While all the Tri-Cities basketball teams have been knocked out of the postseason, one Batavia resident can call himself a state champion.
Former Batavia player Michael Jorgensen, who transferred to Cornerstone Christian Academy in Sycamore for his final two years of high school, won the Association of Christian Schools International state tournament the week of Feb. 18.
Cornerstone stormed back from a 20-3, early deficit against a team from Collinsville in the championship game, played in Kankakee.
"It was probably the biggest deficit we faced all season, only losing four games before that, so we were definitely in the hole," Jorgensen said. "I thought to myself I couldn't ever lose focus or give up. … Luckily we got hot in the second quarter, and the game just worked from there. It was an incredible comeback."
Jorgensen, who has committed to play college ball at Judson University, averaged about 21 points a game as a senior and was the team's captain.
Jorgensen acknowledged a huge cultural shift transferring from a school of almost 2,000 students to one with about 50 students in the high school grades, but said he has appreciated the family atmosphere at Cornerstone.
"It definitely works with me," Jorgensen said. "It's something I've really loved over these last couple years."
