PEORIA - A 14-point loss to Nashville a month ago served Teutopolis extremely well Saturday at the Class A State Basketball Tournament.

"Had we come in not playing them, I would have done the same stupid things I did last time," Teutopolis coach Ken Crawford said.

Instead, the No. 5-ranked Wooden Shoes frustrated Nashville All-Stater Lucas O'Rear and finished strong despite using the same five players for the entire game in a 43-38 quarterfinal victory at Carver Arena.

Teutopolis moved to 31-2 as top-ranked Nashville (33-1) bowed out in the quarterfinals for the fifth time since 1997. Gunning for their first state title since 1986, the Shoes meet No. 2 Maroa-Forsyth today in an 11 a.m. semifinal.

"We were doing the same things we've been doing all year. It just didn't work for us as well," said Hornets' coach Darin Lee. "They did a nice job. They got done what they needed to get done. They let them bang on Lucas a lot and didn't call any post fouls. That makes it tough."

A Northern Iowa recruit, O'Rear finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds but missed four free throws and the potential of six points in the final 2:36.

"Our kids studied the scouting report like you wouldn't believe, and they followed the game plan to a T," said Crawford, who won his 611th career game in 26 seasons and is retiring after the State Tournament. "Andy Tipton all year has been an unsung hero. He knew he could guard Lucas O'Rear if he got some help. Andy did a phenomenal job. He pestered him to death."

With All-State guard Jason Runde missing all seven shots from the field and scoring three points, the Shoes relied on the 20 points of Wade Koester and the 17 points and 12 rebounds of Rich Borries.

Farmington 43, Brown County 35

Third-ranked Farmington survived 54 percent free throw shooting and took control in the fourth quarter to shake off unranked Mount Sterling Brown County and earn a spot against Chicago North Lawndale in today's 12:45 p.m. semifinal.

"It wasn't pretty by any means. It was a tremendously tough ballgame," Farmers' coach Tom Wierzba said.

"We didn't shoot free throws very well (13 of 24), but we made them when it counted."

Hornets' All-Stater Josh Babb was held to 12 points (eight below his average) and was 3 of 14 from the field. Brown County (26-7) shot 36 percent.

"It was a very physical game. Farmington plays a tenacious defense like we do," said Brown County coach David Phelps. "They forced a few more turnovers (20-13)."

Matt Goedeke paced the Farmers (31-1) with 17 points, and Josh Watznauer added 12.

N. Lawndale 57, Putnam County 41

No. 9-ranked Chicago North Lawndale scored 23 of the final 24 points to overpower No. 8 Putnam County in the last quarterfinal.

The Panthers (30-4) led 40-34 with about six minutes left but would score only one more point. North Lawndale (25-9) forced 17 Putnam County second-half turnovers and 30 overall with a relentless, trapping fullcourt defense.

"I'm really proud of my team. They were down, but certainly not out," Phoenix coach Lewis Thorpe said. "We wanted to focus on what got us here, and that's pressure defense. Our quickness confused them a little."

Southern Illinois recruit Carlton Fay paced the Panthers with 17 points and 18 rebounds. Isaiah Evans and DeAntwan Jackson led North Lawndale with 11 points each.

"We didn't do a very good job handling their pressure," said Putnam County coach John Slingsby. "That's the bottom line."

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