EAST PEORIA – East Peoria and Washington always bring intensity and energy to matchups in any sport. Distanced by just eight miles down Illinois Route 8, the schools don't have much separating them.
Nothing changed in the rivalry on a chilly December night in East Peoria as both teams tried to pick up their third Mid-Illini Conference win and it was the host Raiders who did so in a 54-46 victory.
The game looked to be a coin toss at the halfway point with neither side fully pulling away and two veteran coaches in Eric Schermerhorn and Jarett Brown both had adjustments at the break. For East Peoria, some of the changes started on defense which was echoed postgame by assistant coach Ryan Thornton.