The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
By: Michael Rodeffer, The Quill
The Illini West girls basketball team played in the Lady Tiger Classic girl’s basketball tournament in Beardstown last week and came away with the championship plaque.
Illini West first played Jacksonville Routte on December 28th and came away with a 54-20 victory.
Rylee Reed with 16 points and Caydee Kirham with 14 points led the Chargers in scoring.
Josie Bryan pitched in 7 points and Hallie Ray and Abbie Johnson each added 6 points. Reagan Reed also had 5 points.
On the 29th of December the Charger girls knocked off the Havana girls team by a score of 40-32.
The Chargers only led by 2 points after the first quarter 12-10 and also had a 2 point lead at halftime 21-19. It was a close game all the way and after 3 quarters the Chargers lead was down to a single point at 25-24.
Reagan Reed scored 7 of her 11 points on the night to help seal the victory at 40-32.
Caydee Kirhma paced the Chargers with 21 points, followed by Reagan Reed’s 11 points.
Josie Bryan added 5 points, Hallie Ray scored 2 points, and Abbie Johnson had 1 point.
The victory sent the Charger girls to the finals against Mendon Unity.
The Chargers played for the 3rd night in a row against a tough Mendon Unity team.
The Chargers held a 17-13 lead after one quarter. Rylee Reed led the Chargers in the first quarter with 6 points.
Caydee Kirkham paced the chargers in the 2nd quarter with 10 points for a 36-31 half time lead. Kirkham also scored 6 of the Chargers 11 points in the 3rd quarter for a 47-41 lead.
In the fourth quarter the Charger girls caught fire and poured in 19 points while holding Mendon Unity to 10 points.
Final score of the championship game was 66-51.
Kirkham led all scorers with 29 points, including three 3 pointers.
Josie Bryan pitched in 14 points and Hallie Ray added 7 points. Abbie Johnson and Rylee Reed each had 6 points and Reagan Reed had 4 points.
The Chargers win upped their record to 15-1.
Caydee Kirkham was named MVP of the tournament. Kirkham and Rylee Reed was named to the all-tournament team.
Front row left to right: Delaina Lambert, Caydee, Madi, Elly, Marie
Back row left to right: Elliotte, Suprenant,Josie,Abbie,Hallie,Allison, Reagan, Rylee, Patrick,Gooding
The Illini West girls traveled to play South Fulton on Monday, January 3rd and host Unity at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Carthage.