Cornerstone Christian made a name for itself after winning the school's first regional title

BLOOMINGTON – Because the boys basketball outcomes filtered in final Friday evening, the Bloomington-Regular hoops had been exhibiting off their health and flexing their muscle mass.

Regular Group, Regular West, College Excessive and Central Catholic gained to maintain their seasons rolling. “4 intercity regional champions,” one in all these coaches proudly declared.

Positioned on Bloomington's east aspect, the cornerstone of the 115-student highschool Christian academy is usually missed. However possibly not for lengthy. The Cyclones captured the varsity's first regional title with a 62-41 rout of St. Anne in Watseka whereas enhancing their file to 29-5.

The Cyclones are anxious so as to add one other first to a historic season that begins with Wednesday's Heyworth Part 1A semifinal sport towards Salt Fork (28-4).

“It means rather a lot,” mentioned Cornerstone senior ahead Jakson Baber, the group's main scorer with an 18.6 common. “It's a objective we set final yr. Sadly, it wasn't one thing we may accomplish. This yr, it was the naked minimal — to win a regional for the varsity and provides glory to God. We knew we may do it.” There was nothing higher than Friday's win.”

Cornerstone head coach John Schippert, who was an assistant at NCHS and Bloomington, hopes their story could have a number of extra chapters as properly.

“We're not carried out but. The sky's the restrict for these guys as a result of they've been enjoying basketball collectively for thus a few years,” he mentioned. “I consider we're beginning to peak proper now. Actually.”

Slightly publicity wouldn't damage both.

Cade Wolfe, one of many Cyclones' seven seniors, mentioned he and his teammates are used to watching and studying about different cross-town colleges whereas Cornerstone toils in relative obscurity.

“All of these groups are nice groups. It's much more aggressive so far as their convention play goes,” Wolfe mentioned, as a result of the Cyclones are within the East Central Illinois Convention. “For us to play groups like Neuqua Valley and beat good 1A colleges like Lexington, that's massive. It will be superior if we may have competitors like that sooner or later.”

Cornerstone enjoying Neuqua Valley, a Naperville faculty with an enrollment of three,500, is a good story in itself.

Neuqua Valley sought a sport the primary week of January and contacted Cornerstone athletic director Davis Dossett. When Dossett requested Schippert if he would have an interest, the Cornerstone coach mentioned he would, however provided that Neuqua traveled to the Cyclones health club.

To Schippert's shock, Neuqua agreed. Cornerstone sprinted out to a 15-point lead within the third quarter earlier than Neuqua rallied for a 61-54 victory.

“We knew we had nothing to lose entering into,” Baber mentioned. “We're a small faculty they usually include massive weapons. We wished to indicate them we all know play and ship a message. Sadly we misplaced, however we discovered rather a lot from it and shut video games.” .”

The following sport may actually outline Cornerstone's season.

Lexington defeated the Cyclones twice final season, together with within the regional semifinals when the Minutemen superior all the best way to the Elite Eight. Schippert mentioned closing out video games — together with two losses to Peoria Christian earlier this season when the Cyclones led within the fourth quarter — was one thing his group wanted to deal with.

That occurred on January seventh when Cornerstone went to Lexington and acquired a 57-53 victory.

“It was massive,” Wolfe mentioned. “We acquired somewhat little bit of revenge and wished to get again at them. To go there and play them and beat them was actually superior.”

That began Cornerstone on an 11-game successful streak earlier than shedding to Bismarck-Henning 65-54 on Feb. 1. The Cyclones had gained eight in a row coming into Wednesday's sport.

Whereas Baber scored a school-record 50 factors towards Urbana Uni-Excessive, Schippert believes his group's offensive steadiness is one in all its primary strengths.

Senior guard Austin Henard, who Schippert mentioned “might be one of the vital athletic guys on the town,” is averaging 11.5 factors, whereas senior guard Connor Scott checks in at 11.4. Wolfe contributes 8.3 ppg with 5.2 rebounds, whereas Tate Witt provides 7.8 ppg.

Baber's 50-point outing wasn't the one spectacular particular person feat of the season. Scott dished out a school-record 20 assists towards Greenview, whereas Witt made eight 3-pointers towards Tri-Level.

Cornerstone doesn't have a lot top. Baber and Wolfe are the tallest starters at 6-2, and Wolfe normally guards the opposition's greatest participant.

“We've at all times been small. That's the way you study to play,” Wolfe mentioned. “We prefer to play quick and at a quick tempo. It's at all times a problem once we play greater groups, however I really feel we deliver the bodily side ourselves.”

If Cornerstone wins Wednesday, the Cyclones would have top-seeded Decatur Lutheran or Lexington in Friday's championship sport with a supersectional berth Monday at Illinois State's CEFCU Enviornment.

This time the Cyclones will probably be very .

“All of us performed collectively for 4 years,” Baber mentioned. “It's been a protracted journey to come back collectively. It's simply believing in one another and we are able to do something we put our minds to.”