2024BBIHSAG

2024 IHSA (Illinois) Girls State Basketball Championships
Class 1A, 2A, 3A, & 4A

CEFCU Arena Normal, IL
March 2, 2024

© 2024 Ron Harrison

March 2nd

Okawville vs. Illini Bluffs Class 1A Championship

Okawville coach Haylee Bowers started the following lineup: 5-8 Sr. Alayna Kraus, 5-7 Sr. Adysen Harre, 5-8 So. Caroline Tepe, 5-6 Sr. Madisyn Wienstroer, and 5-7 Sr. Raelyn Obermeier. Illini Bluffs coach Jim Belville countered with 5-10 Sr. Marissa Robertson, 5-10 Sr. Lily Luczkowiak, 6-0 Sr. Reese Cruit, 5-6 Sr. Brooke Buchen, and 5-6 Sr. Annabelle Fortin.

Okawville outscored Ilini Bluffs 17-6 in the third quarter to take control on their way to a 48-36 victory. Okawville shot 42.4% from the field including five of 14 from the three point line. The Lady Rockets connected on 15 of 16 free throws, pulled down 20 rebounds, and scored 11 points off 10 Illini Bluffs turnovers. Illini Bluffs shot 44.4% from the field including three of eight from beyond the arc. The Tigers connected on nine of 15 free throws, pulled down 17 rebounds, and scored nine points off seven Okawville turnovers.

Alayna Kraus led Okawville with 33 points including two three point baskets, 13 of 14 free throws, four rebounds, and three steals. Caroline Tepe added six points on two three point baskets, five rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Madisyn Wienstroer recorded four points, seven rebounds, and two assists.

Annabelle Fortin led Illini Bluffs with 13 points including three three point baskets, and two rebounds. Lily Luczkowiak added 12 points and nine rebounds. 5-11 So. Chloe Eeten recorded four points, four rebounds, three assists, and two blocked shots.

Okawville - 5,9,17,17,48
Illini Bluffs - 10,5,6,15,36

Okawville - (48) – Kraus 33, Harre 2, Tepe 6, Wienstroer 4, Obermeier 3.
Illini Bluffs - (36) – Robertson 0, Luczkowiak 12, Cruit 4, Buchen 0, Fortin 13, Eeten 4, Davis 3.

Nashville vs. Peoria (Notre Dame) Class 2A Championship

Nashville coach Dempsey White started the following lineup: 5-11 Fr. Samantha Brinkmann, 5-9 Fr. Avery Reeder, 5-11 Fr. Summer Brinkmann, 5-9 Fr. Makayla Gajewski, and 5-10 So. Emma Behrmann. Notre Dame coach Layne Langholf countered with 5-11 Jr. Kaitlin Cassidy, 5-6 Jr. Julia Mingus, 6-1 So. Lexi Baer, 5-7 Sr. Mya Wardle, and 5-9 Fr. Emy Wardle.

Emy Wardle hit a runner with 1.3 seconds left on the clock to give Notre Dame a 48-46 victory over Nashville. There were five ties and four lead changes in this game. Notre Dame shot 48.5% from the field including four of 12 from the three point line. The Irish connected on 12 of 17 free throws, pulled down 12 rebounds, and scored 11 points off 11 Nashville turnovers. Nashville shot 53.3% from the field including three of eight from beyond the arc. The Hornettes connected on 11 of 16 free throws, pulled down 22 rebounds, and scored five points off six Notre Dame turnovers.

Emy Wardle led Notre Dame with 18 points including six of nine free throws, two rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Mya Wardle added 10 points including three of four free throws, and two assists. Kaitlin Cassidy recorded nine points and four rebounds. Julia Mingus chipped in with eight points including two three point baskets, and two steals.

Emma Behrmann led Nashville with 14 points including three of four free throws, and five rebounds. Samantha Brinkmann added 12 points including six of eight free throws, three rebounds, six assists, and three steals. Summer Brinkmann recorded nine points, six rebounds, two assists, and two steals. 5-3 Sr. Abby Knepp chipped in with six points on two three point baskets. Makayla Gajewski recorded five points and five rebounds.

Nashville - 14,10,10,12,46
Peoria (Notre Dame) - 17,9,15,7,48

Nashville - (46) – Sa, Brinkmann 12, Reeder 0, Su. Brinkmann 9, Gajewski 5, Behrmann 14, Knepp 6.
Peoria (Notre Dame) - (48) – Cassidy 9, Mingus 8, Baer 3, M. Wardle 10, E. Wardle 18.

Lincoln vs. Chatham (Glenwood) Class 3A Championship

Lincoln coach Taylor Rohrer started the following lineup: 5-8 Sr. Becca Heitzig, 5-8 Sr. Tori Geriets, 5-9 Sr. Kloe Froebe, 5-6 Sr. Taryn Stoltzenburg, and 5-6 Sr. Jenna Bowman. Glenwood coach Alyssa Riley countered with 5-9 Sr. Makenna Yeager, 5-7 Fr. Ava Bobb, 6-0 Fr. Alexis Neumann, 5-4 Sr. Karley Hawkins, and 5-6 Jr. Katelyn Lehnen.

Lincoln defeated Glenwood 60-44 to finish the season at 38-0. Lincoln raced out to a 26-6 first quarter lead and was never threatened in this game. Lincoln shot 58.3% from the field including three of seven from the three point line. The Rail Splitters connected on 15 of 23 free throws, pulled down 20 rebounds, and scored 18 points off 16 Glenwood turnovers. Glenwood shot 45.9% from the field including seven of 17 from beyond the arc. The Titans connected on three of five free throws, pulled down 18 rebounds, and scored 15 points off nine Lincoln turnovers.

Kloe Froebe led Lincoln with 36 points including 14 of 19 free throws, five rebounds, six assists, one blocked shot, and four steals. Becca Heitzig added 13 points and five rebounds.

Alex Neumann led Glenwood with 15 points including two three point baskets, eight rebounds, and one blocked shot. Makenna Yeager added nine points including two three point baskets, two rebounds, five assists, and two steals. 5-7 Jr. Rowann Law recorded eight points including two three point baskets. Katelyn Lehnen chipped in with six points and two assists.

Lincoln - 26,8,13,13,60
Chatham (Glenwood) - 6,11,17,10, 44

Lincoln - (60) – Heitzig 13, Geriets 0, Froebe 36, Stoltzenburg 5, Bowman 3, Whiteman 1, Clark 2.
Chatham (Glenwood) - (44) – Yeager 9, Bobb 0, Neumann 15, Hawkins 0, Lehnen 6, Diamond 3, Law 8, Gilmore 3.

Wilmette (Loyola Academy) vs. LaGrange Park (Nazareth) Class 4A Championship

Loyola Academy coach Jeremy Schbenecker started the following lineup: 5-8 Sr. Julia Gamboa, 5-8 Sr. Paige Engels, 5-8 Sr. Kelsey Langston, 5-6 So. Clare Weasler, and 5-6 Sr. Aubrey Galvan. Nazareth coach Eddie Stritzell countered with 6-1 Sr. Danielle Scully, 6-0 Sr. Olivia Austin, 6-1 So. Stella Sakalas, 5-7 Sr. Mary Bridget Wilson, and 5-9 Sr. Amalia Dray.

Loyola Academy trailed Nazareth 25-17 at halftime but outscored the Roadrunners 15-2 in the third quarter on their way to a 44-40 victory. Loyola Academy finished the season at 38-0. Loyola Academy shot 42.4% from the field including seven of 19 from the three point line. The Ramblers connected on nine of 13 free throws, pulled down 18 rebounds, and scored 17 points off 17 Nazareth turnovers. Nazareth shot 51.6% from the field including two of 14 from beyond the arc. The Roadrunners connected on six of six free throws, pulled down 17 rebounds, and scored 18 points off 15 Loyola Academy turnovers.

Paige Engels led Loyola Academy with 17 points including three three point baskets, four of six free throws, three rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Aubrey Galvan added 15 points, two rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Kelsey Langston recorded seven points including two three point baskets, and four rebounds.

Olivia Austin led Nazareth with 16 points on seven of eight field goals and two of two free throws, four rebounds, and two assists. Stella Sakalas added 16 points including three of three free throws, and three rebounds. Danielle Scully recorded two points, five rebounds, and two assists.

Wilmette (Loyola Academy) - 11,6,15,12,44
LaGrange Park (Nazareth) - 15,10,2,13,40

Wilmette (Loyola Academy) - (44) – Gamboa 0, Engels 17, Langston 7, Weasler 2, Galvan 15, Mackie 3.
LaGrange Park (Nazareth) - (40) – Scully 2, Austin 16, Sakalas 16, Wilson 3, Dray 3.

Acknowledgements

A special thanks to the IHSA for providing the up-to-date results and statistics for all their events.

Please feel free to send your comments and questions concerning the event, teams, or players to me at prephoops@yahoo.com.

Ron Harrison’s reports on this and other basketball events appear on kyprephoops.com.