Community seeks fourth consecutive Regional Title, aims to hand Rock Island a milestone 1000th loss in championship clash

Jeffery Woodard, Senior Staff Reporter • Feb 23, 2024

The 27-5 Ironmen boys basketball team hosts the 24-8 Rock Island Rocks in the IHSA Regional Championship Feb. 23. Community is eying a fourth straight Regional Title and the chance to hand the Rocks program loss number 1000.

In Feb. 21’s opening round of postseason play, Community took down the Minooka Indians 53-32, and Rock Island defeated the Normal West West 52-45.

Community will need to replicate West’s success in shutting down the Rock’s leading scorer, K.J. LaMonte, if they are to survive and advance.

LaMonte entered the game versus West, averaging 19 points a game. The Wildcats held the leading scorer in the Western Big Six conference to just four points.

The Wildcats adopted a 2-1-2 zone against Rock Island, limiting the Rocks’ dribble penetration and forcing shots from the perimeter.

But Rock Island was dominant from the outside, sinking double-digit threes in the contest.

Dezmund Jackson and Larry Olivier, Jr. made up for Lamonte’s absence on the stat sheet, with Jackson posting 17 points and Olivier Jr. adding in 14.

The pair of guards combined for seven threes in Wednesday’s contest; Jackson knocking down three and Olivier four.

Ironmen assistant coach Mr. Matthew Schweinberg said the Ironmen will key on stopping LaMonte.

“He’s a load”, Schweinberg said. “He drives to the basket really well, he shoots the ball really well, and he’s a very willing passer to the other shooters on their team.”

Stopping LaMonte, Schweinberg said, means keeping him out of the paint.

“We want to keep bodies in front of him and keep our hands up,” Schweinberg said “A guy like him who can drive and shoot is hard to guard and is going to cause problems.”

Community was victorious in their lone matchup with the Rocks this season, celebrating a 60-49 victory on Dec. 19.

The Ironmen held LaMonte to 11 points in that contest, but LaMonte demonstrated the ability to draw contact. And convert, going six for six from the line.

Olivier had 11 in that contest, including three threes; Jackson had 12, all coming from range.

Rock Island, too, is looking to keep a Regional Title streak alive after two straight 3A Regional championships.

With a win tonight, Community can send the Rocks and third-year head coach Marc Polite home empty-handed and have a shot at the winner of the Moline/Bradley-Bourbonnais.

The Iron tip off against the Rocks at 7 p.m. in the East Gym.

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About the Contributor

Jeffery Woodard, Senior Staff Reporter

Jeffery Woodard is a senior at Normal Community High School and is involved in track & field. This is his third year working with the Inkspot, and he is a senior staff reporter. On the weekends, I enjoy hanging out with friends and going to the gym. In my free time, I enjoy watching movies of all sorts. My favorite film is "Black Panther."