Phillip Jones changes responsibilities as East St. Louis defeats Centralia in IHSA Class 3A sectional final

East St. Louis claims the Waterloo Sectional title with a second-half surge

East St. Louis advanced in the IHSA Class 3A boys basketball state series on Friday, March 6, defeating Centralia 69-51 in the sectional championship game played in Waterloo, Illinois. The result secured a sectional title for the Flyers and ended Centralia’s postseason run one step short of the Super-Sectional round.

The matchup carried added weight as a meeting of two established southern Illinois programs. Centralia entered the postseason as a top seed in the sectional field, while East St. Louis arrived with a tournament-tested roster that had posted lopsided results earlier in the week.

Role changes and lineup flexibility highlighted East St. Louis’ approach

East St. Louis’ performance was marked by shifting responsibilities among its backcourt and wings, including expanded duties for junior guard Phillip Jones. Over the course of the season, Jones has been used as a primary ball-handler and facilitator, and in the sectional final the Flyers again leaned on lineup flexibility to manage pace, ball security and defensive matchups.

That adaptability has been a consistent feature of East St. Louis’ postseason path. In the sectional semifinal, the Flyers defeated Jacksonville 82-50, using extended pressure and fast-break scoring to open separation early. The win set up the championship pairing with Centralia.

Centralia’s run ends after strong season and deep postseason

Centralia reached the sectional final after navigating a competitive bracket, including a 58-38 victory over Triad in the sectional semifinal. The Orphans had been among the most consistent teams in the region during the regular season and entered the sectional championship with a defense-first profile that had limited opponents in earlier rounds.

Against East St. Louis, Centralia faced a different type of test: a team capable of scoring in transition while also generating offense through multiple perimeter initiators. As the game progressed, East St. Louis’ ability to string together stops and convert them into points widened the margin.

What the win means for the road ahead

With the sectional championship secured, East St. Louis moved on to the next stage of the IHSA state tournament. The Flyers’ recent results illustrate a formula that can travel in March: controlling tempo with guards who can share playmaking duties, applying sustained defensive pressure, and maintaining scoring balance beyond a single primary option.

• Final score (Sectional Championship, March 6): East St. Louis 69, Centralia 51
• Previous round: East St. Louis def. Jacksonville 82-50; Centralia def. Triad 58-38
• Event: IHSA Class 3A boys basketball state series, Waterloo Sectional

The sectional final underscored East St. Louis’ capacity to adjust roles and maintain pressure over four quarters, a pattern that has defined its postseason run.