Cerro Gordo/Bement boys winning streak climbs to six with two more victories; now 20-8

By Mike Monahan

CERRO GORDO – The Cerro Gordo/Bement boys basketball team continued its winning streak by picking up two more Lincoln Prairie Conference wins last week. The Broncos, who have won six consecutive, downed Tri-County 53-27 at Cerro Gordo last Friday after routing Blue Ridge 68-22 at Bement on February 10. Tri-County fell to 12-17 overall and 3-6 in the LPC (eighth place), while Blue Ridge dropped to 0-24 overall and 0-9 in the LPC. Scoring and score by quarters were unavailable for both contests.

CGB carries a 20-8 overall record and played its last LPC game Tuesday at Argenta-Oreana, a team that is 9-19 overall and 4-5 in the conference.

The Broncos hit the 20 win mark for the 16th time in school history. Last season CGB was 11-21 and 11-17 through 28 games for a turnaround of nine games so far. Bement had two 20 wins or more seasons.

During the winning streak CGB averages 58.2 points and allows just 31.7 points. The closest game during the stretch was a 33-25 victory over Arcola.

This years’ record is the best since going 27-7 in 2021-22, which was also coached by current coach Brandon Willard, who is in his ninth season with a 135-133 overall record as of last Friday.

It is the third time Cerro Gordo/Bement has had a 20-win season since the co-op began in the 2013-14 season.

Class 1A regional at Salt Fork High School in Catlin
(seeds and record as of last Saturday in parentheses)

February 23

Game one: Judah Chrisitan (15, 2-22) vs. Cerro Gordo/Bement (2, 20-8) at Cerro Gordo, 6 p.m.

Game two: Danville Schlarman (10, 12-13) at Salt Fork (Catlin) (7, 14-11), 6 p.m.

Game three: Georgetown-Ridge Farm (14, 5-21) at Georgetown La Salette) (3, 22-6), TBA

Game four: Argenta-Oreana (11, 9-19) at St. Thomas More (6, 10-15), 6:30 p.m.

February 25 at Salt Fork (Catlin)

Game five: Winner of game 1 vs. winner of game 2, 6 p.m.

Game six: Winner of game 3 vs. Winner of game 4, 7:30 p.m.

February 27

Game seven: Winner of game 5 vs. Winner of game 6, 7 p.m. for regional championship. Winner advances to the Danville Schlarman Sectional vs. winner of the Hoopeston Area Regional, March 3 at 7 p.m.

Eight teams combined record: 94-115 .450