PIASA - It’s always special to play on Senior Night, and for Southwestern High School boys basketball guard Carson Cooley, he had been dreaming of it for a long time. He mentioned that he was nervous to start the game and called it a little scary.

Carson CooleyCarson did seem a little tense in the early going but he transformed in the second half in the recent Piasa Birds boys basketball game against Litchfield. He put up an astonishing 25-point performance to make sure he will never forget the night. His side was trailing the Litchfield Purple Panthers 30-24 at halftime but with his help, the Piasa Birds came storming back to tie it up at 42 after three quarters.

Get The Latest News!

Don't miss our top stories and need-to-know news everyday in your inbox.

Athlete of the Month is sponsored by

“I was thinking we’re right back in this, like let’s go, let’s win this game. I really wanted that win tonight,” Cooley said after the game.

In the end, his excellent performance wasn’t enough as Southwestern lost the game 68-61.

The Piasa Birds lost a close one to East Alton-Wood River 44-31 on Saturday in the Greenville Regional, so Cooley's Senior Night will remain one of the highlights of his senior season.

Prefer RiverBender on Google
Copyright 2026 Riverbender.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

 

More like this:

Altonized Community Federal Credit Union Female Athlete Of The Month: Vivian Zurheide Leaves Lasting Mark At Southwestern High
Jul 1, 2026
Altonized Community Federal Credit Union Male Athlete Of The Month: Southwestern’s Zack Bean Builds Wrestling Momentum After Strong Regional
6 days ago
Altonized Community Federal Credit Union Male Athlete Of The Month: Makler Joins Greenville University Soccer Program
Apr 1, 2026
Eli Ramey Will Be Key Component For Collinsville Boys Basketball Team This Coming Season
Jul 1, 2026
Stillwater Senior Living Male Athlete Of Month For Warriors: Wilson Made History With First Run Scored At New Babe Champion Field
Jun 18, 2026