QUINCY, Ill. - Parkland men's basketball (22-7) defeated Danville Area CC (13-12) by a final score of 82-67 in the rivals' third and most significant meeting of the year. DACC won the previous two games, first on February 5th in Champaign, by the score of 90-77, and most recently on February 26th in Danville, by the score of 65-61. With the all-important postseason win, the Cobras advance to Sunday's Central District Championship Game where they will face #1 seed John Wood.
 
Parkland left no doubt in the outcome of this meeting, taking an early lead and never looking back. The Cobras were up 44-26 at the half and conceded very little in the second period, ultimately winning by fifteen. Parkland shot 50% in the first half and 45% for the game. At the same time, the Cobras held DACC to 39% overall shooting. In the two previous games, the Jaguars had shot 51% and 47% from the floor.
 
Carter Jeffries (19 points) led the offensive charge for the Cobras, scoring 15 points from beyond the arc. Leading rebounders were Joey Saracco (10 points, 17 rebounds, 4 assists) and Bruno Williams Jr. (12 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists).
 
Parkland's bench outscored its counterpart, 31-15, with Tommy Makabu (15 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists) and Kelvin Swims (11 points, 3 rebounds) each scoring in double-digits.
 
With the win, Parkland moves on to the Central District Championship Game and will remain in Quincy, Ill., to face #1 seed John Wood on Sunday, March 8th, at 3:00 pm.