Eagles move step closer to fulfilling boyhood dreams, will play for spot in Class 1A final four

WHITE HALL, Ill. — Understandably, Breiton Klingele found it difficult to keep his emotions in check.

“Ever since I was little, all I have wanted to do was play in the state tournament,” he said.

Well, Klingele, a 6-foot-4 senior forward, and his Liberty teammates now find themselves one step away from the Class 1A final four after the Eagles eliminated Jacksonville Routt 39-28 in Friday night’s sectional championship game at North Greene High School.

“It’s … exciting,” said Klingele, trying to simultaneously suppress an ear-to-ear grin while searching for the right combination of words.

Liberty (29-5) faces Southeastern (30-4) at 7 p.m. Monday’s Class 1A Jacksonville Super-Sectional at the Jacksonville Bowl. Southeastern ousted Peoria Christian 45-34 Friday night.

The Liberty-Southeastern winner advances to Thursday’s 11:45 a.m. state semifinals in Champaign against either Chicago Marshall or Scales Mound.

Liberty has not been to a state tournament since 2016 when the Eagles finished third.

Klingele was not alone in trying to harness his postgame emotions. Fellow senior Logan Robbins was also coming to grips with how close the Eagles are to advancing to Champaign.

“I remember sitting in the stands watching the 2016 team in the state tournament,” said the 6-foot-5 Robbins, who led Liberty with 13 points against a stout Routt defense.

Robbins said he and the rest of the nine Liberty seniors were in sixth grade the last time the Eagles were able to reach the state tournament.

“And now, here we all are — one win away from playing in the state tournament ourselves,” he said.

Liberty’s victory over Routt was its third of the season, having beaten the Rockets twice in January. Routt closes its season at 28-7.

Friday night’s game was a basketball equivalent to a bare-knuckled street brawl. Both clubs excelled in tight, in-your-face defensive pressure that translated into all baskets having to be earned. Absolutely none were given.

“This was a tough, defensive game,” Robbins admitted.

Liberty’s strongest virtues were arguably its patience on offense — even after the Eagles fell behind 10-2 at the outset — and never relenting on defense. A 16-0 run by Liberty over the last few minutes of the first quarter and beginning of the second pushed the Eagles to an 18-10 margin. Routt never got closer than five points the remainder of the game.

“We just stuck to the plan,” Klingele said.

Liberty coach Greg Altmix agreed.

“Our kids never panicked — that’s what comes with having a lot of seniors,” Altmix said. 

Liberty’s defense held Routt to 18 points over the final three quarters. Most of that time Liberty maintained a six- to eight-point advantage, eventually salting away the victory with five three throws in the closing minute after Routt had moved within 34-28.

Altmix and his players alike stressed how much work they put in on defense in between games. Even if there is an off night shooting, Altmix pointed out a strong defense can make up for a variety of other shortcomings.

“A good defense doesn’t have a bad night, and our guys really get after it,” Altmix said. “When you hold someone to 14 points in each half, that gives you a heckuva chance to win.”

Liberty is surrendering just 38.8 points a game during its four postseason victories and has yet to give up more than 47.

Klingele muscled his way to a game-best eight rebounds, one more than Routt’s 6-5 Gus Abell. Robbins (5) and Clayton Obert (5) added another 10 boards to the Liberty cause.

Robbins was the lone double-figure scorer for Liberty in a game that matched two deliberate offenses. Liberty had six players score in each the first and second halves.

Nolan Killion, a 6-2 junior, led Routt with 14 points. He had missed the previous game with Liberty due to illness.