A buzzer beater layup by Jake Blunier lifted the #4 seed Eureka Hornets over the Panthers of Camp Point Central by a score of 47-45 in Game 3. Down one point by a score of 45-44, Central’s Luke Ippensen was fouled on a layup attempt with 25.8 seconds left and the ball rolled around the rim and fell off, very narrowly missing a basket-and-1 opportunity. Ippensen would sink one of two free throws to tie the score 45-45. Eureka brought the ball down the floor, passed around the arc, and finally Grant Roberts would drive the basket and dump a fantastic pass to Blunier. Blunier would miss the short layup but would rebound his own miss and sink the putback to seal the victory with no time remaining. Central led 21 minutes of this game and took a narrow 23-22 lead into the intermission, but the Hornets would edge the Panthers in the second half by a score of 25-22.
Eureka’s Hornets were led by a duo of double-digit scorers in Jack Blunier (13 points) and Jacob Schultz (12 points). Teagan McLaughln would add nine points and Grant Roberts would include another eight. Schultz would secure a game-high seven rebounds and Blunier would lead the team with two assists and four blocks.
Central led the game in several control aspects, including points in the paint (34 to 28), turnovers (just eight to Eureka’s 15), and fast break points (10 to 8). The Panthers were paced by Luke Ippensen’s 19 points and six rebounds on 7-for-11 shooting. Braxton Kestner tied Ippensen with six rebounds to lead the team and would also add a team-high two assists. Corbyn Hoosier would also finish in double digit scoring with 10 points.
Eureka (8-2) advances to Monday’s Game 14 at 5:30pm where they will meet the Canton Little Giants. Camp Point Central (2-10) will instead play Rockridge in the consolation bracket’s Game 10, Monday at 10:30am.
Box Score
Eureka Info
Camp Point Central Info
Chris Derry
December 27, 2025