MOUNT CARMEL, Ill. (Interstat) — The Shawnee Saints and Wabash Valley Warriors will meet for the third time this season with their campaigns on the line in the Region XXIV Tournament on Monday, March 9, 2026.

The winner-take-all junior college men’s basketball matchup at the tournament site features two teams familiar with tight finishes. The Warriors (13-12) swept the regular-season series, edging the Saints (9-12) 61-59 on Jan. 14 and 72-68 on Feb. 18.

Interstat’s ELO system projects Wabash Valley as a significant favorite with a 72.60 percent probability to win. The Warriors enter with momentum from a 69-61 road win at Lake Land on March 3. Shawnee looks to rebound from an 81-58 loss at John A. Logan on March 4.

Shawnee will lean on forward James Deloach, who has been a dominant force. In the five games since Feb. 14, Deloach averaged 19.4 points and 8.6 rebounds per contest, including a 23-point effort in the most recent loss to Wabash Valley. He posted a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds in the Saints’ last outing.

Wabash Valley’s key performer is guard Rafe Merriweather. While his recent box scores show limited scoring, he has been a consistent starter for a Warriors team that has won three of its last four games. In their Feb. 21 win over Olney Central, Merriweather contributed 4 points, 2 rebounds and a block.

The Saints’ recent form has been uneven, with a 3-3 record over their last six games. Beyond Deloach, Jacques Calhoun (14 points) and Tyree Jackson (9 points, 8 rebounds) provided support in the loss to John A. Logan. The Warriors have found success with balanced contributions, as seen in their latest win where Khore Furlow and Byron McNeill joined Merriweather as leading performers.

The tournament setting raises the stakes for both programs. Shawnee seeks to overcome the psychological hurdle of two close losses to Wabash Valley and extend its season. The Warriors aim to leverage their slight edge in record and recent head-to-head success to advance. Tipoff is scheduled for Monday evening.