East Peoria, IL - The Illinois Central College Men's Basketball team (10-19 Overall, 5-8 Region 24) was upset-minded on Wednesday night, as they hosted the sixth-ranked Parkland Cobras (27-2 Overall, 13-1 Region 24) in a Region 24 matchup at Ramsey Gym. Ultimately, a hot start to the second half for Parkland proved to create enough of a gap in a 71-64 Cobra winner.
FIRST HALF RECAP
The game certainly didn't get off to a methodical start, as Rickey Woods III was fouled on the way up, but it was also deemed that the Cobras had goaltending, meaning Woods would attempt a three-point play, which he converted, and gave ICC an early 3-0 lead.
The Cougars would continue to control the early tempo, with a baseline jumper from Payton Cook and a spinning fadeaway from Woods putting the Cougars ahead 7-0 two minutes in. However, a 6-0 Parkland run put the visitors within a point. A trey from Isaiah Payne gave ICC its first two-score lead of the night at 12-8.
Meanwhile, a couple three-pointers from the Cobras gave them their first lead of the night at 16-14 with 13 minutes until the break. Azarion Richardson hit a hand-in-face three from the corner to tie it back up at 17. Parkland, though, took the lead back on the next trip down the floor, as the see-saw affair continued.
The Cobras had gone on a 5-1 run before RJ Davitz quelled it for the interim with an open three from the top of the key, cutting it to a 26-25 deficit with six minutes left.
A fast break layup, a free throw, and three-pointer by Parkland got their lead up to eight points. After an Idris Thomas bucket, the Cobras hit two more treys, getting the lead to 12 (41-29) with two minutes until the half.
A Thomas trey cut the game back to single digits at 43-35 under a minute, and that would stand as the halftime score.
SECOND HALF RECAP
Thomas continued his personal momentum to start the half, getting a trey and a fadeaway jumper to pull within 43-40.
Parkland countered with yet another run, 14-0 this time, to take a 17-point lead (57-40). Another Thomas bucket stopped the run.
A lob up to Thomas for a dunk, Woods three-point play, Payne drawing a charge, and Thomas fadeaway got it back to within single digits at 61-52 Parkland with 9:30 to go.
A baseline drive and reverse layup by Cook and Thomas runner cut it to just three points (61-58) with 5:32 on the clock.
Payne drew another offensive foul, and Thomas would get a physical lay-in to cut it to 66-64 with 2:30 left.
Unfortunately, the ICC offense would go cold at this point, as Parkland closed the game on a 5-0 run for the win.
COUGAR STATS
Idris Thomas | 31 points, 11 rebounds
Payton Cook | 11 points, 9 rebounds
Azarion Richardson | 7 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals
Rickey Woods III | 7 points, 2 rebounds, 2 steals
Isaiah Payne | 5 points, 3 assists, 2 rebounds, 2 steals
RJ Davitz | 3 points
Cooper Knoll | 3 rebounds
Anthony Allison Jr. | 2 rebounds
WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
Sophomore Day 2025*
vs. Lewis & Clark Trailblazers (9-19, 5-8)
Saturday, March 1st - 3:00 PM Tipoff
at Ramsey Gym - East Peoria, Illinois
Watch Live (Hudl-TV)
*The Cougars will honor eight sophomores in a ceremony following the conclusion of the preceding women's game.
