Carterville senior Jeniah Thompson needed only five points to pass Avery English to become the school’s all-time leading scorer. Thompson tallied those five early and added 17 more to finish with a game high 22, helping lead the Lions to the sectional championship game. With the win, Carterville improves to 29-2. The 29 wins is a new school record for a season, breaking the record of 28 set last year.

Abbey Crain added 20 for Carterville who led 20-9 after one quarter and extended that lead to 35-17 at the half. The Lions led by 17 after three, but Freeburg scored the first eight points of the fourth to close within nine.

The Lions took care of business from the free throw line, making 12 of 18 in the fourth quarter to extend to the margin of victory.

Carterville will face River to River-Mississippi rival Nashville in the championship game Thursday night, with the winner heading to next week’s Hamilton County Supersectional. The Hornettes held off Harrisburg 44-36.