The championship run for the Collinsville Middle School boys basketball team ended Tuesday with a 41-29 loss to Benton in the Southern Illinois Junior High School Athletic Association final four.
The boys were unable to duplicate the state championship won by the CMS girls last season.
The Trail Blazers will play Marion at 6 p.m. Thursday for third place at Rend Lake Community College in the SIJHSAA large school bracket. Centralia defeated Marion 56-46 and will play Benton for the championship at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.
Team members include 7th graders Bryson Baker and Logan Whitehead and 8th graders, Nathan Janson, Mickey Ross, Hunter Counton, Nathan Hawkins, Kamondre Carter, Jalani Brown, Jacob Hall, Braeden Lemp, Frankie Perez, Justin Goliday, Austin Gavlick and David Torres
The team is coached by Dennis Neese, who is assisted by Tom King.
