Bartonville Monroe Flyers 1A Seventh Grade Boys Basketball Team – STATE CHAMPIONS!

The Bartonville Monroe Flyers boys 7th grade basketball team (25-1) are STATE CHAMPIONS.  Last night, the boys traveled down 74, just passed Champaign-Urbana to take on Sigel St. Michaels (20-2).  After a close game that went back and forth all night, the Flyers brought the state championship home, defeating St. Michaels 29-22!

According to the IESA website (because I was too busy watching to keep stats):

Both teams were tight in the first quarter and the score was tied as both went in at half. Quick defense kept the score low and both teams fought hard for each attempt at a basket. In the second half, Monroe settled into a rhythm and opened up a lead. Four different Flyers contributed to the 12 points Monroe scored in the third quarter. Brock Bueker tried his best to keep the Sharpshooters in the game by scoring all of St. Michael’s points in the third quarter. The Sharpshooters rallied in the fourth but time soon began to run out. Brayden Williams scored 5 of his 11 points in the fourth quarter and helped seal the win for the Flyers. Michael Wolke finished the game with 8 points for Sigel St. Michael’s. Brayden Williams finished the game with 11 points for Bartonville Monroe.

Parents, students, and even players had tears of joy flowing as the game ended.

Coach Evan Haffner said, “These young men are amazing and deserve this championship!  I couldn’t have asked for a better group to coach.  Their parents were equally amazing, and the support from the school and community is one of a kind.”

This is Bartonville Monroe’s first trip to the state finals since the late 70′s.  So bringing the championship home was long overdue.

When asked how he planned to celebrate, Coach Haffner said, “I am going to have a big pizza and a couple of dad’s favorite sodas!”