It’s always hard to take down a champ.

The defending Class 1A state champion Gibault Catholic High School boys basketball team is proving just that in the 2024 postseason.

The Hawks (21-14) put the clamps down on a 31-win Goreville squad Wednesday night at the Class 1A Norris City Sectional, posting a 51-44 victory.

Gibault led 16-13 at halftime, with senior Gavin Kesler scoring 10 of his team’s points. The Hawks built up a 29-19 lead late in the third quarter, but Goreville rallied to cut Gibault’s lead to just four entering the final frame. The Hawks’ lead was whittled down to just one at 32-31 in the fourth quarter before a couple of big baskets gave them some breathing room.

Free throws converted by the Hawks sealed the win.

Kesler finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds on the night. Kanen Augustine and Ryan Biffar each added 11 points for Gibault, which faces Mounds Meridian in the sectional final at 7 p.m. Friday. The winner of the sectional advances to the supersectional to be played Monday night at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston.

Gibault captured its third straight regional title Friday night, downing an upset-minded New Athens squad, 53-45, at Trico High School. Augustine scored 25 points to lead the Hawks, who have now gone 16-4 in their past 20 games.

“We were 5-10 at one time this year. Obviously we have made great strides,” Gibault head coach Dennis Rueter said.

Friday’s contest against New Athens was a little too close for comfort for the Hawks, who defeated the Yellow Jackets by 27 points in December.

In fact, New Athens led 19-11 late in the first half, using solid defense to frustrate Gibault seniors Augustine and Gavin Kesler.

Gibault battled back via a 14-2 run that put the Hawks up 25-21 early in the third quarter.

New Athens still wouldn’t fold, rallying to take a two-point lead late as the teams battled back and forth.

The Yellow Jackets seemed to lose their sting in the waning minutes, however, and Gibault emerged victorious.

The Hawks advanced to the regional final by virtue of a 40-23 victory last Wednesday at Trico. Kesler scored 17 points and Augustine added 15 points for Gibault, which excelled on defense. 

Kesler leads Gibault this season in scoring and rebounding, averaging 15.5 points and nearly seven rebounds per contest.

Augustine averages 14 points and 2.12 steals per game on the season. 

Both seniors – who were key components of last year’s state championship squad – are shooting above 70 percent from the free throw line. 

Another player for the Hawks who can become a factor on the score sheet is junior guard Biffar. He’s shooting 45 percent from three-point range and 83 percent from the charity stripe for the season.