Southern Illinois 2A Players To Watch In The Playoffs
Now that tourney time is here and we are in one and done mode I want to give you some names to look for over the next three weeks. These are players that are on teams that would appear to…
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Continue ReadingNow that tourney time is here and we are in one and done mode I want to give you some names to look for over the next three weeks. These are players that are on teams that would appear to have a chance to make a run at state. There is talent all over on teams that will be done in the first round or two, I want to give you names that you may be seeing in Redbird Arena the 28th-29th of February.
Paris is ranked number 1 and undefeated. They are led in scoring by Sarah Isaf who has had another excellent season after falling to a knee injury last year and being cut short. Sarah is a 6ft wing player that is going to D3 DePauw in Indiana.She is scoring at a clip of 17.6 per game and pulling down 5 rebounds. Jenna Gates is the senior point guard that is the glue player that helps hold it all together. Jenna is scoring 7 per game and getting 7 assists per game. She is signed to attend Franklin College in Indiana. Madyson Rigdon is a sophomore guard that provides a nice scoring option by putting up 10 per game while also getting 4 rebounds and 3 assists. Senior Karrington Krabel is an important piece to the puzzle that Paris is waiting to hear about. She sprained an ankle and is hoping to be ready to go for Regionals. Karrington scores 11.8 per game and gets 5 rebounds. She is a high octane player that Paris needs to get healthy. They have depth and talent on the bench but the senior that is going on to play at Lakeland CC is a valuable asset.
Other Top Programs and key players are:
Carterville is 29-2 and led by seniors Jeniah Thompson , Abbey Crain and Megan Barton. Thompson is a SIU recruit averaging 14 points and 8 rebounds per game. Crain, the point guard will play softball in college, scores 12 per game and dishes out 4 assists. Barton scores 8.5 per game and gets 4.5 boards. In addition sophomore Alecia Doyle is scoring 9.5 points per game. Coach Matt Crain has a very experienced group that looks to ultimately have a possible showdown with Paris or T-Town in the Super Sectional game.
Teutopolis is 21-8 and looks to be headed to a rematch with Paris if they can advance past Bismarck-Henning/Rossville/Alvin. T-Town has lost twice to Paris, in overtime by 9 and then by 11 in the second game. The Lady Wooden Shoes are led by Junior Lexi Niebruegge and Senior Olivia Niemerg. Both players are excellent mid range shooters. They do a great job of playing through the system and taking what the defense gives. Both can get to the basket but are best shooting off the catch or one dribble to clear space.
Pana will have to get by T-Town to get a shot at Bismarck and then Paris. Pana has had an excellent season and has been led by two sophomores. Jillian Hamilton is a 5’11 forward that uses her strength and athletic ability to score inside consistently. She can hit her shot out to 15-17 feet and is a also an excellent rebounder. In addition sophomore point guard Rachel Holthaus has been strong with the ball and providing some scoring output. She has some nice moves she can use to get in the lane and force the defense to either help or allow her a path to the basket. Seniors Sway Denton and Rhylee Freeman are capable scorers on the wing and will need to provide some key baskets to help the Lady Panthers to keep advancing.
Also in the South brackets both Nashville and Freeburg are a part of the Carterville sectional. Freeburg is the 2 seed in one of the Carterville sub sections. They will go to Columbia as the favorite to advance in that Regional. They are led by seniors Haley Kimes and Ellie Eichenlaub. is an excellent point guard that can score, defend and pass the ball. She is most likely a JC player and Eichenlaub is a 6ft post that is capable of a double/double in any game. She is going to the U of Chicago with a perfect 36 ACT in tow. Maddy Schwemmer is a sophomore wing that leads the team in scoring at just over 10 per game. The team is well balanced and can get scoring from 6-7 players every night. Nashville is the 1 seed in the other sub sectional and will head to Sesser to begin their journey. They are led by seniors Sabrina Kollbaum and Rylee Luechtefeld along with sophomore Alyssa Cole. Kollbaum is an excellent guard that can score it from all 3 levels. Luechtefeld can score inside and out while policing the paint on the defensive end with her long arms and ability to block shots. Cole is a power wing that can post you up or hit the 3. She can take whatever the defense gives and make it work.
As you work into the “Central” Illinois brackets the top seeds, Breese Mater Dei, Breese Central, Pleasant Plains and PORTA look to try to make a run for Redbird Arena. Mater Dei is led by 3 key seniors that do the bulk of the scoring. Shannon Lampe, Claire Tonnies and Madi Strieker are all capable of scoring 20 on any given night. None of the three shot often from behind the arc but all three are great in the mid range and at the foul line. Mater Dei is the number 1 seed in the sub section and will look to get by Alton Marquette in the regional and then focus on PORTA or Carlinville and then Pleasant Plains in the sectional if the seeds hold up.
Breese Central is on a collision course with Greenville. Central is the 2 seed in the sub sectional but lost to Greenville by 17 at home on January 28th. Both teams play very good defense so this game will likely be tight. Central looks to get their scoring from juniors Miah Weems and Chloe Book and a host of others. The more they can score the better chance they have to keep advancing. Greenville makes that tough with their zone defense led by post Megan Hallemann. The 6’4 Hallemann has yet to commit but is definitely a project that many teams would love to have. She has longs arms and shows good timing in blocking shots. She scores at 12.5 per game while senior Rylee Pickett and junior Natalie Iberg are at 11 per game. If the Lady Comets can continue to hold opponents in the 30’s on defense they will have a shot at every game.
Also in the Greenville Sectional Pleasant Plains, PORTA, Carlinville and Tr-City hope to make a run in the tourney. Plains has a deep roster led by veteran players. Caroline Jachino, Aysa Smith and Ali Fraase have all played big minutes at the guard spots for some very successful teams. Jachino put on a show in the Section semi finals last year in a Triple OT loss to Hillsboro. PORTA is led by Lincoln Land commit Kassidy Kirchner and Bailey Wallbaum. Wallbaum not only scores but is stuffing the stats sheet with assists, steals and boards each night. Kirchner is a very good shooter that has been putting up big nights all year. PORTA hopes to get through the regional hosted by 3 seed Carlinville. Carlinville has been playing excellent defense and getting scoring from multiple players. Gracie Reels, Jill Stayton and Corrine Stewart have been leading the team in scoring. Sarah DeNeve does a great job on defense and rebounding. To get into the championship game they will have to get revenge for an early season loss to Hillsboro. The Lady Cavaliers have played like a different team since that 60-40 loss. Tri-City has their sights set on finishing off the career of Ashlyn Sturdy with a bang. The 2,000 point scorer has been a mainstay in a great 4 year run and would like to keep playing for a few more weeks. For the Tornadoes to avenge losses and keep advancing she will need to get plenty of help from Allison Campbell on the perimeter and freshman Sarah Finley in the paint.
Further to the north in the Macomb sectional the storied program of Quincy Notre Dame looks to make another run behind senior Sydney Hummert and freshman Abbey Schreacke. Both are very good volleyball players and athletes. Hummert will be playing college volleyball next season. Hummert is very difficult to handle inside the lane and Schreacke can score it all over the floor and also facilitate.
There are many more players and teams that will be looking to secure those spots to Redbird Arena. I will try to keep you updated on who is making it happen, it should be a fun 3 weeks.