Southwestern Wins Double Overtime Regional Thriller Against Hillsboro

PIASA - Carter Bacon scored 21 points, and Southwestern survived two overtimes to beat Hillsboro 63-60 on Monday night, Feb. 23, 2026, in a boys varsity basketball game at Hillsboro.

Southwestern head coach Jason Darr said the Piasa Birds played without one of their leading scorers, Cason Robinson, who was out with the flu and “may be out on Wednesday.”

“It was a double overtime game, the fans got money’s worth,” Darr said. “We played pretty good basketball, missing one of the players, leading scorer Cason Robinson; some guys stepped up and filled those shoes.”

Southwestern led 9-8 after the first quarter but trailed 24-23 at halftime. The Piasa Birds moved ahead 42-37 after the third quarter before Hillsboro rallied to tie it 56-56 at the end of regulation. The teams were tied again after the first overtime, 58-58, before Southwestern finished the second overtime on top.

Connor Wood added 13 points for Southwestern, and Reed Campbell scored 11 points. Trenton Brackett and John Kunz each had eight points, and Carter Watson scored two.

Southwestern shot 22 of 42 from the field (52%), went 6 of 17 from 3-point range (35%), and finished 13 of 20 at the free-throw line (65%). The Piasa Birds totaled 23 rebounds, 12 assists, seven steals, and one block, with 15 turnovers. Wood had five assists, while Bacon and Brackett each had five rebounds.

Darr said the Piasa Birds' team’s focus is on advancing in the postseason.

“The goal in the regional is survive and advance; there is no reason to leave anything out there on the court, max effort.”

Southwestern will play top-seeded Staunton at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026, in the Carlinville Regional. Southwestern enters that game 14-18 after picking up its 14th win of the season.

Darr said Staunton presents a major challenge.

“They are a very talented team, hard to guard and very well coached,” Darr said. “Have to step in front and make something happen, but it will take a valiant effort.”

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