CHAMPAIGN — Phillips has been known as a football school for the past few decades. The basketball program generally kept its head above water, but that was about it for the South Side school.
Wildcats coach Paris Martin believed he had something special coming together over the fall. Martin was a regular at football games this season and let people know that the spotlight on the school’s sports programs wasn’t going to fade away in November.
Martin was vindicated on Saturday at the State Farm Center. His young team, led by dynamic junior EJ Horton, beat Benton 54-47 to win the Class 2A state title.
It’s the second basketball state championship for Phillips, which won Class AA in 1975.
Horton’s slam with 4:51 to play was the signature moment of the first nine games of the state finals.
“It was a two on one and [junior Phoenix Childs] got it to me,” Horton said. “[The Benton defender] was hesistant. So I was gonna rise up on him.”
It was beautiful and powerful and put the Wildcats ahead 45-36.
“Out of all the bodies I’ve seen EJ Horton catch, that one is probably the fourth best [dunk],” Childs said. “It was the biggest moment though. On the U of I court and in the state championship.”
Special slam dunks mean more in high school basketball than at other levels. They often send shockwaves through the game.
“I knew the game was over when he got that,” Martin said. “[His teammates] get the energy after that. They aren’t going to miss an assignment after that. [Benton] was rattled. I knew when he got that dunk all of his brothers were going to come together and take it over the top.”
Horton and Childs both finished with 13 points and seven rebounds and sophomore Amari Edwards added 12 points for Phillips (25-9).
Senior Elijah Harris, a pesky and effective defender throughout the game, managed a clever steal and fast-break layup at the end of the first half to put the Wildcats ahead 27-24.
Benton (32-4) tied the game on Evan Munoz’s post basket with 3:15 left in the third quarter but Phillips never trailed in the second half.
Senior Isaac Billington led Benton (32-4) with 19 points and Evan Munoz added 11. The Rangers’ five starters played all but 13 seconds of the game.
“I struggle to take them out because they want to compete and that’s what they are built for,” Benton coach Ron Winemiller said. “They tell me they are never tired. And I thought we looked a little tired today at times.”
Phillips received significant contributions from its bench, with four players combining for about 30 minutes.
“I inherited all of these guys from programs that didn’t believe in their talents and skill sets,” Martin said. “I did my best to bring them all together and make them bond as family.”
Phillips, which starts three juniors and a sophomore, took its lumps against the larger schools in the Red-South/Central. The Wildcats started the season 5-6, with losses to Quincy, Simeon, Curie, Kenwood, McHenry and Richwoods.
They heated up late in the season, winning eight consecutive games and advancing to the final four of the Public League playoffs, where they lost to Kenwood.
“The boys built as brothers all year,” Martin said. “They hugged together at the start of the fourth quarter. There wasn’t anything for me to do. They did it.”
