Downstate Postseason Preview (4A)
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.
Edwardsville (#5) 22-4
Quality Wins: Whitney Young, Castle (IN), O’Fallon x2 (Honorable Mention 4A), Civic Memorial (#10 3A), Quincy Notre Dame (#1 2A)
Players to Watch:
Sydney Harris Sydney Harris 6'0" | SG Edwardsville | 2022 State IL – 2022
The Central Michigan commit has no issues finding ways to score. Sydney recently became the schools all time scoring leader with nearly 1,900 career points. The talented senior leads the team in scoring and rebounds where she averages 23.8 PPG and 7.3 RPG. She has the ability to create space to find an open shot and put the ball on the floor to score under the basket. Her strong frame allows her to be an excellent rebounder. Sydney is a great shooter as she shoots 53% from the field and nearly 45% from deep.
Elle Evans Elle Evans 6'2" | SF Edwardsville | 2022 State IL – 2022
Elle is a well rounded player with the ability to pass, shoot, and rebound. The senior has tremendous size and length with a ton of upside to her game. She is very unselfish with great court vision always looking for an open teammate allowing her to lead the team at 3.1 APG. Her length also allows her to be a great defender averaging one block a game and two steals a game. The North Dakota State commit can also score the shoot the ball very well.
Macy Silvey Macy Silvey 5'9" | CG Edwardsville | 2022 State IL – 2022
The senior guard is a excellent shooter who can light it up from deep. She also has the ability to drive it to the hole, stop and pull up, or finish with her pretty floater. The quick guard handles the ball well with vision to find open teammates to average 3 assists a game.
Road to Normal: The Tigers will host their own regional where they received the #1 seed. Their toughest challenge in regional play will be conference foe Alton. In their matchup earlier this season, the Tigers defeated the Redbirds 66-44. If the Tigers can make it past the regional, they will head north to the Joliet Sectional with the chance of a third match-up with the Panthers of O’Fallon. Edwardsville feeds into one of the toughest sectionals in the state with the likes of Joliet West (#1) and Normal Community (Honorable Mention). If they can win their two sectional games, they have a shot of bringing home the school’s first championship.
Normal Community (Honorable Mention) 20-6
Quality Wins: Washington (Honorable Mention 3A), Morton (#6 3A)
Players to Watch:
Karleigh Creasey Karleigh Creasey 5'8" | CG Normal Community | 2022 State IL -2022
The senior leader has great court vision making her a great passer to find her open teammates. She has great ability to step out and hit the open shot from beyond the three point-line, too. Karleigh is a great defender doing a terrific job of protecting the rim and jumping the passing lanes to take the ball away.
Gianna Rawlings Gianna Rawlings 5'7" | CG Normal Community | 2024 IL – 2024
Giana is a serious threat from deep beyond the three-point arc. She’s someone who you can’t leave any space or she’ll make opposing teams pay for it. Rawlings has great form allowing her to hit 7 deep ones in a game earlier this season against Springfield Southeast. Her scrappiness allows her to be aggressive on the other end and cause havoc to offenses.
Olivia Corson Olivia Corson 5'10" | CG Normal Community | 2024 IL – 2024
The talented sophomore has great length and athleticism. She has the ability to take her defenders off the dribble and score at the hoop. Olivia has the ability to post up on the block with her back to the basket while she’s not afraid to step out and hit a deep shot from behind the arc. Her size allows her to be a solid rebounder.
Road to Normal: Bloomington heads to the Minooka Regional as the #2 seed. Their biggest threat there will be Lincoln-Way West. If they can make it to the next round they will head up to the tough Joliet Sectional as well. The Lady Iron hope to make it past the loaded sectional for their first super sectional appearance since 2005.
O’Fallon (Honorable Mention) 20-5
Quality Wins: Whitney Young, Quincy Notre Dame (#1 2A), Teutopolis (#9 2A), Alton x2
Players to Watch:
Shannon Dowell Shannon Dowell 5'9" | SG O'Fallon HS | 2023 State IL – 2023
Shannon is a solid all around player leading her team in nearly every statistical category – 16 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 2.4 APG, and 2.3 SPG. She has great athleticism having active hands on defense being able to protect the basket and hop in passing lanes to come away with steals. The junior has the ability to put the ball on floor to drive and finish strong.
Jailah Pelly Jailah Pelly 5'9" | SG O'Fallon | 2023 State IL – 2023
Jailah is a great ball handler who uses her skills to break down defenders and find ways to score. The junior is aggressive driving the ball to the basket. She’s a great passer with fantastic court vision averaging 2.5 APG. She pressures the ball well and creates havoc on defense.
Laylah Jackson Laylah Jackson 5'6" | PG O'Fallon | 2023 State IL – 2023
Laylah is a deep range threat, but she isn’t afraid to take defenders off the dribble. She finishes well around the rim and isn’t afraid of contact. The junior is crafty with her passes and the ability to find her open teammates with the extra pass.
Road to Normal: The panthers will take a short bus ride to Belleville West as the #2 seed to begin regional play. O’Fallon will play in a regional full of familiar conference opponents which they are 4-0 on the season against. If they can advance past the regional, they will head north to that tough Joliet Sectional mentioned before. They hope to seek revenge on the Tigers of Edwardsville. The panthers will look for their first sectional title in school history to get them one step closer the the state finals.
Alton 16-6
Quality Wins: O’Fallon (Honorable Mention 4A)
Players to Watch:
Kiyoko Proctor Kiyoko Proctor 5'6" | PG Alton | 2025 State IL – 2025
Kiyoko gets it done all over the court scoring 15 PPG, 3.5 APG, and 3 SPG. She’s a talented scorer who also looks for open teammates at the same time. Proctor can score from anywhere on the floor. The talented freshman gets after on defense causing issues for opposing teams.
Jarius Powers Jarius Powers 6'0" | PF Alton | 2025 State IL – 2025
Jarius has a strong body who causes problems for defenders in the post. She isn’t afraid of contact under the basket and is a strong finisher. Powers is a strong rebounder getting it done on both ends of the court with an average of eight boards a game.
Road to Normal: Alton heads south to the Edwardsville Regional as the #3 seed. The young redbirds will have their hands full with an experienced Tigers team if each of them can make it to the regional championship. If they can get it done, it will be their first regional title in 37 years sending them to that tough Joliet Sectional. The winner of this sectional will advance to the Illinois Wesleyan Super-Sectional for a chance to make the state finals on the first weekend of March.
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.