The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
By: Mike Rodeffer, The Quill
The Illini West Chargers girls varsity basketball team came away with the Brimfield Turkey Tournament Championship. The weekend before Thanksgiving the IW girls had beaten Wethersfield 41-29 and Princeville 45-40. Last Wednesday the IW girls lost a thriller to Midwest Central by a 56-55 game. Bailey Clampitt poured in 27 points. Hannah Wood had 10 points and 7 rebounds and Kailee Artman had 10 steals and 5 assists.
Last Friday afternoon the IW girls beat Tremont 41-30. Bailey Clampitt again led the scoring with 18 points to go along with 6 assists. Katie Rhodes tossed in 12 points. Rylie Harrell had 4 points and 12 rebounds. Kailee Artman had 4 points and Hannah Wood had 3 points.
On Saturday afternoon the IW girls had to face the host Brimfield girls for the tournament championship. The Charger girls started off slow and trailed Brimfield 22-13 at halftime. In the 3rd quarter IW tallied 6 points and held Brimfield to 4 points for a 19-26 deficit. In the 4th quarter the Chargers mounted their comeback. Katie Rhodes scored 2 baskets to get to within 3 points. Brimfield scored a basket and Baylee Clampitt answered with a basket for IW. Brimfield scored another basket for a 30-25 lead. Baylee Clampitt made another basket and shortly stole the ball and put up a lay up to pull IW within 1 at 29-30. Katie Rhodes was fouled with 10 seconds left and made 1 of 2 free throws for a 30-30 tie and send the game into overtime.
Brimfield hit 1 free throw for a 30-31 lead. Rylie Harrell scored a basket for a 32-31 IW lead. Brimfield answered with a basket of their own and led 32-33 Kailee Artman answered back with a basket and IW led once again at 34-33. Both Teams traded possession and with 6 seconds left Baylee Clampitt knocked down 2 free throws for a 36-33 IW victory.
Baylee Clampitt had 11 points for IW. Rylie Harrell led the team in rebounding with 8 rebounds and Kailee Artman led the Chargers with 4 assists.
The IW girls improved to a record of 4-1 to start the season.