University High School senior basketball standout Keita Bates-Diop has been named an Associated Press first-team all-stater for the third year in a row.
The 6-foot-7 Ohio State recruit was selected in Class 3A for the second straight year after making the Class 2A first team as a sophomore. Bates-Diop was the leading votegetter with 93 points in voting by a statewide panel of sportswriters and broadcasters.
He was joined on the Class 3A first team by Peyton Allen of Chatham Glenwood, Larry Austin Jr. of Springfield Lanphier, Josh Cunningham of Chicago Morgan Park and Michael Finke of Champaign Centennial.
Lincoln junior Gavin Block was a second-team selection.
The Class 4A first team consisted of Jahlil Okafor of Chicago Whitney Young, Jalen Brunson of Stevenson, Cliff Alexander of Chicago Curie, Tyler Ulis of Marian Catholic and Sean O'Mara of Benet Academy.
Normal Community junior Tyler Seibring received honorable mention.
Kirby falls just short: Lincoln freshman Bryson Kirby made nine of 15 shots in the Class 3A Three-Point Showdown preliminaries Thursday and narrowly missed a chance to advance to Friday's finals.
David Perkins of East Peoria made 11 to lead the qualifiers, while Justin Shadowens of Marion, Austin Patterson of Morris and Zach Rehmert of Sterling made 10 each.
BASEBALL
Lowery lifts Mount Pulaski: Michael Lowery was 3-for-3 with a triple and five RBIs, including the game winner, as host Mount Pulaski (2-0) scratched out a 6-5 win in eight innings over nonconference foe Havana.
Williamson blanks Maroa-Forsyth: Ben Williamson (1-0) fired a complete game two-hitter, striking out five while walking three, as Blue Ridge (3-0) shut out Maroa-Forsyth, 4-0, in nonconference play at Farmer City.
SOFTBALL
Stalter powers Fisher: Toree Stalter doubled, homered and drove in five runs as Fisher opened its season with a 15-0 nonconference win at Urbana.