Mercer County (24-8) got knocked off by Erie-Prophetstown (11-17) 46-43 in the semifinals of the IHSA 2A West Carroll Regional Thursday. The Golden Eagles led 5-0 early, but Erie-Prophetstown responded with an 18-2 run to take an 18-7 lead. Mercer County never tied the game or took the lead the rest of the way.
Caleb Naftzger scored a game-high 15 points for the Panthers. Jeremiah Kochevar added 14 in the win. Chase Olson paced Mercer County with 11 points. Colby Cox was in double figures with 10 points in the loss.
Mercer County went 15-3 against 1A competition in 2022-23, but just 9-5 against 2A teams.
BOYS BASKETBALL
IHSA 2A West Carroll Regional
Erie-Prophetstown 46 Mercer County 43
Riverdale 49 Farmington 47
IHSA 2A Byron Regional
Rock Falls 77 Eureka 64
Byron 47 Winnebago 43
IHSA 2A Bureau Valley Regional
Princeton 88 Hall 43
Stillman Valley 52 Kewanee 46
GIRLS BASKETBALL
IHSA 2A Rockridge Sectional Championship
Deer Creek-Mackinaw 47 Eureka 42
IHSA 1A Abingdon-Avon Sectional Championship
Havana 40 Brown County 34
HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLASTIC BOWL
Mercer County 185 West Central 120
Mercer County 300 Stark County 190