Lancers Upset Maroons in Battle of Belleville Regional Semifinal

Alton beat the Hosting O'Fallon Panthers in the other semifinal by a score of 64-46.

Feb 26, 2026 6:21 AM Feb 26, 2026 7:12 AM

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Belleville East’s James Johnson goes up for a layup against J’Dyn Lloyd and the Belleville West Maroons Wednesday night in an IHSA regional semifinal at O’Fallon Township High School. (Photo by Brad Piros)

O’FALLON – The Belleville East boys basketball team entered the postseason in some rough form.

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The Lancers lost 15 of their last 16 games, including five straight, to close out the regular season with a 9-19 record.

That earned them the No. 7 seed in the top half of the Rock Island Sectional, putting them up against the No. 2-seeded Belleville West Maroons.

West won both regular season meetings by scores of 57-47 on December 12 and 68-61 on February 6.

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But East shocked everyone with a 40-35 win, eliminating its cross-town rivals and ending the Maroons’ season at 21-10.

East’s Kenny Wilson was the only player in double figures with 13 points. Jalen Coleman added eight points and Troy Alexander netted seven.

The Maroons were led by Micah May and TJ Carson IV with eight points apiece. J’Dyn Lloyd scored seven points and Ricky Salmond III and Amauri Fenton each scored six.

East led 9-7 after the first quarter and 20-19 at halftime. The Lancers went on to outscore West 20-16 in the second half in a low-scoring game.

East advances to the regional championship game where it will play No. 3-seeded Alton on Friday, February 7 at 7 p.m. at O’Fallon Township High School.

Belleville West’s Ricky Salmond III knocks down a three-pointer against cross-town rivals Belleville East Wednesday night in an IHSA regional semifinal at O’Fallon Township High School. (Photo by Brad Piros)