NORMAL — Joel Learnard didn’t wear a saddle on Tuesday night but the Salt Fork junior definitely carried the Storm into the IHSA Class 1A State Tournament.

The 6-foot-5 forward scored a season-high 29 points and ripped down a game-high 12 rebounds in Salt Fork’s 59-38 win over Peoria Heights in the IHSA Class 1A Illinois State University Super-Sectional at Redbird Arena.

“No. 3 (Learnard) was a beast,’’ said Peoria Heights coach Mike Persich.

He wasn’t the only one on the Doug Collins Court that felt that way about Learnard.

“Look at him. What is he 6-5, 210 or 220 pounds? He is a beast, what can you say?’’ said Salt Fork senior guard Joe Pratt, who had a game-high five assists, many of them coming on feeds to Learnard. “He knows what to do when he gets the ball.

“Joel is right up there with any player in the state. That’s why we try to get him the ball down there all of the time.’’

Before the game, Learnard was named a second team all-stater by the Associated Press.

The junior looked every bit like a first-team selection against the Patriots as he had 20 points and 10 rebounds in the first three quarters as the Storm built a 44-27 lead.

“I didn’t anticipate him being able to turn, square up, look at the basket and hit like he did,’’ Persich said.

Tuesday was Learnard’s 29th game with double-digit scoring and his performance in the Super-Sectional didn’t surprise his coach or his teammates.

That’s because most of them remember seeing him lead Catlin to the IESA Class 8A title four years ago.

“He brings a lot of tenacity. He has the will and he makes it happen,’’ Salt Fork junior David Keenan said. “Four years ago, when things got rough, he just took over. Sometimes, it was hard, but he made it look easy.

“This is a lot bigger state, but it’s a similar feeling.’’

Hird, who coached Learnard in seventh and eight grades, instructed his big man to take over in the postseason last year.

They haven’t had that talk this season.

“This year, it’s more of an unspoken thing between the two of us,’’ Hird said. “He knows what I expect of him and he knows what he is capable of doing. We are going to hop on his back and see how far he can take us.’’

According to junior Ryan Anderson, Learnard’s presence is felt on both ends of the court.

“On offense, you feed it to him on the post, and you know he will either put it in the hole or get to the free-throw line,’’ Anderson said. “Than on defense, he guards the other team’s best post player and he just shuts them down.

“He is phenomenal.’’

Learnard admits that his tenacious attitude is something that he saves for the field of competition.

“I like the big stage,’’ he said. “I like taking control of games. I want the ball in these types of situations.

“When it’s a big game, I change. I have a competitive spirit. I like to win.’’

And that goes along with his coach’s philosophy.

“Late in the season, we talk about the fact that if we are going to get beat, we want to get beat by a team’s third, fourth and fifth-best players,’’ Hird said. “Offensively, Joel is our best player. We are going to feed that horse. And we are going to make sure he is going to get his touches. Not because he wants them for selfish reasons, but because our kids know what he is capable of doing.’’

And for Learnard, a trip to the IHSA Class 1A State Tournament in Peoria is a reward for a lot hard work over the years.

He has gone through one heart surgery when he was eight to fix a hole his heart, and knee surgeries on both legs.

“It’s a good feeling to get paid back for all the therapy it took for me to be able to play sports,’’ Learnard said.

Next up for Learnard and the Salt Fork Storm is Class 1A semifinal contest against the Lanark Eastland Cougars.