Stephens follows 39-point performance with 32 in sectional semifinal victory over Monmouth United

ABINGDON, Ill. — Former University of Texas football coach Darrell Royal liked to say, “You dance with who brung you,” when referring to the importance of consistency — especially when his quarterback was handing the ball off to Heisman Trophy-winning running back Earl Campbell.

The Southeastern boys basketball team has consistently danced with Danny Stephens since he returned from an eight-week absence because of a thumb injury.

The multi-talented 6-foot-7 junior scored 32 points on Wednesday night, including 19 out of 21 Suns points during a second-half stretch, in a 51-35 victory over Monmouth United in the Class 1A sectional semifinals at Abingdon-Avon High School.

Stephens’ performance follows a 39-point showing in last Friday’s victory over Havana for the first regional title at the school since 1996.

“The kids know their role. They’re getting better at their role,” Suns coach Brett Ufkes said. “But when it gets to the nitty gritty, Stephens is an easy target to hit. He can handle the ball, and he can make foul shots. So that’s a tough guy to defend.”

Southeastern (29-4) advances to Friday night’s championship game against Peoria Christian (26-6), which defeated Lewistown 57-48 in Tuesday’s sectional semifinal. 

The Suns scored the first eight points of the game, limited United to 7-of-21 shooting and led 26-16 at halftime. United, which beat Southeastern 54-47 on Dec. 8 when Stephens was sidelined, trimmed the deficit to 28-25 with 4:27 left in the third quarter after Abel Wilson drained back-to-back 3-pointers.

Stephens then took charge, scoring eight points in a 10-0 to close the quarter. United missed two 3-pointers, turned the ball over three times and missed four free throws in that span.

“We kind of switched our scheme around a little bit,” Ufkes said. “The Wilson kid was getting hot on us. So was (Cormaic) Flynn (who had scored nine points at that point). So we put Dan on (Flynn) to give him a little more length. Se had (Ramsey) Fry kind of red-light Wilson just so he wasn’t getting so many easy touches.”

The Red Storm’s A.J. Jenks made a 3-pointer to start the fourth quarter, making the score 38-28. Stephens responded with a left-handed drive down the lane for a three-point play, and the Red Storm never got closer than 10 points again.

United unsuccessfully tried to slow Stephens with a zone that typically had a man in front and behind him at all times.

“We just moved the ball and really got them scattered around,” Stephens said. “We kept them moving and kept them in a scramble, and that’s how we got the ball where we wanted it.”

Stephens, a 94 percent free-throw shooter this season, also made all 10 of his free throws in the game.

“It’s just whatever is best for the team,” he said. “If I’m getting double teamed, I need to throw it out. But if I’m not, then it’s best to just probably keep the ball and take care of it.”

Stephens and Fry combined to score all 25 of Southeastern’s points in the second half.

“You can’t tell if we’re 30 points up or 30 points down by looking at (Stephens’) face,” Ufkes said. “He’s just always calm, cool and collected. You can’t rattle him. That’s what it takes to be a superstar.”

Southeastern is one victory away from its fourth sectional title in school history and two victories away from returning to the state tournament for the first time since it placed fourth in 1992.

“This is crazy … and the town, they’re going crazy, too,” Stephens said. “It’s great.”

“I told the boys that when I was in high school in Brown County, after we won the sectional, my back was sore from everybody patting my back and telling me good job,” Ufkes said. “That was an unbelievable feeling that everybody should experience. We’re one win away from a once-in-a-lifetime feeling.

“But we want to play in the big gym. We want to play in Champaign.”