Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter

CAT Tracks for February 14, 2009 CAIRO COLTS TAKE CLASS M TITLE

Congratulations!

Cairo blasts Goreville in SIJHSAA Class M state title game

By Bruce Marsan
Marion Daily Republican

Ina, Ill. -

It didn't take long for Cairo's eighth grade boys basketball team to display its speed, quickness and athleticism against Goreville Friday night.

The Colts used that to their advantage early and often, racing out to an early 14-point lead and coasting to a 64-37 victory to claim the SIJHSAA Class M state championship at Rend Lake College.

Cairo finished the season with a perfect 19-0 record while Goreville had its 19-game winning streak snapped and ended with a 25-2 mark. The Blackcats were also runners-up in 2001 and took fourth place in 2007.

"I'm very proud of the kids," Goreville head coach Eric Messmer said. "We were able to battle with them in the second and third quarters. Cairo is quick and athletic. They're a good basketball team.

"We have nothing to hang our heads about because we had a great season."

Goreville trailed 5-4 early in the first quarter when Cairo went on a 10-1 run that increased the lead to double digits. That's where it stayed the rest of the game.

Devin Mayfield and Darius Brown each tallied six points in the opening seven minutes to help the Colts jump out to a 21-7 advantage.

Alex Andros scored six points in the second quarter to keep Goreville within striking distance, but Mayfield and Carlos Halliburton each had four and pushed the Colts' lead to 31-15 at halftime.

Mayfield continued to fill up the scoring column on a consistent basis with six more points in the third. Malik Stuckey also had six as Cairo's lead grew to 49-30.

The Blackcats put their substitutes in the fourth quarter while the Colts put the finishing touch on a 27-point victory.

Mayfield led all scorers with 21 points. Lamonte Young added 11 followed by Halliburton with 10 and Brown eight.

Goreville's top scorer was Colton Brown, who threw in 12 points. Andros chipped in eight while Andrew Nixon and Dayton Tripp each tallied five in defeat.

Go to the original story to view scoring stats.