Two southern Illinois high schools move into state title games Saturday

Southern Illinois is well represented at this week's boys state basketball tournament in Champaign.

Saturday's championship games will feature two high-flying teams from Pulaski County and Benton, both seeking their first-ever state titles.

Mounds-Meridian High School came from behind to knock off Chicago Hope Academy in a 1A semifinal game on Thursday, 68-60.

The Bobcats will put their 26-8 record on the line Saturday at 11 a.m. against West Central from the Chicago suburb of Westchester.

Meridian has never claimed a state championship, but came close as runners-up in 1972 and 2015.

Meanwhile in a 2A semifinal, the Benton Rangers (32-3) defeated Byron 50-42. They'll go for the title Saturday at 1 p.m. against Phillips Academy of Chicago.

The storied Rangers tradition is also lacking a state title in its history, but had a pair of third-place finishes in 1933 and 1992.