Reggie Postlewaite, Peoria Manual refuse to lose and earn a spot in 2A title game
CHAMPAIGN—Peoria Manual senior Reggie Postlewaite ripped the ball right out of the hands of a Tolono Unity player at one point in the second half of the Rams' 62-57 win against Tolono Unity in the Class 2A semifinals at State Farm Center on Thursday.
"We have a lot of guys on the roster that won’t let us lose," Manual coach Marvin Jordan said. "Reggie is one of those guys. It shows up each and every game. You can’t ask for a better player. He is everything a coach asks for."
Postlewaite filled up the stat sheet with 13 points, eight rebounds, seven steals, and six assists.
"It feels amazing to be back [at the state finals]," Postlewaite said. "We came up short last year. We were determined we were going to come back and get first place this year. My emotions are everywhere."
Manual (24-9) will face Quincy Notre Dame in the 2A championship game on Saturday.
"It was a hard fought game and we battled," Jordan said. "That is pretty much who we have been all year. These guys put in the work every day and believed in the plan we had."
Unity (33-3) led 47-46 after a free throw by senior Coleton Langendorf with 5:07 to play.
The Rams responded with a 10-0 burst to take control. And shot 8-for-10 from the free-throw line in the final minute to seal the win.
Joshua Humbles led Manual with 19 points and Tahj Tolliver added 13 points.
Dane Eisenmenger led Unity with 14 points and 11 rebounds and Langendorf finished with 13 points.