State Basketball |Montini hangs on to beat QND in 3A semifinal at girls' state basketball tournament

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Roxana gave it their best shot at state cheer, Shells finish in the sport's Top 25

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Morgan Hudson and Macy Hart prepare to lift teammate Morgan Bauer for a stunt during the performance at this year's state cheer championships in Bloomington. It was the ninth trip to state in program history for the Shells Cheerleading program.

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BLOOMINGTON - They may not have finished where they wanted in their sport, but one thing is for sure: members of the Roxana cheerleading team can be proud knowing they finished the season as the 24th-best team in Illinois.

The Shells' performance suffered a setback when a stunt collapsed during their preliminary round performance during Friday's IHSA Competitive Cheerleading State Final prelims. Coupled with a few other minor deficiencies, the team earned an 81.14, finishing behind Timothy Christian (83.32) in 21st, Pontiac (82.8), and St. Edward (81.39).

"These athletes have faced every challenge with determination and a positive spirit, proving that success is about more than just trophies — it’s about heart, teamwork, and perseverance," Roxana head coach Stephanie Palen told RiverBender.com last week after locking in their spot to Bloomington at sectionals. "They continue to make Roxana proud."

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Members of the Roxana cheerleading team pose for judges while doing a stunt during their routine in the state cheer prelims.

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Advancing out of the Mascoutah Sectional in fifth place behind Greenville, Roxana traveled to Grossinger Motors Arena for the ninth time in program history. The Shells, who won three sectional titles, have one top-10 finish out of nine state appearances under Palen.

Competitive cheer is a lot harder than it looks. Athletes need solid core strength, the cardio endurance of an 800-meter or mile specialist in track, a sense of timing/rhythm, and basic gymnastic skills. It is a high-intensity sport that requires strength, flexibility, and explosive movement. It can take years to develop tumbling skills like back handsprings or a Barani and make them look easy.

How Competitive Cheerleading scoring works

Competitive cheerleading is a high-energy sport that combines powerful athleticism, complex group choreography, and synchronized teamwork. Teams are scored on a 100-point scale, with judges evaluating teams across three major categories.

In Building Skills, stunts are assessed for difficulty, execution, and creativity, while pyramids are judged on stability, visual appeal, and synchronization. Tosses are evaluated based on height, technique, and timing, making precision and teamwork critical in this category.

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Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Roxana's Keersten Murphy shows her spirit during her team's moment in the spotlight at state.

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The Tumbling & Jumps category focuses on athleticism and technical skill. Standing tumbling, such as back handsprings and layouts, is scored for difficulty and execution, as are running tumbling passes like fulls and whips. Jumps are judged on height, technique, and synchronization, requiring both power and precision from performers.

The last category is Choreography & Overall Effect which emphasizes the artistry and presentation of a team's routine. Smooth transitions and creative formations are essential, while crowd-leading ability measures how well teams engage and energize the audience. Overall performance, including energy, showmanship, and the routine’s overall impression, should tie everything together to create a memorable and high-scoring performance.

This season's Shells cheerleading team

The Shells are coached by Palen, the only head coach for the program since it was added in 2012. Her assistant is Sam Sies. This year's team members include Keersten Murphy, Lexi Chamberlain, Macy Hart, Vada Arview, Morgan Bauer, Kaegen Carriker, Grace Huch, Alyssa Vetter, Sophie Copple, M'Lynn Skaggs, Raegan Martin and Morgan Hutson.

Friday's Preliminary Results

  1 - Columbia 93.82;
  2 - Mater Dei 90.84;
  3 - St. Francis 90.6;
  4 - Richmond-Burton 90.3;
  5 - Oakwood 89.44;
  6 - Breese Central 88.92;
  7 - Lexington 88.7;
  8 - North Boone 88.6;
  9 - Wilmington 88.36;
10 - Carterville 88.06;
11 - Somonauk 87.6;
12 - Rockridge 86.86;
13 - Johnsburg 86.6;
14 - Pinckneyville 86.48;
15 - Marengo 86.32;
16 - Joliet Catholic Academy 86.06;
17 - Greenville 85.98;
18 - Harrisburg 85.5;
19 - DuQuoin 85.44;
20 - Illini Bluffs 83.56;
21 - Timothy Christian 83.32;
22 - Pontiac 82.8;
23 - St. Edward 81.39;
24 - Roxana 81.14;
25 - Farmington 80.8;

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Oakwood cheer team advances at state, Comets to compete for a state title on Saturday

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Oakwood's Rylan Wilson and the Oakwood cheerleading team perform during the preliminary round at the IHSA Competitive Cheerleading State Finals on Friday. The Comets advance to the championship round on Saturday for a shot at the small school state title. Earlier that morning Wilson was honored as an All-Stater in the sport.

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BLOOMINGTON - Oakwood brought their A-game earlier today to qualify for the championship round at the Illinois High School Association's Competitive Cheer State Finals. They were one of two squads from their sectional that advanced to Saturday's title round at Grossinger Motors Arena.

Finishing in fifth place, the Comets earned an 89.44 from judges after their performance. Carterville slipped into the trophy round at #10, collecting an 88.06 to advance.

The Comets punched their ticket to state last week via a third-place finish at the Mascoutah Sectional behind DuQuoin, who finished first, and Harrisburg in second. Neither team advanced out of the preliminary round.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

A member of the Oakwood cheer squad shows her spirit during the squad's routine on Friday.

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"Going into the championship round is an example of just how much hard work we put into this season, the unseen practice by the judges, and the dedication from every single athlete," said Rylan Wilson, the only male athlete on the 12-person squad. In his third year competing in the sport, Wilson was honored as an All-Stater by the Illinois High School Cheerleading Coaches Organization (IHSCCO) before the preliminary round started. "I just hope we give it 100% again. I don't mind what place we finish in. It's just all or nothing."

One of two team captains, Jeslyn Rhodes, is happy to be part of the first team from the program to make it into the trophy round at the state cheer meet.

"Honestly, it just means so much. It shows how much hard work we all put in," Rhodes said. "We proved how well we can work together."

She gave a shout-out to fans and appreciated their support during their preliminary routine. "Our school came out to support us, and I'm just glad it was worth their time."

Joseylinda Nunez, the team's other captain, was proud of her teammates and their work ethic throughout the season.

"They really did work hard," she said, describing the effort the team put into learning two new routines at the beginning of the season. They focused on their 'Three Cs' - Confidence, Consistency & Clean. "I feel like our strength is us coming together and our energy."

This year's team is composed of 12 students, including Jett Pierce, Jeslyn Rhodes, Joseylinda Nunez, Rylan Wilson, Ireland Harrison, Khloe Estock, Chloe Vinson, Harlow Woodard, Karleigh Nelson, Arianna Finley, Brynlie Wait, Leanne Snow, Jaelyn Estock, and Sophia Aquino. The Comets are coached by fourth-year head coach Matteson Lee.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Members of the Oakwood competitive cheer team perform clean moves with confidence. Their attention to detail vaulted the program into its first foray in school history in day two competition at the annual IHSA state cheer competition.

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The Oakwood cheer program has qualified for state seven times in the last decade. The Comets failed to make it out of the Mt. Vernon section last year, finishing behind St. Joseph-Ogden. The top five programs to advance last year were Breese Central and Mater Dei, Paris, New Berlin, and Robinson.

Now one of 10 teams, the Comets take the stage at noon to demonstrate their technical ability and competitive spirit while focused on bringing home the first state cheer trophy in school history.

Tickets for Saturday's finals competition are $12 at the door and can be purchased in advance online via TicketMaster or by phone at the City Box Office at (309) 434-2777.a

Schedule for Saturday

Small & Medium School Competition

10:00 a.m. - Doors of the arena open to public
10:55 a.m. - Welcome & National Anthem
11:00 a.m. - Small and Medium Team Finals
(Small and Medium team performances alternate)
12:45 p.m. - Small Team Awards
1:15 p.m. - Medium Team Awards

State Small School competitive cheer results

1 - Columbia 93.82
2 - Breese (Mater Dei) 90.84
3 - Wheaton (St. Francis) 90.6
4 - Richmond (R.-Burton) 90.3
5 - Fithian (Oakwood) 89.44
6 - Breese (Central) 88.92
7 - Lexington 88.7
8 - Poplar Grove (North Boone) 88.6
9 - Wilmington 88.36
10 - Carterville 88.06
11 - Somonauk 87.6
12 - Taylor Ridge (Rockridge) 86.86
13 - Johnsburg 86.6
14 - Pinckneyville 86.48
15 - Marengo 86.32
16 - Joliet (Catholic Academy) 86.06
17 - Greenville 85.98
18 - Harrisburg 85.5
19 - DuQuoin (H.S.) 85.44
20 - Glasford (Illini Bluffs) 83.56
21 - Elmhurst (Timothy Christian) 83.32
22 - Pontiac 82.8
23 - Elgin (St. Edward) 81.39
24 - Roxana 81.14
25 - Farmington 80.8

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State Basketball |Something to cheer about, Homewood-Flossmoor wins 4A state basketball title

CHAMPAIGN - Homewood-Flossmoor student fans cheer for their basketball team during the awards ceremony for their newly crowned state champion team. The Vikings won this year's Class 4A championship after defeating Normal Community 60-48 at the IHSA Boys' Basketball State Finals on Saturday. The victory is the first state title for the Southwest Suburban Conference school that has made eight previous state tournament appearances.

Sentinel/Clark Brooks

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State Basketball | Taking it home, DePaul wins second-consecutive state basketball title

CHAMPAIGNWith Rob Walls, Jaylan McElroy, and Rashaun Porter around him, DePaul Prep's PJ Chambers' carries the team's newest piece of state hardware to the locker room at State Farm Center on Saturday. The Rams beat Mt. Carmel 49-41 in the Class 3A championship game. Walls (left) finished with 10 points, Chambers and McElroy had eight each, and Porter contributed five points in the title win.

Sentinel/Clark Brooks

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State Basketball |Caravan state title dream stalled, Mt. Carmel falls 49-41

CHAMPAIGN - Mt. Carmel's Noah Mister looks for a shot in the paint after slashing his way past a DePaul College Prep player during fourth quarter action of their Class 3A championship basketball game. The Caravan (34-3) could not erase a first-quarter slump in the remaining three, losing 49-41 to the Rams at the IHSA Boys' Basketball State Finals on Saturday.

Sentinel/Clark Brooks

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State Basketball |Phillips wins 2A state basketball title

CHAMPAIGN - Wendell Phillips Academy's Derrick Brooks is hoisted up with the team's IHSA Class 2A championship trophy on Saturday at the State Farm Center. The Wildcats defeated the Benton Ranger 54-47 to win this year's state title.

Sentinel/Clark Brooks

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State Basketball |West-Central finishes 2nd at State

CHAMPAIGN - Meridian's Antonio Flenoid hides his anguish before the final buzzer in his team's Class 1A championship basketball game at State Farm Center. The Bobcats (26-9) fell 62-43 to the West-Central Cougars to earn the program's third runner-up trophy. Flenoid, a freshman finished the game with 13 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 steals.

Sentinel/Clark Brooks

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State Basketball |Okawville wins semifinal, Lady Rockets head to title game

NORMAL - Alayna Kraus delivered a double-double performance to propel the Lady Rockets into the Class 1A title game at the Illinois High School Association Girls' State Basketball Finals on Thursday. The senior, named to the Illinois Media's All-State first team earlier in the week, scored 25 points and snagged ten rebounds in the 44-30 win over St. Bede.

Kraus collected seven of her rebounds and scored 13 points in the first half.

St. Bede's offensive effort was led by Ali Bosnich, who finished with 11 points and 13 ports. The 6-foot senior padded the stats with one block and three steals.

Also assisting in the Lady Bruins' scoring effort was Ashlyn Ehm and Savannah Bray. Ehm, who was 2-for-2 from the free-throw line, finished with eight points, three steals, and six boards. Bray scored six points in her seven minutes of action.

St. Bede advanced to the third place game against Altamont, who suffered a 60-48 overtime loss to Illini Bluffs in the first game of the state tournament series hours earlier.

Okawville sights are now set on becoming back-to-back state champions.

At last year's tournament, the Lady Rockets took home the Class 1A title after rolling over Christopher, 55-35. Kraus, a starter in that contest, scored a game-high 21 points.

Kraus & Co. take the floor at 11 a.m. on Saturday to face Illini Bluffs in the title game at CEFCU Arena on the Illinois State University campus in Normal.

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