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My spring training

Posted by: Fred Kroner

Saturday, February 28, 2009 12:53 AM

I've covered doubleheaders hundreds of times sitting through two ball games in a day.

Friday's doubleheader was truly different.

My travels took me to two different locations for high school basketball games.

The afternoon started with Ridgeview's Class 1A state semifinal girls' basketball game at Illinois State University's Redbird Arena and the evening continued with the boys' Class 1A regional championship game between Salt Fork and Chrisman at Schlarman High School.

Ridgeview started strong and more than held its own throughout the first half against a taller Hinckley-Big Rock team. Hinckley took its first lead at 1:09 before halftime and continued to build its margin after intermission.

Ridgeview dropped a 52-37 decision in its state tournament debut. The Mustangs will play for third place at 11 a.m. on Saturday against a Brimfield squad that features one of the state's premier underclassmen in 6-foot-3 junior Paige Spietz.

Salt Fork's boys avenged two regular-season losses to Chrisman by handing the Cardinals a 60-51 defeat in the regional finals.

The addage is true: It's very difficult to beat an outstanding team three consecutive times in a season. Five of the six Chrisman players who scored points earned their first points from the free throw line.

Salt Fork's defense kept Chrisman scoreless from the field until the second quarter.

The game was one of significant runs. Salt Fork started with a 21-4 run. Chrisman then used a 16-5 run to close within 26-20 at halftime.

After Chrisman closed within 29-26 in the third period, Salt Fork went on an 18-3 run. The Storm's lead ballooned to 20 points (51-31) before Chrisman went on a 15-3 run to pull within 54-46.

Like a boxing match, Salt Fork withstood the blows and came back swinging, eventually settling for a nine-point win. The mark of a good team is to not fold when the pressure intensifies and the Storm answered the bell well.

Next up is a sectional semifinal against a Lovington team which has hits its peak in the postseason, winning games every other day this week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday), including upsets of the top two seeds at the Arcola Regional.

It's a game that will be played on Wednesday at Tuscola High Schjool and one which doesn't appear to have a clearcut favorite. Those are the kind that are fun to cover.

The nice thing about next week: I won't have to cover games at two sites on the same day.