PEORIA — Seton’s masterful point guard DJ Cooper was surveying the scene at Lewis University on Tuesday as students mobbed the floor after the Sting punched its ticket to the dance.
‘‘It’s our time,’’ Cooper said. ‘‘Our team is headed to state, and nothing could feel better.’’
Seton will take a 29-2 record into a Class 2A semifinal against unbeaten Winnebago at 6:30 Friday night.
Just six years ago, the first year boys were enrolled at the South Holland school and the Sting was 4-4 in varsity competition.
‘‘Since we started, we have taken it one game at a time,’’ Cooper said. ‘‘We are just trying to keep winning one game at a time.’’
Twice more.
Four players average in double figures led by Cooper, the Ohio University-bound point guard with 13.7 points and 4.5 assists a game. Jordan Walker averages 13.6 and 5.8 rebounds. Corbin Thomas, whose production has surged as the season has progressed, averages 11.6 points and 7.5 rebounds. And Tony Nixon averages 10 points.
‘‘What makes this team is intensity,” Nixon said. ‘‘We kept hearing everyone tell us we couldn’t do this, but we’ve stayed behind each other and we have done it.’’
Seton coach Ken Stevenson has built the Sting into a power in an amazingly short period of time.
The team draws extra motivation from Cooper not being picked as the Catholic League player of the year.
‘‘I know that I wouldn’t trade him for anyone,’’ Stevenson said. ‘‘He is the heart and soul of our team.’’
He is also the triggerman on one of the most dominating fast breaks of any team around. The ball and the players get down the court and to the basket like lightning bolts.
Seton’s only losses were against Public League tournament runner-up Hyde Park and Leo at Rich South’s Big Dipper Tournament, which it avenged twice. The Sting comes in with an 18-game winning streak that includes back-to-back wins against De La Salle the last two weeks of the regular season.
To win a championship, the Sting might have to win back-to-back games against unbeaten oppoenents.
Winnebago (31-0) is led by 6-7 junior Chas Cross, who averages 16.9 points and 10.4 rebounds. The Indians finished second in Class A in 2004 and 2005.
The other 2A semifinal matches undefeated Downstate Marshall (31-0), led by Indiana State-bound senior twins Lucas and Logan Eitel, against Massac County (32-1). Byron Bailey, a 6-4 senior, averages 18.1 points and 8.2 rebounds for the Patriots, whose only loss came against Carbondale.
In 1A, Macon Meridian (29-2) is the favorite and is led by 6-4 forward Dakota Getz, who is an Iowa football recruit.
Meridian meets Annawan (27-6) and 6-5 forward Alex Coppejans, who has scored 28 or more points in five of his last six games. In the other semifinal, Lewistown (25-7) and Quinton Hatfill (15.4 ppg) take on Woodlawn (29-1) and Bronson Verhines (13.7 ppg).
Contributing: Scott Powers
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