Thursday/Friday Playoff Results in Southern Illinois

<ul> <li>The Illinois State playoffs are in full swing now with games going on at all 4 levels. This week saw the 1A and 2A levels crown Sectional Champions and the 3A and 4A crown Regional Champions.The following is a list of some of the top performers in those championship games at the end of the week.</li> </ul> In class 1A Father McGivney won their first ever Sectional Championship. The Lady Griffins were led by senior Madison Webb. Madison has been outstanding throughout February and again came to play when they needed her most. She scored 15 of their 17 first half points on her way to 25 total for the game. Madison was 11/18 from the floor and had 9 rebounds and 4 steals.Father McGivney faces top ranked Lewistown in the Super Sectional game on Monday. In another 1A Sectional Championship game Okawville beat Goreville 38-29. Okawville was led by 2023 sharp shooter <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/briley-rhodes/">Briley Rhodes</a> with 15 points. The Lady Rockets defense came out strong and caused Goreville to miss 9/10 shots which helped them to an early lead. Goreville made a run that Okawville was able to withstand. Delaney Toensing pulled down a game high 11 rebounds for the Lady Rockets.They now advance to face Shiloh in the Super Sectional game. In 2A action Pleasant Plains won a tight game over Mater Dei in the Greenville Sectional. Plains had a balanced attack led Aysa Smith, a strong 2021 guard. She had 10 points and 2020 guards Caroline Jachino and Ali Fraase had 9 and 8. Both girls are committed to play other sports in college, Track and Cross Country for Jachino and Soccer for Fraase but both are very good basketball players. Plains does a good job on defense and has a very experienced team that has been there before. They advance to face QND in the Super Sectional game on Monday. Mater Dei was led by seniors <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/shannon-lampe/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/shannon-lampe/">Shannon Lampe</a></a> and Claire Toennies. They both finish off strong careers a little earlier than was hoped. Lampe had 16 and Toennies 12. In other 2A Sectionals there were some games involving top ranked teams. In Paris the #1 ranked host team lost to Teutopolis 43-29. Paris was undefeated and had beaten the Lady Shoes twice during the regular season. But, they always say it is hard to beat a good team 3 times in one season and it proved true here. T-Town got off to a fast start and Paris could not find a way to put the ball in the basket. They have 3 scorers that normally average in double figures including 2020 wing <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/sarah-isaf/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/sarah-isaf/">Sarah Isaf</a></a> who gets over 17 per game. But, those numbers were not meant to be on this night. The Lady Shoes put the game away late with excellent free throw shooting. They are led by the guard tandem of Olivia Niemerg and Lexi Niebrugge. The Lady Shoes now face Carterville in the Super Sectional for a return trip to Redbird Arena. Carterville won their Sectional in a SIRR fight with Nashville. Carterville jumped out to an early 13 point lead after 1 quarter and then held on to it throughout the game for a 54-42 victory. Carterville was led by 2022 wing Alecia Doyle with 17, senior and SIU recruit <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/jeniah-thompson/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/jeniah-thompson/">Jeniah Thompson</a></a> with 15, senior Megan Barton had 10 and senior point guard <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/abbey-crain/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/abbey-crain/">Abbey Crain</a></a> had another strong game. Nashville was led by 2022 forward Alyssa Cole with 18 and senior <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/rylee-luechtefeld/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/rylee-luechtefeld/">Rylee Luechtefeld</a></a> had 12. The Super Sectional game will be played at Hamilton County In local 3A Regional action you had two historical powers taking care of business. Both had shown some signs that they may be vulnerable, but both stepped up when they had to step up. Civic Memorial beat East St Louis in the Troy Regional by a score of 60-53. Seniors and 4 year starters <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/anna-hall/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/anna-hall/">Anna Hall</a></a> and <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/kourtland-tyus/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/kourtland-tyus/">Kourtland Tyus</a></a> led the way. Hall had 22 points and 12 boards and Tyus had 16 points. For East St Louis the two 2023 guards, Shakara McCline and <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/jailah-pelly/">Jailah Pelly</a> led them in scoring. McCline had 21 and Pelly 19.This CM team has plenty of experience heading into Sectionals. We will see how far they can go and if this new coaching staff can lead them there. Highland returned the favor of a late season loss at Jerseyville by beating the Lady Panthers 51-31 in the Jerseyville Regional. After leading 19-12 at half, a 19-12 3rd quarter stretched out the lead to 14 and put Highland in control. Senior point guard Ellie Brown and Junior post Bella LaPorta each had 12 points to pace Highland. Junior wing Kirsten Taylor had 10 to round out the double figure scorers. Jerseyville was led by outstanding junior guard <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/clare-breden/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/clare-breden/">Clare Breden</a></a> with 14.Both CM and Highland now advance to the Effingham Sectional for games on Monday. Highland will face Mt. Vernon and CM will face Mattoon in the night cap. In 4A Regional action the two champions lived up to their seeds. The Collinsville Regional was captured by Edwardsville. The Lady Tigers took a long time to secure the lead but ultimately pulled away for a 50-40 victory over Collinsville. Senior Que Love with 15 points. Junior post Katelynne Roberts had 10 and Sophomore wing <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/elle-evans/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/elle-evans/">Elle Evans</a></a> had 9. For Collinsville seniors <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/kristyn-mitchell/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/kristyn-mitchell/">Kristyn Mitchell</a></a> and Faith Liljegren led the way. Mitchell had 12 points and 10 boards while Liljegren had 9 points. Edwardsville will now meet O'Fallon, who won the Alton Regional in a tough game with Belleville West. O'Fallon carried a 10 point lead into the 4th quarter and was able to hang on for a 53-47 victory. The Lady Panthers were led by 2023 guard <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/shannon-dowell/">Shannon Dowell</a> with 17 points and 2021 post <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/amelia-bell/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/amelia-bell/">Amelia Bell</a></a> with 14. West was led by 2022 sharp shooter Reese Bennett with 14. Edwardsville and O'Fallon will now meet in the Sectional semi finals on Monday. Because of travel there is no crossing of the sub sectional teams as they advance into the Sectionals in 4A. So, this game is almost always a "SWC championship game", with the winner advancing to the Sectional finals. This year Edwardsville again won the actual conference crown with victories over O'Fallon by 14 at home in January and by 3 in OT in February at the Panther Dome. This game will be contested at neutral site, Belleville West, on Monday. O'Fallon is looking to take that step they have been working towards and Edwardsville has plans to keep things status quo and advance to the Sectional Final game. It will be fun to watch. This is always a great time of the year for basketball. I am looking forward to Monday night to see the results. From there I will be in Pekin Thursday for the Sectional Final game which will involve either Edwardsville or O'Fallon and then onto Redbird Arena on Friday and Saturday for the 1A and 2A tourney.