Peoria Journal Star Reviews Ironmen Semifinal Win

PEORIA — For 15 minutes and 57 seconds of the second half, Geneva made Normal Community’s Alex Peacock a non-factor.

But then Peacock came soaring from the weak side for a put-back basket to give the Ironmen a 38-36 lead, and ultimately the win, in a Class 4A state semifinal on Saturday night at Carver Arena.

“We ran the play to have (Tyler Vance) come off the screen, but he refused it,” Peacock said of Vance’s decision to drive baseline and attempt a shot of his own. “Luckily, he put it high off the backboard.”

Normal’s defense, stingy all game, forced Pace Temple to get a bad look on Geneva’s final shot.

Normal Community can win the school’s first boys basketball championship when it plays Lincolnshire Stevenson in the 4A title game at 8 p.m. Saturday night.

“We’d like to say that everyone got to see what a 1955 basketball game looked like, 38-36 with bodies flying,” Normal Community coach Dave Witzig said. “(Geneva) had a great game plan so we’re fortunate to go to Saturday night. It wasn’t pretty but we’re excited to be playing the late game.”

The Ironmen had 12 seconds to work with after Nate Navigato’s running floater in the lane tied the game for Geneva.

“I would have welcomed overtime and felt pretty confident about our position,” Geneva coach Phil Ralston said. “They made a heck of a play.”

After pushing the ball up the floor, Normal Community took a timeout to set up a play.

Vance received the ball in the corner, but instead of coming back up off a screen, the senior drove the left baseline.

“I saw that the lane was wide open so I put my head down (and drove). I knew if I missed the shot one of my guys would be crashing,” Vance said. “The whole lane was open, so I attacked.”