The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
by: Mike Rodeffer, The Quill
The Illini West Chargers girls varsity basketball team played 4 games last week and came home with the Beardstown Lady Tiger Holiday Classic trophy after going undefeated.
The Chargers first game was Triopia. The Chargers led 34-27 at half but outscored Triopia in the 2nd half 34 to 8 for a final 68-35 victory. Baylee Clampitt tossed in 30 points, Rylie Harrell added 12 points, Katie Rhodes pitched in 8, Kailee Artman added 6.
The Chargers next opponent was West Central of Winchester. The Chargers led 15-12 after one quarter and 24-21 at half. In the third quarter they outscored West Central 11-6 and went on to a 49-36 victory.
Kailee Artman scored 14, Rhodes and Clampitt added 12 each, Rylie Harrell and Hannah Wood each had 4 points, Gracie McDowell had 2 points, and Daytona Dooley had 1 point.
Next up for the #3 seeded Chargers, was #2 seeded Lewistown in a semi-final game. Lewistown led 7-6 after 1 quarter and the Chargers held a slim 24-22 lead at half. The Chargers stretched their lead to 39-31 after 3 quarters and ended with a 56-37 win. Katie Rhodes poured in 16 of her 17 points in the first half. Baylee Clampitt chipped in 10 points in the 3rd quarter and 12 more in the 4th quarter, including 10 of 10 from the free throw lane.
For the night, Clampitt ended with 22 points, Rhodes had 17 points, Kailee Artman had 10 points, Rylie Harrell chipped in 4 points, Gracie McDowell had 2 points and Hannah Wood had 1 point.
The win put the chargers in the championship game against the #1 seed Pleasant Plains. Good defense by both teams kept the game low scoring. The game was close the whole game with numerous ties throughout the game.
The Chargers held a slim 17-15 lead at half. In the 3rd quarter, Pleasant Plains hit the first 2 baskets to go up 19-17. Clampitt hit a 2 pointer to tie at 19 and that was all the scoring in that quarter.
The teams were tied at 21 early in the 4th quarter. Katie Rhodes made the first 3 baskets for the Chargers and took a 25-21 lead. After a Pleasant Plains bucket, Clampitt hit a 3 pointer to put the Chargers up 28-23. But Pleasant Plains hit a 2 pointer and a 3 pointer to tie at 28-28.
The Chargers Hannah Wood hit 2 free throws with 29.5 seconds left for a 30-28 lead. After a Pleasant Plains miss, Clampitt hit 2 free throws for a 32-28 lead. Artman added 1 more free throw and Clampitt added another free throw for the final 34-28 win.
Clampitt ended with 17 points, Rhodes had 8 points, Wood had 4 points, Artman had 3 points and Kelly Sirtak had 2 points.
The Chargers upped their record to 16-2 on the season.