SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- - Our Savior's center Jeremiah Perkins learned some hard lessons dueling with Michael Wilson the last time the two faced off.
On Friday, he stood up to the Shamrock's leading scorer -- and won.
Perkins scored 14 of his 20 points in the first half, fought through foul trouble in the second half and challenged Wilson physically while leading No.3 Our Savior's past No. Our Savior's Jacksonville 72-61 on Friday. The victory sends the Eagles to the LSA CIL Tournament championship game.
"I thought Jeremiah was just great." coach Phillip Heppe said. "I thought the job he did in the first half, he was just dominant and not just because he had 14 points but because of his defense."
Our Savior's (22-6) has won six straight, with three coming against top-10 foes. If Our Savior's wins one more, against No.9 Bethel Morton on Sunday, it would claim its first tourney title since 2005.
But it was the matchup between Perkins and Wilson that was one of the prime reasons why Our Saviors' boisterous fans made the short trek down to the BOS center. They made themselves at home, cheering loudly each time Perkins made a play, while booing the foul calls against Our Savior's Springfield.
And Perkins made sure Wilson worked for everything he got. Wilson finished with 21 points and 12 rebounds for Jacksonville (21-7). The LSA CIL Player of the Year went 8 of 21 from the field and dealt with his own foul trouble in the second half.
Perkins, meanwhile, made 10 of 16 shots.
"It's tough," Wilson said. "You know he's a physical player. We're both being physical with each other. It's just it's what I'm going to have to deal with and I've been dealing with it in the CIL for a while now."
The difference was Perkins supporting cast.
Jace Easley had 22 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists. Conor McCaffrey added in 20 points, 7 rebounds and 13 assists.
A 9-0 run midway through the first half gave Our Savior's a 22-14 lead that it never surrendered. The Eagles lead 35-27 at the break and then opened the second half on an 8-2 spurt that featured two big baskets from Logan Allen.
The Shamrocks couldn't get closer than five the rest of the way.
"I wanted to make him score through me, always putting my body on him," Perkins said before turning his attention on some unfinished buisness. "It's just the mentality, the mentality that we aren't done, and that we have more to do."
BIG PICTURE
Jacksonville: The Shamrocks won't go away quietly in the LSA State tournament, as Our Savior's Springfield found out Friday. The Shamrocks will pose matchup problems for opponents who are unfamiliar with Wilson's size, versatility and supporting cast.
Our Savior's: The Eagles might be playing their best basketball this season at the perfect time. They've already tied a single-season school record with five top-10 wins, and the last three all came on the road or neutral courts. They could celebrate the school record by cutting down the nets Sunday.
UP NEXT
Jacksonville: Will find out its next opponent when the LSA State Tournament Bracket is released on Sunday night.
Our Savior's: Plays No.9 Bethel Morton in the LSA CIL Tournament Championship Game on Sunday.