Moving inside Friday helped the Morton boys basketball team expand its travel plans.
The Potters scored 15 of the first 17 points in the third quarter to topple East Peoria, 49-38, and win the Class 3A Limestone Regional championship.
"It was a great team effort," MHS head coach Steve Schupp said. "We really stuck to our guns on defense."
It was the second straight regional title for Morton (22-4). The Mid-Illini Conference champion meets Richwoods (26-2), the Mid-State 6 Conference winner, at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Ottawa Sectional semifinals.
Morton and state No. 1 Richwoods have split two recent meetings. The Potters prevailed a year ago, 47-41, in the Rock Island Sectional semifinals. The Knights collected a 59-46 win in the Pekin Insurance Holiday Tournament semifinals Dec. 29.
The other two Ottawa Sectional semifinalists, who square off Wednesday, are Morris and Rock Island.
In the regional final, the Raiders, who entered the game with six consecutive wins, managed only four points in the third quarter. East Peoria never got closer than a five-point deficit in the fourth.
"We knew they were good," Morton junior Tyler Lundeen said. "We were just focused on what we had to do."
After settling for outside shots in the first half and trailing 22-16 at the break, Morton consistently maneuvered for up-close attempts in the last 16 minutes.
Lundeen led the Potters with 15 points. Brett Bisping added 12. They combined for 21 in the second half on 8-of-12 shooting.
Morton ran its winning streak to four games.
