loss so far.

You can't miss them in the Uni hallways and you can't miss them on a basketball court. Luckily for Illinek fans, 6-7 Warren Skoza, a sophomore, and his sister, 6-1 Rachel Skoza, a senior, have the talent to go along with the size. Will Fernandez introduces us to the siblings who have played such an important part in their teams' winning records this season.

After three quarters of play Tuesday night, Judah and Uni were separated by only four points. Nearly six minutes later, that margin was 24. The Illineks outscored Judah Christian 25-2 in the fourth quarter, winning 65-38 against their crosstown rivals. Dan Lilly led Uni with 26 points, including a trio of three-pointers.

The host Paxton-Buckley-Loda Panthers made eight three-pointers and 13 free throws on their way to doubling up Uni Saturday night. It was the Illineks' final varsity nonconference game of the regular season; they will now set their sights on getting back into the ECIC race.

The Illineks started out hot and rallied at the end, but Decatur Lutheran proved to be too much as Uni fell 50-41. Dan Lilly led the offense with 16 points on four treys, and Warren Skoza led the defense with 11 rebounds, five blocks, and two steals. The Illineks (10-6, 4-2) play again Saturday at PBL.

This matchup was so good, four quarters weren't enough to settle it. In overtime, though, sophomore Warren Skoza made two huge plays — a key block and a buzzer-beating tip-in — to send Uni to a 52-50 victory. Junior Dan Lilly led Uni with 23 points. The Illineks (10-5, 4-1 ECIC) play again on Thursday at Decatur Lutheran.