Jacksonville Crimsons Advance to Regional Final with 68-39 Rout of Jersey

Latrell Hemphill and Masen Johnson lead Jacksonville to victory, setting up championship matchup with Civic Memorial

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

The Jacksonville Crimsons boys' basketball team cruised to a 68-39 victory over the Jersey Panthers in the semifinals of the Class 3A Jerseyville Regional on Wednesday night. Latrell Hemphill scored 18 points and Masen Johnson added 16 to power the Crimsons, who led by 16 points after the first quarter and never looked back. Jacksonville will now face Bethalto Civic Memorial in the regional final on Friday, seeking their first regional championship since the 1999-2000 season.

Why it matters

This win marks a significant step forward for the Jacksonville program, which has struggled in recent years to find postseason success. Reaching the regional final represents a chance for the Crimsons to capture their first regional title in over two decades and build momentum heading into the state tournament.

The details

Jacksonville dominated from the opening tip, outscoring Jersey 23-9 in the first quarter. Johnson scored 8 points in the opening frame, while Greyson Prevett added 6. The Crimsons led 35-17 at halftime, and Hemphill's 8 points in the third quarter helped extend the advantage to 53-29 going into the fourth. Wyatt Moore (9 points), Prevett (8 points), Chris Mulamba (7 points), and Troy DeFrates (6 points) also contributed to the lopsided victory.

  • The game was played on Wednesday, February 26, 2026.
  • The regional final against Civic Memorial is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday, February 28, 2026.

The players

Latrell Hemphill

A key player for the Jacksonville Crimsons, scoring 18 points in the regional semifinal victory.

Masen Johnson

Scored 16 points to help lead the Crimsons to the regional final.

Bethalto Civic Memorial

The opponent for Jacksonville in the upcoming regional championship game.

Jersey Panthers

The team that Jacksonville defeated 68-39 in the regional semifinal.

Jacksonville Crimsons

The high school basketball team that advanced to the regional final with their dominant victory.

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What’s next

The winner of the regional final between Jacksonville and Civic Memorial will advance to the sectional tournament.

The takeaway

This victory represents a significant milestone for the Jacksonville Crimsons, who have an opportunity to capture their first regional championship in over 20 years. The team's dominant performance sets them up for a highly anticipated matchup against Civic Memorial, as they look to continue their postseason run and potentially make a deep state tournament push.