Boys basketball: Eastland eager for rematch with Erie, Johnston

His starters were running a 5-on-6 drill when an ill-advised, one-handed bounce pass was easily deflected and stolen.

"We're going to play a sectional basketball game tomorrow," Dunlap said, "and we'll be turning in our uniforms the next day if we make plays like that."

On the next possession, the Cougars worked the ball around crisply and found an open man for a corner jump shot. The ball went cleanly through the net.

"Oh my gosh," Dunlap said. "We spaced the floor, reversed the ball twice and put the ball in the basket. That's how we're supposed to do it."

A full range of emotions from everyone involved will be on display tonight – weather permitting – when Eastland takes on Erie in a Class 1A Eastland Sectional semifinal. Game time is 7:30 p.m.

If inclement weather moves in, the game will be played at 6 p.m. Wednesday, to be followed by a matchup between Freeport Aquin and River Ridge. The title game is slated to be played Friday.

The semifinal against Erie gives Eastland (27-3) a chance for payback. The Cardinals overcame a 51-42 deficit with 6 minutes to play to pull out a 68-63 victory in the championship game of the West Carroll tournament Dec. 15.

"We kind of gave it away the last time we played," Eastland junior forward Skylar Paulson said. "Now we play them again in the tournament, and we really want to win it, especially in front of our fans."

"They're just a very fine, well-coached team," Dunlap said, "and they might have the best player in northern Illinois in Class 1A basketball in [Jacob] Johnston. He's just a ton."

The 6-foot-4 Johnston has been on a tear of late. He scored 49 points in a double-overtime win over Indian Creek in an Erie Regional semifinal, then backed that up with 40 in a title-game victory over Paw Paw two nights later.

When asked about Johnston, Dunlap noted his team will try to limit touches and make him work for his points.