QJHS, Brown County to play for eighth grade girls basketball state titles, Pittsfield to vie for third

Two area eighth grade girls basketball teams will play for Illinois Elementary School Association state titles, while a third will battle for third place.

Quincy Junior High School and Brown County advanced to their respective championship games by winning twice Saturday, while Pittsfield suffered a five-point loss in the semifinals.

QJHS opened with a 39-10 victory Saturday afternoon over Rockford Eisenhower in the Class 4A quarterfinals at Parkside Junior High School in Normal. Jada Brown led the Comets with 17 points, and Khloe Nicholson added eight points. Saturday night in the semifinals, QJHS beat Morton 35-28. Myley Longcor scored 14 points for the Comets, while Brown added 13.

Quincy (28-1) will face Danville North Side (23-2) at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the championship game.

In the Class 2A tournament at Havana High School, Brown County edged Mount Pulaski 29-28 in the quarterfinals Saturday morning. Mackenzie Kassing led the Hornets with 17 points. In the semifinals Saturday night, Brown County beat Nokomis 44-28. Kassing had 18 points and Hope Ingram added 10.

Brown County (25-2) will play Paris Crestwood (25-0) at 7:30 p.m. Thursday for the title.

In Class 3A, Pittsfield opened with a 39-19 victory over Channahon in the quarterfinals at Germantown Hills Middle School. Reese Ramsey led the Lady Braves with 22 points. In the semifinals, Pittsfield suffered a 27-22 loss to Eureka. Ramsey had 13 points.

Pittsfield (25-3) will play Manteno (22-4) at 6 p.m. Thursday in the third-place game.