EFFINGHAM — The lead was 12 with 9:21 left in the game. Hold on for another quarter-plus and Unity would have reached the Class 2A sectional final.
Meyers Leonard and his Robinson teammates decided otherwise. The Maroons outscored the Rockets by 12 in the final 9:21, forcing overtime. The teams remained tied after the first overtime before Robinson outscored Unity 12-1 in the second for a 61-50 win.
After the game, the Rockets were broke up, but proud.
"I think it's easy to see how much (the Rockets) cared," Unity coach Jarrett Brown said. "I think it's important that our fans, our community and everybody in the stands saw how hard these kids worked.
"They are torn up, but they represented us very well, and our program is in good hands because of them."
The Rockets worked hard against Illinois recruit Leonard, holding him to six points in the first half. With the second-half surge, Leonard finished with 25 points, 15 rebounds and four blocked shots.
"He's tall. I don't know what else to say," Brown said. "Our guys did everything we could against him."
With the score tied in the final seconds of regulation, Unity had a chance to win. But Dylan Sturgeon's 12-footer rolled off and Leonard grabbed the rebound.
Sturgeon led the Rockets with 16 points. Austin Perry scored 13 and Kyler McFall added 11.
Unity was 1 of 16 from the field in the two overtimes.
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