Andrean, KV to meet in sectional final

Updated: March 23, 2011 3:46PM

An 0-of-8 start from the field for Andrean in its Class 3A sectional semifinal against host Rensselaer?

But a blip on the radar.

The 59ers wound up beating the foul- and turnover-plagued Bombers 59-37 on Friday night.

In tonight's championship game, Andrean will play Kankakee Valley, which defeated Knox 54-44 in Friday's first semifinal.

"I was very impressed with the guys' energy level," Andrean coach Carson Cunningham said. "I think the 59ers had a nice level of intensity, and they executed quite well. They had a lot of positive energy with each other. It was fun to watch."

When Andrean (14-8) scored for the first time with 3:46 left in the first quarter on Nick Davidson's three-point play off a steal by Matt Ruberry to make it 5-3, the play was indicative of things to come on various fronts. The sophomore guard scored 11 of his team-high 16 points in the first quarter, when he went 7-of-7 from the foul line, and Rensselaer (10-11) committed 15 first-half turnovers (though just three in the second half). The Bombers also were whistled for nine fouls in the first quarter, as four of their starters were hampered by fouls.

The 59ers led 19-11 when Davidson went to the bench with his second foul with 4:01 left in the second quarter, and they proceeded to reel off 11 straight - including six in a row from Adam Bosak, with the final basket coming on an alley-oop from Mario Giannini - to lead 30-11 with 1:46 left. With Andrean planning to hold for the final shot of the half, Davidson returned to the game with 18.9 seconds left, and the Division I prospect added a basket with three seconds left to send the

59ers into halftime with a 32-11 cushion.

Bosak finished with 13 points.

Ben Davisson scored a game-high 21 points for Rensselaer, including 20 in the second half. The 6-foot-10 senior scored all 10 of the Bombers' points in the third quarter, then added 10 more in the fourth.

"Their big guy had a really fine career," said Cunningham, whose team had defeated Rensselaer 55-32 on Jan. 7, a game Davisson missed after suffering an injured finger that required surgery.

"He's a really tough player to handle."

In Friday's first game, Kankakee Valley (7-14) used a 7-0 run to turn a 14-13 deficit into a 20-14 lead with 3:57 left in the second quarter, and never relinquished that lead.

Evan DeKock paced the Kougars with 18 points, including eight in the third quarter. Cody Nelms had 14 and Brett Walther added 10.

Patrick Ambrose had 17 points for the Redskins (9-13), who had lost to Kankakee Valley 60-51 in overtime on Dec. 21. Elliott Coad had 16, including four 3-pointers, and Joshua Risner added 10.

The 59ers topped the Kougars 57-36 on Dec. 17.

"KV's playing great," Cunningham said. "They've had some really nice games. KV is an experienced team that's playing really good basketball."

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