Metamora did it again to the Washington boys basketball team.

The Redbirds stunned the Mid-Illini Conference-leading Panthers, 59-56, in overtime Friday.

The road loss dropped Washington to back into a first-place league tie with Morton at 7-1.

Metamora has been the toughest road venue for the Panthers under sixth-year head coach Kevin Brown.

The Redbirds are 3-3 at home in that span against Washington, which has just three other conference defeats in five-and-a-half seasons.

J.D. Kamp of Metamora hit a three-pointer in the final seconds to send the game into OT.

The Redbirds converted regularly on drives down the lane.

“We tried about every defense you could think of and we didn’t keep them out of the paint on the dribble in the rest of the game,” Brown said. 

Robert Izaguirre was dynamite for Washington with a game-high 25 points. He hit five three-pointers.

“That’s what we’ve been waiting for Robert for; we know he can do that,” said Brown.

Despite being a focal point of the Redbird defense, Mark Roth made three treys and provided 15 points for the Panthers.

Kyle Heck sizzled from the field for 17 points for Metamora, which broke a four-game conference losing skid.

“We’ve got to bounce back and find out where we are,” said Brown. “We’ve got our heads up and we’re ready to get better.”

Washington entered the game ranked ninth in the Associated Press Class 3A state poll.

— Steve Daggs contributed to this story

Washington 52, Woodruff 44
The Panthers picked up their 13th win in the last 15 games Saturday in likely the last meeting with the Warriors.

Izaguirre led Washington (15-4) again with 15 points.

The offense was balanced for the home team, which received 11 points from Isaac Fisher and a combined 24 from the quartet of Roth, Colton Underwood, Ben Ryan and Connor Underwood.

Davante Rogers led slumping Woodruff with 13 points.

The Panthers nine-point lead after one quarter was reduced to 30-27 by halftime.

Postseason: Team seed “meetings” are next week for Class 3A.

Washington is part of the Ottawa Sectional complex.

The Panthers join East Peoria, Morton and Metamora in a five-team Limestone Regional field that also includes the host Rockets.

Washington currently is 4-1 against teams in the regional.

Pairings should be determined by Feb. 12.

The Ottawa and Hampshire sectionals feed into the DeKalb Super-sectional.