CRAB ORCHARD — When the seeding is released later this week, Crab Orchard, Goreville, and Meridian figure to be the top three seeds in sub-sectional B of the Gallatin County 1A Sectional. The order, though, is up in the air.

Monday night, two of the three squared off as the Trojans welcomed the Bobcats. Cameron Clark and Brinnen Norris combined for 47 points as Crab Orchard overcame 44 points from Roderic Gatewood, Junior to hand Meridian its first loss to an Illinois 1A team, 90-86.

The Trojans led by as many as 10 in the fourth quarter only to watch the Bobcats rally to tie the game at 78-78 with 2:45 to play. Robby Rooker then put Crab Orchard back in front to stay with a short jumper. The Trojans then sealed the game at the free throw line.

Free throws turned to be the difference as Crab Orchard hit 22-27 from the line on the night, while Meridian finished just 10-26.

Clark led five in double figures with 26 points for Crab Orchard. Norris added 21, with Colton Throgmorton and Rooker adding 11 to go with 10 from Conner Richardson.

In addition to Gatewood Junior’s 44, the Bobcats had Josh Everage reach double figures with 14.

The Trojans improve to 22-3, while the Bobcats fall to 15-11.