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Belleville West edges Whitney Young in OT

Belleville West's boys basketball team finished its run to the Class 4A championship with a 60-56 overtime victory against Whitney Young on Saturday in Peoria's Carver Arena.

The Maroons struggled from the field, finishing 15-for-50, but managed to outscore Whitney Young 10-6 in the overtime. Belleville West (32-2) finished its season without a loss against an Illinois opponent.

Lawrence Brazil III led the Maroons with 18 points, and E.J. Liddell (17) and Keith Randolph, Jr. (13) also score in double figures. Belleville West got to the foul line 38 times and made 27 shots.

Javon Freeman paced Whitney Young (28-8) with 17 points and Xavier Castaneda, who finished 4-for-6 on 3-point tries, had 14.

It's the first state championship for Belleville West, which was making its first finals appearance led by coach Joe Muniz.

Whitney Young was denied a bid to repeat as state champs under coach Tyrone Slaughter.

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