The Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic School eighth grade boys basketball team has made the most of its first state tournament run.

The Falcons of Waterloo opened Southern Illinois Junior High School Athletic Association Class S state tourney play at Rend Lake College on Saturday with a 54-44 victory over Cairo Junior High School. 

On Monday, SPPCS survived with a late free throw to win 52-51 over Bluford-Farrington and advance to the Final Four. 

Up next for the Falcons is a showdown with Our Lady of Mt. Carmel at 7:15 p.m. Thursday. 

A win puts SPPCS in the championship game set for 4 p.m. Saturday. With a loss, the Falcons would play at 2:30 p.m.  Saturday for third place. 

The other two teams in the Final Four are Central City School (Centralia) and St. Mary’s Catholic School (Alton).

Team members for SPPCS this season are Henry Knoll, Bennett Hanvey, Kody Huffman, Kaden Huels, Patrick Murphy, Hayden Calvert, Even Niebruegge, Colby Kincheloe, Xandric Phillips and Cole Frierdich.