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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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Photo of the Day | Taking her shot

Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

NORMAL - St. Viator's Kalin McCrea cuts into the lane for a shot between Washington's Kate McDougall and Danielle Guedet. McCrea, a starting guard who led the team with assists heading into the program's first state final appearance, finished the game with two points, 2 assists and solo rebound against the eventual state champions. The Lions lost the state final opener 55-34 on Friday at ISU's CEFCU Arena at the IHSA Girls Basketball State Finals.

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Past Photos of the Day

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TAGS: Sentinel Photo of the Day, IHSA wrestling, POTD, Sports, Girls state basketball finals, St. Viator Lions, Washington Panthers

Offensive firepower stalled, St. Viators advances to third-place game after loss

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

NORMAL - St. Viator's Ava Garcia drive to the basket between two Washington players in their Class 3A semifinal game on Friday at the IHSA Girls Basketball State Finals. The Lions dropped their tournament opener 55-34 to the Panthers in the program's first appearance at state. Garcia led her team, scoring 14 points and snagging nine rebounds in the loss. BELOW: Washington's Mazzy O'Brien attacks the paint. The senior finished with nine rebounds and two steals with her seven-point contribution in the semifinal win.

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Titans defeat Trinity, set up state finals matchup with Washington

Glenwood defeated Trinity 46-35 Friday in the IHSA Class 3A girls basketball semifinal at CEFCU Arena. Alexis Neumann led the Titans with 20 points and 11 rebounds.

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Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Ava Bobb makes a pass after diving for a loose ball in Glenwood's semifinal game against Trinity. Bobb, who finished the game with two points, a rebound, and three assists, contributed to the Titans' defensive pressure that held the Blazers to just 11 points in the first half.

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NORMAL - A fast start and steady interior play carried the Glenwood Titans into the IHSA Class 3A state championship game Friday afternoon.

Glenwood built a commanding early lead and never looked back, defeating the Trinity Blazers 46-35 in the Class 3A semifinal at CEFCU Arena on the campus of Illinois State University. The Titans will face the Washington Panthers in Saturday’s championship game.

The Titans seized control early, outscoring Trinity 28-11 in the first half and setting the tone for the remainder of the contest. Junior Alexis Neumann led all scorers with 20 points and added 11 rebounds in a dominant performance. Neumann was flawless in the opening half, hitting all seven of her field-goal attempts, and finished the afternoon 10-for-13 from the floor. She also contributed five steals to help fuel Glenwood’s defensive effort.

Jemma Lamb added 16 points for the Titans, knocking down the team’s lone 3-pointer and converting 7 of 9 attempts from the free-throw line. Five additional Glenwood players chipped in points, while Stella Lopp provided work on the glass with six rebounds.

Glenwood led from the start after Neumann scored the game’s first basket just 25 seconds into the contest. The Titans’ advantage continued to grow throughout the game, reaching its peak at 23 points in the fourth quarter following a Neumann layup midway through the period.

Trinity struggled to find its offensive rhythm early, shooting just 22% from the field in the first half. Keyera Gamble paced the Blazers with 10 points and nine rebounds while also recording three blocks. Zaria Goins added eight points and two steals, and Destiny Sacluti finished with six points.

The Blazers, now 25-10, move into the third-place game where they will face St. Viator Lions, which fell to Washington 55-34 in the other semifinal.

Two years ago, Glenwood finished second after falling 60-44 to the Lincoln Railsplitters. With Friday's victory, Glenwood advances to Saturday’s Class 3A championship game today with a chance to complete its state tournament run with the program's first state title.

Photo Gallery

FINAL: Glenwood 46 - Trinity 35

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TAG: Glenwood Trinity Class 3A semifinal recap, IHSA Class 3A girls basketball state tournament Glenwood win, Alexis Neumann Glenwood state semifinal performance, Glenwood Titans girls basketball state finals matchup Washington, CEFCU Arena Class 3A state semifinal game recap