Evanston’s basketball team advanced to the Final Four for the second year in a row Friday at the Centralia Holiday Tournament.
But any payback for last year’s loss to Belleville West in the Class 4A state championship game will have to be put on hold.
Evanston did its part for those hoping for that rematch with a 65-44 whipping of Mundelein Carmel in an upper bracket match, but Chatham Glenwood will provide the opposition in Saturday’s 12:30 p.m. semifinal game after defeating Belleville West 52-42.
Alton, a 68-56 winner over Romeoville, and host Centralia, which topped Tipton (Tenn.) 49-28, will play in the other semifinal. The third place and championship games are set for Saturday night.
The Wildkits, who placed 5th and 3rd in their last two tourney appearances, showed that they have their sights set on the championship trophy this time around by connecting on 59 percent (26-of-44) field goal attempts against Carmel. That crisp offensive performance included a career-high 16 points by junior guard Isaiah Holden, who shot 7-of-8 from the floor and also tied Blake Peters and newly-eligible Kyle Wilson for game honors in the rebound department with six apiece.
Peters fired in 17 points and Elijah Bull netted 14 for the winners, now 11-0 on the season. Jaylin Gibson contributed 7 points and 6 assists.
Evanston pulled away from a 17-13 first quarter lead to a 34-23 advantage at halftime, then extended to 50-33 before the reserves took over after three quarters.
Bryce Moore paced the Corsairs with 16 points.