Class 1A State Finals Preview

The Class 1A State Finals begins today and features 3 teams returning from last years event. The one team that is missing, Danville Schlarman, ensures we will have a new state champion. Below is a snapshot about the teams and what to expect this weekend. Eastland ( Lanark) comes in at 32-3 and avenged 2 of their losses by getting by Amboy in the Sectional.The Lady Cougars pulled off a 59-58 win to advance through the Sectional and keep the hopes alive for a return to State. In 2019 they won an opening round game over Shiloh ( Hume) 64-63 and lost in the title game to Schlarman 62-36. They are led in scoring by 5'4 Senior guard <strong>Erin Henze</strong>. Erin has hit 127 three pointers on her way to scoring 20.1 per game. She also averages over 4 assists per game while providing the leadership everyone needs from their upperclassmen. <strong>Karlie Krogman </strong>is a 6'0 Junior that provides a force in the middle. She averages 11.5 points per game and over 7 rebounds per game. <strong>Lydia Coatney </strong>is another Senior guard that provides leadership and scoring to the team. She pumps in 13.5 points per game and is second on the team in assists. Shiloh ( Hume ) comes in at 28-5. They have not lost a game in 2020 and two of the five losses came to 2A Paris. They have won 19 in a row and hope to improve on their 4th place finish from last year. They return two excellent scorers from last years team in Junior <strong>Tayler Berry </strong>and Sophomore <strong><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/bella-dudley/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/bella-dudley/">Bella Dudley</a></a>. </strong>Berry is a 5'5 guard that is scoring 18.6 per game and Dudley is a 5'8 guard that is scoring 14.4. Dudley plays big as a guard which allows her to post and finish in the lane against bigger players. She is is also the teams leading rebounder. <strong>Melia Eskew </strong>is a 5'6 Junior guard that leads the team in assists and also chips in 7.1 points per game. Lewistown comes in at 32-1 and has spent most of the year at #1 in the AP polls. Their lone defeat came at the hands of 2A State qualifier Pleasant Plains. Lewistown finished 3rd last year after and opening loss to Schlarman and a 3rd place game victory over Shiloh. The Lady Indians play a tough full court pressure game that can create many turnovers by their opponents. They are led in scoring by returning Seniors <strong>Anna Heffren </strong>and <strong><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/sydney-shaeffer/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/sydney-shaeffer/">Sydney Shaeffer</a></a>. </strong>Heffren is a 5'6 guard scoring 20.0 points per game. She has hit 68 three point shots and over 70% from the free throw line. Shaeffer is a 5'9 wing that is scoring 16.1 points per game and leads the team in rebounding at over 8 per game. <strong>Carli Heffren </strong>is a 5'8 Senior guard that has hit 80 three pointers for the season and comes in at 9.6 points per game. The newcomer this  year is Aurora Christian. Aurora Christian is making their first State tourney appearance. The Lady Eagles come in with a 30-4 record with losses to Joilet Catholic, Fremd, Nazareth Academy and Lombard Montini. They are led by 6'1 Junior <strong><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/anna-griffin/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/anna-griffin/">Anna Griffin</a></a> </strong>at 17.6 points and 9.7 rebounds per game. Anna does a great job at the free throw line converting just short of 80%. Sophomore guard <strong>Thaya Luse </strong>is second in scoring at 13.4 per game. <strong><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/aspen-weeks/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/aspen-weeks/">Aspen Weeks</a></a> </strong>is a 5'6 Freshman guard that is scoring 10.4 points per game and she is closely followed by <strong>Lexi Lamanna </strong>at 9.4 points per game. Lamanna also leads the team in assists at 5.3 per game. These games should be excellent matchups with some exciting basketball. As a wild guess I will take Eastland and Lewistown to win the opening games and Lewistown to win it all on Saturday. I look forward to some great basketball.