Downstate Postseason Preview (2A)
The Illinois state tournament series is less than a week away. Let’s take a look at the top teams and players in downstate Illinois (any school south of I-80) as they prep to make a run to Redbird Arena on…
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Continue ReadingThe Illinois state tournament series is less than a week away. Let’s take a look at the top teams and players in downstate Illinois (any school south of I-80) as they prep to make a run to Redbird Arena on the campus of Illinois State University to compete for the state’s biggest trophy.
The following rankings will be according to the Associated Press. The Associated Press updates the rankings each Wednesday.
Quincy Notre Dame (#1) 22-2
Quality Wins: Mendon Unity (#4 1A), Havana (Honorable Mention 1A), Springfield (Honorable Mention 3A), Illini West (#3 2A), Civic Memorial (#10 3A), South Shelby (MO)
Players to Watch:
Abbey Schreacke Abbey Schreacke 6'0" | SG Quincy Notre Dame | 2023 State IL -2023
Abbey is a lengthy player who gives teams fits trying to defend her. She doesn’t steer away from contact that allows here to work with her back to the basket or pull it up in your face from mid-range. But she’s not afraid to let it fly from deep. Her most impressive skill is her ability to crash the boards, don’t be surprised to see here rip down double digit boards on any given night. Schreacke uses her length to cause havoc to opposing teams on the defensive side of the ball.
Blair Eftink – 2023
Blair is a excellent shooter who can light it up from deep. She can drain them in flurries by making defenders pay if they leave her any kind of space. The junior is a smart defender who jumps the passing lanes coming away with steals to get her teams offense rolling.
Road to Normal: The Raiders will head over to Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin as the #1 seed to begin regional play. If they can get it done there, they will head down to the Waverly Sectional where they have a chance of a rematch with Illini West (#3) who they narrowly beat 40-38 a few weeks ago. From there, the Raiders would head down to the Beardstown Super-Sectional to look for their first state finals appearance since 2013.
Illini West (#3) 27-2
Quality Wins: Havana (Honorable Mention 1A), Mendon Unity x3 (#4 1A), Brown County x2 (#6 1A)
Players to Watch:
Caydee Kirkham -2022
Caydee is a dangerous threat from beyond the three-point line. The Senior does a great job creating space from defenders off the dribble to pull up and sink it anywhere on floor. She has great form and rotation that allows her to hit them from well behind the arc. Don’t let her shooting fool you, she’ll take defenders off the dribble to finish in the lane with contact with no issues. Caydee has great basketball IQ as well allowing her to jump passing lanes to come away with steals.
Road to Normal: Illini West will take a short bus ride south to the Camp Point Central Regional as the #2 seed. The chargers take the same path as stated above to the Waverly Sectional with hopes of revenge to the Raiders of Quincy Notre Dame. Illini West hopes to bring home the first sectional title in school history to put them one step game from the state finals.
Pana (#4) 29-1
Quality Wins: Teutopolis (#9 2A), Porta/AC, Lincoln (#8 3A), CHBC
Players to Watch:
Jillian Hamilton Jillian Hamilton 5'11" | SF Pana | 2022 State IL – 2022
Jillian is a strong and athletic player who gets it done on both ends of the court. The most impressive part of her game is her athleticism to drive to the basket and finish strong having great touch around the basket. When she’s not lighting it up from deep, she’ll also dribble drive and pull it up from mid-range. She uses her athleticism to be a great defender by protecting the rim on defense.
Anna Beyers Anna Beyers 5'8" | CG Pana | 2023 State IL – 2023
The junior is a stat sheet filler with her ability to score, rebound, and pass very effectively. Coaches say she is a tough and gritty player that shows when she’s on the court. On Defense, she is intense, in your face, and not afraid to sacrifice her body to create a turnover. Anna is very patient on offense by looking to make the right pass at the right time with great court vision. She is money from mid-range with a great shot selection.
Road to Normal: The Panthers will start their postseason run at The ALAH Regional as the #1 seed. Their toughest opponent in the regional will the the host Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond (Honorable Mention). If they can advance past the regional, they will head to the Monticello Sectional where they could run into the likes of Paris (#5), Teutopolis (#9), and Fairfield. Although it’ll be a tough sectional to advance out of, they would head to the Vandalia Super-Sectional for a chance to play in the state finals.
Paris (#5) 24-4
Quality Wins: St. Joseph-Ogden, Teutopolis (#9 2A), Sherrard (Honorable Mention 2A)
Players to Watch:
Madyson Rigdon Madyson Rigdon 5'8" | CG Paris | 2022 State IL – 2022
Madyson is athletic with great basketball IQ who handles the ball well with the ability to control the speed of the game. She will create space beyond the arc, but if that doesn’t look open she’ll dribble drive through the lane to score. Rigdon is an elite defender who often pressures the opposing teams best player. Her peskiness on defense allows her to fill the lane to get easy transition baskets.
Kendra Young Kendra Young 6'0" | SF Paris | 2023 State IL – 2023
Kendra is a tall, lengthy wing player who can shoot and pass it. The junior is a true stretch four who will hit it consistently from behind the three-point line. Her length helps here to be a great defender where she can tip passes and block shots at a high rate. Young uses her size to her advantage giving her the ability to be an excellent rebounder. Kendra has the vision to pass over defenders to assist open teammates.
Road to Normal: The Tigers head over to the Clinton Regional as the #2 seed with the chance to meet the host in in the final. If they can advance, they would head to the tough Monticello Sectional. Paris hopes to bring home their schools first sectional title since 2005 to put them a game away from the state finals.
Carterville (#6) 23-5
Quality Wins: Teutopolis (#9 2A), Breese Central, Benton (Honorable Mention 2A), Nashville, Mt. Vernon, Waterloo
Players to Watch:
Alecia Doyle Alecia Doyle 5'7" | CG Carterville | 2022 State IL – 2022
The senior is a stat sheet filler who averages 17 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 3 APT, and 1.6 SPG. Alecia is a floor general with excellent court vision who looks for the opportunity to help her teammates score. She has a great mid-range game, but can be deadly from deep when she gets good elevation on her shot.
Amayah Doyle Amayah Doyle 5'10" | PF Carterville | 2024 IL – 2024
Amayah plays like she’s much bigger than she is with her strong frame. She uses it to her advantage which gives her the ability to finish tough baskets in the paint. The sophomore has the ability to create space to hit open shot, too. Doyle uses her frame to rip down nearly seven boards a game.
Road to Normal: Carterville will begin postseason play at the Anna-Jonesboro Regional as the #1 seed. The Lions hope to advance to the Nashville Sectional where they could run into a tough Breese Central or Freeburg team. Winner of this sectional heads to the Vandalia Super-Sectional to meet up with the winner of the Monticello Sectional. Carterville will look to make back to back state finals appearances with the state tournament not being played last season.
Fieldcrest (#8) 28-2
Quality Wins: Serena (#8 1A), Ottawa Marquette
Players to Watch:
Ashlyn May – 2023
Ashlyn is a strong ball handler who looks to create her own shot off the dribble. She can dribble drive to finish strong around the hoop and looks to finish with contact. The junior has a pretty floater as part of her game. Ashlyn has great rotation on her shot that allows her to be a threat from deep as well.
Road to Normal: The Knights will head up to Seneca to start regional play as the #1 seed. If they can make it to the next step, they will head to the Peotone Sectional where their toughest opponent with be St. Joseph-Ogden if they can make it to that point. Fieldcrest will look for their third straight regional title and first ever sectional title to make a deep postseason run.
Teutopolis (#9) 18-7
Quality Wins: St. Joseph-Ogden, Tri-County (#3 1A)
Players to Watch:
Isabella Hardiek – 2022
The senior is a strong, athletic finisher who has no issues playing with her back to the basket. Isabella uses her athleticism to finish strong with contact on her way to the hoop. She moves very well without the ball to get herself open with the ability to run the pick and roll to perfection. Hardiek also has the ability to step out and hit a 15 foot jumper. Isabella makes smart decisions when being doubled in the post to pass out and find open teammates.
Road to Normal: Teutopolis looks to add to their loaded trophy cabinets by starting their tournament play in Salem as the #1 seed. They have a tough road to Normal where they will have to come out of that loaded Monticello Sectional to make it to Vandalia for a Super-Sectional. If the Lady Shoes can get it done, they will bring trophy number 16 back to T-Town.
Aaron Stout is a new scout for Prep Girls Hoops Illinois, and is trying to bring more coverage to central and southern Illinois. He and the rest PGH Illinois staff seek to cover the entire state by keeping subscribers up to date with player evaluations, recruiting info, and statewide news. Our audience often supplies with some of our best information. If you have any information on players, teams, or statewide news in Illinois, please email Aaron Stout at prephoopsaaron@gmail.com or DM him through Twitter @Astoutprephoops.