NORMAL - Last March, in a heartbreaking buzzer-beater, Emy Wardle of Peoria Notre Dame scored a layup with one second left to clinch the Class 2A title, 48-46.
The sting of defeat lingered throughout the season until Saturday night at CEFCU Arena, where The Hornettes exacted revenge in a state title rematch against Peoria Notre Dame. This time, Nashville left no doubt about the superior team, handing the Irish a decisive 55-29 loss.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Nashville's Avery Reeder, is all smiles while carrying the team's newest piece of state hardware. Saturday's trophy is the second one for Hornette program, who won their first state title in 2013.
Only two other teams held PND to fewer than 30 points all season: Alton, who secured a 41-27 victory in the state Class 4A third-place game on Friday, and Missouri's Incarnate Word Academy, who limited the Irish to their lowest output of the season at 26 points, scoring 69 themselves.
After a competitive first quarter, PND struggled over the next three, managing just 18 points total. Nashville surged with an impressive 18-point fourth quarter, sealing the championship and heading home with the hardware south of Interstate 70.
The victory was especially poignant for Nashville's lone senior, Avery Reeder.
"It means so much to me. It's everything I've ever wanted," Reeder said. "Honestly, I always wanted to end my last game with a win. On Thursday, I said I wanted to dominate them, and that's exactly what we did."
Emma Behrmann led Nashville's offense with 14 points, supported by the Brinkman twins, Summer and Samantha, who contributed 13 and 12 points, respectively. Summer also shone defensively with seven rebounds and five steals, while Samantha grabbed six boards and three steals.
Julia Mingus led Notre Dame with 11 points, while Lexi Baer and Cora Heinz added six points each.
Antwan Baskin Jr. (right) and Colleen Robinson (left) cheer for the high school basketball team during the IHSA Class 4A semifinal at CEFCU Arena on Friday. The two Redbirds fans, along with hundreds of fellow Alton High School students, showed their support, hoping their team would advance to Saturday's championship game after a showdown with Kenwood (33-3). Alton, which came up short in its first state final four appearance after a 61-55 loss, will face Loyola Academy in the third-place game Saturday morning.
Montini's Nikki Kerstein keeps the ball away from Notre Dame's Sierra Thomas. Kerstein was the leading scorer in the contest and collected eight boards in the state semifinal Thurday.
BLOOMINGTON - Montini's pursuit of a fifth IHSA state championship remains alive after a hard-fought 50-41 victory over Quincy Notre Dame in a Class 3A state semifinal Thursday night at CEFCU Arena.
In a matchup featuring seven lead changes, the Lady Broncos found their rhythm late, outlasting a Quincy Notre Dame program that has captured six state titles since 1981. Despite holding the lead for nearly three minutes less than their opponent, Montini delivered in key moments to secure a spot in Saturday's Class 3A title game against St. Ignatius at 6 p.m.
Nikki Kerstein powered Montini's offense with a game-high 27 points, shooting 9-for-16 from the field. The 5-foot-8 senior took over in the second half, scoring 16 of her points after the break while also grabbing eight rebounds. Peyton Farrell added a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds, providing a crucial inside presence for the Lady Broncos.
Quincy Notre Dame kept pace for much of the game behind Tristan Pieper's 14 points and nine rebounds. Jenna Durst chipped in 13 points, while Sage Stratton and Ari Buehler each scored seven to round out the Lady Raiders' offensive effort.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Members of the Montini girls basketball team celebrate after punching their ticket to the Class 3A title game on Saturday at the IHSA Girls Basketball State Finals.
The loss ends Quincy Notre Dame's bid for a seventh state title, forcing the program to wait another year for a chance to add to its championship legacy. Meanwhile, Montini moves one step closer to its first state crown since 2014.
Trailing for extended stretches and utilizing the talents of only five players, Montini found ways to deliver in decisive moments. Kerstein's second-half surge and Farrell's work on the glass proved pivotal as the Lady Broncos maintained composure and capitalized on scoring opportunities when it mattered most despite the starting five playing the full 32-minute game.
With the win, Montini can focus on surpassing another Catholic school powerhouse, St. Ignatius, for the Class 3A championship title and bragging rights for the next year. Quincy Notre Dame will close its season in the third-place game Friday evening at 7:45 p.m. against the Washington's Lady Panthers.
Carrollton basketball players on the bench errupt with fans at the sound of the final buzzer in their state semifinal game against Cissna Park at CEFCU Arena in Normal. The Lady Hawks advanced to the Class 1A title game after a resounding victory Thursday morning.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Lauren Flowers goes up for shot over Cissna Park's Mady Marcott. Flowers led all scorers with 28 points and eight rebounds. NORMAL, IL - In a display of dominance at the CEFCU Arena on the Illinois State University campus, the Carrollton Lady Hawks soared to a commanding 55-39 victory over the Cissna Park Lady Timberwolves in their Class 1A state semifinals at the IHSA Girls Basketball State Finals on Thursday morning.
Led by a scorching performance from Lauren Flowers, who tallied 28 points and showcased her shooting accuracy with 10-of-12 from the free-throw line, Carrollton wasted no time asserting their authority. Flowers ignited the offense with a pivotal three-pointer following two early free throws, setting the tone for the Lady Hawks' victory.
By halftime, Carrollton had firmly established their lead, thanks to strategic play under the guidance of head coach Brian Madson. "I told them in the locker room at halftime to keep their composure and move the ball around," Madson emphasized. He was proud of the way the team played in the first half saying, "Confidence is contagious, and so is the lack of it."
The Lady Hawks' confidence continued to soar after the game mid-game break.
The second half saw Carrollton extend their lead to 23 points by the third quarter, effectively securing their fifth appearance in the state title game in school history. Blake Driskill contributed 11 points, while Harper Darr added 10 and Abby Flowers chipped in with six points, underscoring a cohesive team effort that highlighted their depth and resilience.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Carrollton's Harper Darr battles for a loose ball with Cissna Park's Lauryn Hamrick.
Defensively, Lauren Flowers asserted her presence in the paint with eight rebounds, complemented by Chloe McAdams' six rebounds, stifling Cissna Park's scoring opportunities throughout the game.
Despite a valiant effort from Cissna Park, led by Addison Lucht and Lauryn Hamrick with 12 points each, and Josie Neukomm contributing nine points, the Lady Timberwolves fell short of advancing to the title game in their first state appearance in 25 years. Hamrick and Neukomm both secured eight rebounds apiece.
Looking ahead, Carrollton will face the winner of St. Edward High School and Pecatonica in the Class 1A title game on Saturday at 1pm. Meanwhile, Cissna Park will compete for third place against the loser of the upcoming matchup.
"I'm super excited to be playing on Saturday," said Madson during the postgame press conference."This team just sticks together, fights for each other. It is going to fun this coming Saturday."
CHAMPAIGN - With Homewood-Flossmoor's Donald Hagemaster, Caleb Chavers, Gakobie Mcneal and Bryce Heard looking on, Normal Community's Nico Newsome dives after a loose ball during their Class 4A championship game at the IHSA Boys' Basketball State Finals on March 9. The Ironmen finished runner-ups after losing to the Vikings, 60-48. Newsome finished the title game with five points in his 11 minutes on the floor at the State Farm Arena on Saturday.
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