IHSA Class 1A State Finals preview

The IHSA Class 1A State Finals field is set with prohibitive favorite Providence St. Mel making its first state finals appearance in five years, 11th overall and seeks its second state championship (Class A in 1985). The Knights (28-6) score a semifinal date with Triopia (33-3), which makes its first state finals appearance in program history. Friday's semifinal action will start by featuring two programs that will take home their first state trophies with Cissna Park (31-4) making its fifth appearance (first since 2006), against Mowequa Central A&M (32-3), which makes its second appearance, first since 2007. <h2>Schedule and Information</h2> At Carver Areana, Peoria, Ill. Friday’s semifinals Cissna Park vs. Central A&M, 11:00 a.m. 3-point shootout St. Mel vs. Triopia, 1:00 p.m. Championship Saturday Third-place game, 11:00 a.m. Championship game, (approximately) 1:00 p.m. Tickets: $10 general admission TV: <a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/content/ihsa">NBC Sports Chicago</a> Stream: <a href="https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/tournament/illinois-winter-championships/boys-basketball-il">NFHS Newtwork</a> Broadcast team: Lee Hall (Play by Play), Camron Smith (Analyst) and Piper Shaw (Sideline reporter) <h2>Teams</h2> Cissna Park (31-4) Projected starters 5 Connor Lober (2019, G, 5-10) - 4.4 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 4.3 apg, shooting 38.6/13.3/64.9 14 Bailey Sluis (2019, G, 5-9) - 9 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 2.4 apg, shooting 42.5/39.9/4-5 22 Brian Fehr (2019, G, 6-2) - 5.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 3.4 apg, shooting 34.9/30.7/68.9 35 Julian Stadeli (2019, F, 6-7) - 11.1 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1.2 apg, shooting 69.5/1-3/55.3 40 Christian Stadeli (2019, F, 6-7) - 17.1 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 1.1 apg, shooting 77.0/1-3/55.7 Kevin Long is 502-350 in his 29th, and final season as a head coach. Cissna Park has been has home for 24 years, compiling a 457-270 record. The Timberwolves are beating their opponents by 25.6 points per postseason contest and have yet to be challenged. Cissna Park's twin towers provide a uniqueness to small-school basketball, as the <a href="https://www.daily-journal.com/sports/prep/boys-basketball-stadeli-twins-enjoying-final-ride-as-timberwolves/article_395fb53c-3ee2-11e9-88fc-eb4019137b57.html">Stadeli twins look to bookend a pair of great Timberwolves careers</a> with a state championship. Key to watch: Aside from Bailey Sluis and Ian Rogers (2021, averaging 9.5 points per game and shooting 41.6 percent on 3-pointers), who will be another scorer that can help space the floor and knock down shots to open up entry passes to the post? Central A&M (32-3) Projected Starters 14 Griffin Andricks (2020, F, 6-6) - 16.4 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 1.4 apg, shooting 51.3/32.6/77.6 20 Jacob Paradee (2020, G, 5-10) - 14 ppg, 3 rpg, 4.5 apg, shooting 50.8/29.8/57.8 22 Connor Heaton (2020, G, 6-5) - 19.9 ppg, 8 rpg, 4.4 apg, shooting 48.6/28.1/77.1 30 Austin Sloan (2019, G, 6-5) - 4.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 2.4 apg, shooting 32.6/27.6/8-13 32 Connor Hutchins (2020, F, 6-4) - 3.7 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 1.5 apg, shooting 45.8/0-7/49.2 Rob Smith is in his 14th season, 10th at A&M, compiling a 214-184 overall record and is 159-128 at Central A&M. The Raiders have not lost in 2019, riding a 21-game winning streak. Their last loss came to Class 2A state finalist Chicago Corliss. Key to watch: Central A&M is as long as anybody and can score around the rim, but how will they be able to space the floor without an elite shooter? St. Mel (28-6) Projected starters 2 Tim Ervin II (2019, G, 5-6) - 7.1 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 4.6 apg, shooting 37.3/37.5/73.8 10 Jason Mason (2019, G, 6-5) - 9.8 ppg, 4 rpg, 0.9 apg, shooting 48.0/3-15/68.5 13 Deion Jackson (2019, G, 6-3) - 14.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1.4 apg, shooting 56.8/1-5/56.0 15 Tyriel Nelson (2019, G, 6-1) - 15.1 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 3 apg, shooting 41.9/35.5/79.1 33 Taeyon Neal (2019, C, 6-9) - 8.9 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 0.8 apg, shooting 64.1/0-0/62.0 Tim Ervin is in his 13th season as head coaching, leading St. Mel to a 219-155 record. Nelson and Jackson lead the show while Illinois-Chicago recruit Taeyon Neal will get to battle with some bigs, though as the tallest of the bunch. Key to watch: The Knights can run away with this tournament, literally, by pressuring the ball and getting run-outs. They average 71.6 points per game this season and are 17-4 when scoring 71-or-more points. Triopia (33-3) Projected starters 1 Daniel Embley (2019, G, 5-8) - 2 ppg, 1 rpg, 0.7 apg, shooting 32.2/31.0/11-12 2 Shawn Bell (2019, G, 6-0) - 14.4 ppg, 6 rpg, 3.2 apg, shooting 46.5/27.9/67.3 3 Zach Thompson (2019, G, 5-9) - 12 ppg, 5 rpg, 3 apg, shooting 51.2/36.2/61.5 11 Garrett Snow (2019, F, 6-3) - 15.2 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 1.7 apg, shooting 47.2/32.8/62.8 35 Tanner Allen (2019, F, 6-4) - 5.7 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 0.4 apg, shooting 51.6/0-0/81.4 Mike Lewis is in his 10th season (144-130) as a head coach, eighth at Triopia (126-100). This is just his fourth winning season. The Trojans are 56-10 over the last two seasons. Triopia won three postseason games by one possession, which is more than its regular season (one), including the supersectional win over Okawville. This shot forced overtime in that contest. https://twitter.com/RyanKentJr/status/1103119974770622465 Key to watch: Tanner Allen is going to have his hands full protecting the paint against solid bigs. The Trojans are going to have to pack it in to help out defensively and winning the rebounding margin.