State Basketball |PND defeats Nashville in 2A title game; Wardle duo Lead in thrilling victory

Peoria Notre Dame's Emy Wardle diees to the basket in the second half of the Class 2A title game at this year's girls' state basketball tournament. Wardle finished with a game-high 18 points to lift the Irish past the Hornettes, 48-46. The win was the first state basketball title for the PND girls program in school history.

Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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NORMAL - The 2A state championship game was a sister act, a family affair on both ends of the court in the IHSA season finale as Peoria Notre Dame edged past Nashville in a heart-stopping 48-46 thriller.

Leading the charge was PND's Emy Wardle, whose gritty performance propelled the Irish to victory. With an impressive tally of 18 points, Wardle showcased her scoring prowess, sinking crucial shots throughout the game. Her accuracy from the free-throw line, going 6-9, proved pivotal.

But it wasn't just Emy who left her mark on the court. Her sister, Mya Wardle, contributed 10 points to the scoreboard, adding to the family's dominance on the hardwood. Together, the Wardle sisters formed a formidable duo that proved too much for Nashville to handle.

Supporting the Wardle sisters were Kaitlin Cassidy and Julia Mingus, who delivered solid performances of their own. Cassidy's nine points, coupled with her four rebounds, provided crucial support, while Mingus chipped in with eight points, adding to PND's offensive firepower.

On the opposing side, Nashville fought tooth and nail, led by the scoring efforts of Emma Behrmann and Samantha Brinkman. Behrmann's 14 points and five rebounds kept her team in the game, while Brinkman's 12 points and six assists showcased her versatility on the court. Summer Brinkmann, Samantha's twin sister, also contributed nine points and led the team in rebounds with six.

Throughout the game, momentum swung back and forth, with the score tied five times and four lead changes keeping fans on the edge of their seats. Despite PND outscoring Nashville 17-14 in the first half, the outcome remained uncertain until the remaining six seconds in the contest.

It was Emy's layup with six seconds left in the final quarter that sealed the win for the Irish's first piece of IHSA girls' basketball state champion hardware in school history.

Photo Gallery

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Peoria Notre Dame vs Nashville

Class 2A Championship Game

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Photo Gallery |State Champs! Lincoln wins state basketball title

NORMAL - Lincoln's Kloe Froebe drives to the paint around Glenwood's Alexis Neumann during the Class 3A championship game at the IHSA Girls' Basketball State Finals on Saturday. Froebe led the Railsplitters (38-0) to the program's first state basketball title with 36 points in a decisive 60-44 victory. Neumann led the Titans' scoring effort with 15 points. See more exciting and memorable moments in the photo gallery below.

Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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Photo Gallery

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Lincoln vs Glenwood

Class 3A Championship Game

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Daylight Savings Time is coming, start preparing your body for time change

Photo: Andrea Piacquadio/PEXELS

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Family Features - Millions of Americans will soon get extra sunlight in the evenings when daylight saving time (DST) - observed by every state except Arizona and Hawaii - begins on the second Sunday in March and clocks are set ahead by one hour at 2 a.m.

While the extra daylight is a welcome change for most, failing to prepare for DST can have consequences. In fact, research from the Sleep Foundation has found a lack of sleep caused by the time change can affect thinking, decision-making and productivity. The change can alter your circadian rhythm, the body's internal clock that helps control sleep and other biological processes, which may cause mood fluctuations, and the transition has been associated with short-term risk of heart attack, stroke and traffic accidents.

However, making small adjustments ahead of DST can help reduce its impact on your sleep and minimize negative effects. Consider these tips to help navigate the time change.

Reset Your Internal Clock
As you get ready to "spring forward," gradually adjust your sleep schedule throughout the week leading up to the time change, which can help prevent unnecessary shock to your system. The American Academy of Sleep recommends going to bed 15-20 minutes earlier each day than normal, and other daily activities like mealtimes and exercise can also be moved up slightly to help acclimate to the change. Awakening earlier and getting extra light exposure in the morning can also help adjust your circadian rhythm.

Upgrade Your Sleep Environment
Creating a bedroom environment that is conducive to sleep can help ensure you get a good night's rest, which is especially important leading up to the time change when you effectively lose an hour of sleep. Start optimizing your sleep space comfort by choosing a supportive mattress and comfortable bedding then block out unwanted light with blackout curtains and dampen unwanted noises using a fan or soothing white noise machine.

To help regulate temperature, set the thermostat to 60-70 F - a cooler thermostat setting helps maintain a lower core temperature - then adjust if too hot or too cold by adding or removing blankets or changing your pajamas. Lavender essential oils, or another fragrance like peppermint or heliotropin, can also help improve relaxation and sleep quality.

Avoid Screens Before Bed
In the days leading up to DST, experts recommend turning off electronics, including televisions, computers, smartphones and tablets, at least 1 hour before bedtime as the blue light from screens can suppress production of melatonin, the substance that signals the body it's time for bed. If necessary, cut back on screentime in smaller increments leading up to the time change or swap evening screen usage for other activities like crossword puzzles, meditation or reading a book.

Phase Out Caffeine in the Evenings
While avoiding caffeine later in the day can help you fall asleep easier at night, experts suggest limiting and slowly reducing your caffeine intake in the days prior to DST. Choosing half-caffeinated coffee, mixing regular and decaf or cutting out 1-2 caffeinated drinks during the week can help sleep patterns ahead of the change. However, be wary that giving up caffeine "cold turkey" can sometimes lead to headaches.

Find more tips for healthy living all year at eLivingtoday.com.

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