Lanphier heard the chatter from Champaign and responded with a statement.
Following Champaign Central’s regional championship win over Mahomet-Seymour last Friday, the Maroons said publicly, they wanted to face Lanphier.
The Lions heard the talk and put forward one of their best performances of the season, beating the Maroons, 82-59 to advance to the 3A Effingham sectional championship.
The Lions will face the winner of Wednesday night’s Mt. Zion – Eisenhower game on Friday at 7 p.m.
It is the Lions’ third straight appearance in a sectional title game. Lanphier is winless in its prior two trips.
Yaakema Rose stole the show with 34 points, 10 rebounds and five steals in the victory. His back court mate, Aundrae Williams also dazzled, breaking out of his scoring slump with 25 points, including 22 points in the second half.
Karl Wright continued his emergence, with four points, 10 rebounds and six blocks. Cardell McGee chipped in with 10 points, four assists and four rebounds.
DI recruit Tim Finke scored 15 points for Central. A’Kieon Gill led the Maroons with 18 points.
