Community advances to the 4A IHSA State Finals for the second time in school history after defeating the Palatine Pirates 58-38 at the University of Illinois’ State Farm Center Friday afternoon.

Two Ironmen finished the night with double-digit scoring performances. Jaheem Webber posted a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds, while Braylon Roman led the team with 19.

While Palatine’s Connor May had a 17-point performance, the Washington University commit found himself in foul trouble earlier, seeing reduced action in the second half. The Pirate’s second-leading scorer, Tommy Elter, finished the contest with 10 points; the rest of the roster contributed a combined 11.

In the opening quarter, the Iron and Pirates exchanged leads three times. The first ended knotted up 13 all.

Roman drained a three-pointer to open the second to put the Iron up 16-13. Community would not trail again.

Community would take a five-point advantage into the half, up 27-22.

Ironmen head coach Mr. Dave Witzig said the team was “disappointed” to head into halftime “only up by five.”

“We missed some layups,” Witzig said. “We gave up four points on offensive rebounds when we didn’t back box out like we should have.”

At halftime, the coach said, the Iron talked “fundamentals.”

Roman opened up the quarter with a three for the Iron. Nico Newsome added one of his own on the next possession.

“From that point on, it was [the Pirates] playing catch-up,” Witzig said. “We made a couple of big shots in the third quarter.”

Community posted one of their best performances from the perimeter of the season, shooting 5/9.

Roman went 3/6 from range, while Newsome went 2/3.

“Everybody has to worry about Jaheem and Noah [Cleveland] the post,” the veteran coach said. “Some of those threes were kick-outs from those guys…If you told me before the game we made five threes and [Palatine] made three, I’d say that we’re going to win the game.”

This season, Palatine, Witzig said, relied on the three ball.

“We did a great job on them,” the coach said as the Pirates went 3/18 from beyond the arc.

While the Pirates had to worry about Community in the post, those worries weren’t enough to shut down the Iron.

Community scored 30 points in the paint in a game in which the Iron’s only dunk came with 1:30 left on the clock.

But Community didn’t need their signature dunks to get Ironmen fans on their feet, it was the team’s statement denials at the rim.

Webber recorded six blocks in the game for the Orange and Black, good for 11 in the last two games.

“Our defense has obviously been a lot better these last few weeks,” the Wright State commit said. “I feel like those block shots come with that. Protecting the rim is kind of my job on the team. If we’re not all doing our jobs, something’s not right.”

The win saw all the Ironmen doing their jobs like Dexter Niekamp passing up open three looks for higher-percentage shots.

Niekamp finished the night tied with Webber in assists, with three apiece, as the Iron looked for the best shot on their possessions.

“It’s not about who scores the points,” Cleveland said. “It’s about getting the best shot for the team.”

This season, Cleveland said, isn’t about “individual stats,” but what’s best for the team.

Community shot 55% from the field and 79% from the line in the contest, going 11/14.

Newsome and Cleveland each had eight points in the win. Cleveland would record nine boards in the contest.

The Ironmen make their second State Championship contest appearance tonight at 7:30 p.m. when they face Homewood-Flossmoor.