Springfield, IL -- Conor McCaffrey delivered another standout performance, scoring 20 points and dishing out 10 assists, while Jace Easley added 18 points to lead O.S. Springfield (13-3, 4-1 LSA) to a 56-48 victory over Good Shepard Pekin (10-5, 2-3 LSA) on Thursday night.
Unlike some recent games where McCaffrey and Easley carried the load, this time, Springfield got valuable contributions across the board.
-- Jeremiah Perkins stepped up inside, scoring 14 points and helping control the glass.
-- O.S. held a 39-33 rebounding edge, crucial against one of the best rebounding teams in the state.
-- Coach Phillip Heppe praised his team’s scoring balance, emphasizing its importance in conference games:
“I was pleased to see some balanced scoring on our part. It’s always good to see that, mainly in conference games.”
The game took a dramatic turn in the third quarter, as Good Shepard Pekin stormed back with a 16-0 run, erasing Springfield’s lead and going up 29-23.
However, McCaffrey and Easley quickly responded, knocking down deep three-pointers to halt Pekin’s momentum and secure the lead for good.
Logan Allen’s presence continues to make an impact for the Eagles. While his stats don’t always jump off the page, his defensive intensity, screens, and court vision provide an invaluable boost.
Coach Heppe acknowledged Allen’s underappreciated contributions:
"You should see what he does in practice. It’s pretty cool to have him with us. Setting good screens, rebounding the basketball, scoring when we need him to score. On the court during the game, he is finding his balance. He’s out there probing things and figuring it out."
With seven straight home conference wins and a defense-first mentality, Springfield is proving itself as one of the toughest teams in the LSA.
-- McCaffrey and Easley continue to shine, but supporting players like Perkins and Allen are stepping up when needed.
-- Despite Good Shepard’s strong rebounding and a major second-half surge, Springfield’s shooting and composure won out.
-- As the season progresses, the Eagles look poised to make a deep run, proving they can win gritty, defensive battles just as well as high-scoring shootouts.