With Step 1 on the road to the state basketball tournament behind them, the Leo Lions will negotiate Step 2 beginning Tuesday, March 1.
The Lions will face Westminster Christian School in the first semifinal of the Elgin Class 1-A Sectional on Tuesday at 7 p.m. The sectional games are being played at Harvest Christian Academy, 1000 N. Randall Road, Elgin.
Chicago Hope Academy faces Rockford Christian Life in the other semifinal at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 2. The winners will meet on Friday, March 4 at 7 p.m., with the winner advancing to the Class 1-A Supersectional at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb on Tuesday, March 8.
Regional Scores
Class 1-A Regional at Walther Christian School, Melrose Park
Feb. 23: Leo 72, Douglass Academy 46
Feb. 26: Leo 80, John Hope Charter 57 (championship)
Class 1-A Sectional at Harvest Christian Academy, Elgin
Tuesday, March 1: Leo vs. Westminster Christian, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, March 2: Rockford Christian Life vs. Chicago Hope Academy,
7 p.m. Friday, March 4: Tuesday winner vs. Wednesday winner
(championship), 7 p.m.
Leo’s Regional-clinching victory over John Hope Charter featured one of its best performances of the season. Excellent ball movement, good defense and a 20-for-22 showing at the foul line — three nights after the Lions missed 17 free throws in their first-round victory over Douglass Academy — added up to Leo’s 20th victory of the season.
Darias Oliver and Corielle Robinson scored 18 points apiece, Chris Winters collected 14, Darius Branch chipped in 12 and Mykel Hampton had 10 as all five starters reached double figures.
Leo takes a 20-8 record into Sectional play.