After leading the Putnam County girls basketball program for 10 years, Jared Sale is taking over the PC boys program.

Cole Mulnix, 6-8 junior center, came off the bench and scored 10 points, all in the second half, with several blocked shots, to give the Rock Falls the spark it needed to lift it to a 49-43 win over Princeton in the Class 2A Marengo Sectional championship.

No. 1 Seneca and No. 6 Marquette will meet for the TCC champion at Putnam County High School at 8 p.m. tonight

Illinois Valley Central defeated Putnam County 62-36 during the 50th annual Colmone Classic on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024 at Hall High School.

Rock Falls beat Putnam County 76-43 during the 50th annual Colmone Classic on Monday, Dec. 9, 2024 at Hall High School.

Dave Shepard was all set to make his debut officiating the IHSA state boys basketball tournament in March of 2020. Then COVID hit, sending him and the teams home the night before the games were to begin.

The win sends the Tigers (17-15) back to the sectional championship, awaiting the winner of Wednesday’s Byron (27-2) vs. Riverdale (22-8) semifinal in Friday’s championship game at 7 p.m.

Serena survived two potential game-tying Putnam County 3s in the final seconds to secure the Dwight Regional title 49-46 and move on to next Tuesday’s 7 p.m. Putnam County Sectional semifinals.

Putnam County defeated Fieldcrest 53-46 on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023 at Putnam County High School.