Sweet success! Washington secure historic 3A state title over Glenwood

Avery Tibbs
Photo: Alan Look Photography

Washington senior Avery Tibbs starts an attack at the basket. Tibbs finished her final high school contest with a game-high 24 points.
by Alan Look
Best Look Magazine


NORMAL - The journey to the top of Illinois high school basketball reached its pinnacle Saturday at CEFCU Arena as the Washington girls basketball team captured the program’s first state championship.

Facing a resilient Glenwood squad in the IHSA Class 3A final, Washington used a balanced offensive attack and a disciplined defensive performance to secure a 60-45 victory. The win marks a historic milestone for the Panthers, who improved on last season’s third-place finish to claim the title in Normal.

Washington established control early, finishing the first quarter with a 14-10 lead and extending the margin to 34-22 by halftime. The Panthers’ shooting was particularly sharp in the second quarter, when they hit 75% of their field-goal attempts.

Avery Tibbs anchored the Washington offense, delivering a game-high 24 points. Her performance was bolstered by double-digit contributions from Rebecca McDougall, who added 10 points, and a nine-point effort from Danielle Guedet. Washington’s efficiency from the floor — finishing at 56.4% for the game — proved too much for the Titans to overcome.

Rebecca McDougall
Photo: Alan Look Photography

Lady Panther Rebecca McDougall attempts a shot between Glenwood's Layne Matthew and Stella Lopp. McDougall led her team with five assists and four rebounds in addition to her ten-point finish.
Glenwood refused to go quietly, mounting a challenge in the third quarter. Led by Alexis Neumann, who finished with 16 points and six rebounds, and Ava Bobb, who added 13 points, the Titans cut the deficit to six points late in the period. Washington responded in the fourth quarter. Timely 3-pointers and a disciplined transition game allowed the Panthers to pull away, outscoring Glenwood 18-9 in the final eight minutes.

The statistics underscored Washington’s championship performance. The Panthers dominated the paint, outscoring Glenwood 30-24, and capitalized on turnovers for 16 points.

While the Titans controlled the boards with 28 rebounds to Washington’s 18, the Panthers’ ability to protect the ball and find open shooters in transition proved decisive. As the final buzzer sounded, the celebration began for a Washington team that has now cemented its place in Central Illinois high school basketball history.

Danielle Guedet
Photo: Alan Look Photography

Danielle Guedet takes a shot in front of Glenwood's leading scorer Alexis Neumann. Nuemann, who had 16 points, also pulled down a team-high six boards.


Alan Look is a Central Illinois photographer with more than two and a half decades of experience documenting sports, agriculture, automotive subjects, editorial assignments, and commercial projects across the Midwest. His work blends high‑impact action photography with long‑form documentary coverage, creating a visual record of regional sports history, rural life, and the people and industries that define Central Illinois.

To view the complete visual story from the DeeMak-Rockford Christian game, visit the game gallery from Alan Look Photography.


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