By Kaleb Carter
Each week, I’ll be highlighting the best team and individual performances from around the state that stood out in girls basketball. It could be a state record, an amazing highlight or anything in between. Get in touch to submit a girls team or player at any point during the 2021-22 season.
With one of the biggest wins of the young season, O’Fallon proved that it will be a force to be reckoned with in southern Illinois basketball, beating Whitney Young 56-54.
The Panthers also scored a 57-46 victory over MacArthur.
Coach Nick Knolhoff didn’t know quite how good his young team would be after losing three seniors from last season’s 13-2 squad, but the Panthers delivered in Week 1.
“I didn’t quite have an expectation coming into this season,” Knolhoff said. “I knew we’d be young and inexperienced, but I knew we had a lot of talent. The COVID year, we had a very good incoming freshman class that didn’t get to really develop or excel in a normal (four-month season), so I am starting a sophomore and I have three sophomores who are giving me very good varsity minutes off the bench.”
Leading the way for the Panthers this week were juniors Simone Dowell and Laylah Jackson, the latter a Belleville East transfer who came to the school wanting play with her cousin, Dowell. Dowell had the game-winning bucket for the Panthers with under two seconds to go versus Whitney Young. Dowell holds scholarship offers from Saint Louis, Missouri State, Illinois State and others.
— Shannon Dowell (@shannonsimoneee) November 22, 2021
The Panthers have also gotten 10 points from sophomore D’Myjah Bolds in each of her first two varsity games.
“We have size, we have shooters, and we have blockers and we have great defenders,” Knolhoff said. “I pretty much go 9 or 10 girls deep off the bench.”
Added Knolhoff, “This season we have a very, very good chance to go really far.”
A long postseason volleyball for senior Sydney Harris and others didn’t hinder a loaded Edwardsville team to start the season.
The Tigers knocked off Whitney Young 47-45 thanks to two Macy Silvey free throws with 2.8 seconds to go. Harris scored 21 points in the win.
Tigers rally past Dolphins https://t.co/XcHhQEtWr6) via @theintelligencer
— Matthew Kamp (@kamper317) November 21, 2021
The week after three Spartans signed NLIs to play college basketball (Taylor Wells: Mount Mercy; Payton Jacob: Illinois Wesleyan; Ella Armstrong: Truman State), the Spartans went 3-0 and defeated Centennial 54-26 to win the Danville Turkey Tournament.
🏀 Toyota of Danville Turkey Tournament Champs! 🏀 Both teams go 3-0 on the week and get to take home the hardware!
— SJOGirlsHoops (@SJOGirlsHoops1) November 19, 2021
FINAL SCORE: SJO 54 Centennial 26#LeaveYourLegacy pic.twitter.com/ZYojAkjGnT
Fieldcrest won the Integrated Seed Solutions Tournament with a 22-point performance from junior Ashlyn May in a 60-50 win over Serena in the final. Stood 4-0 after a week of play.
Dixon won the Oregon Thanksgiving Invitational, defeating Rockford Christian 37-32 to finish a 4-0 week.
Varsity🏀Duchesses👑 go 4-0 this week to win the Oregon Thanksgiving Invitational with a hard fought 37-32 win over a tough and talented Rockford Christian Royal🦁s team. JV goes 3-1 and takes 2nd place. Back in action Monday at St. Bede 🐻. 👑🏀💜🪨 pic.twitter.com/FcpGtW46kv
— duchessbasketball (@duchessbasketb1) November 21, 2021
Won the ROWVA/Williamsfield-Ridgewood Tournament by defeating Abingdon 46-31 in the title game. The Titans also defeated West Central (46-33), Galva (52-28) and ROWVA (50-44). Junior Mattie Gillen scored 28 in the ROWVA win.
CHAMPS…M/R Girls defeat a good Abingdon team 46-31 to win the Championship. Great team defense was the key. Bri Woodard with 10, Gillen with 13 and Huston with 19. Unbelievably Proud coach. #win4 pic.twitter.com/KJBm3CHdFr
— MRHS Titans GBB (@GbbMrhs) November 21, 2021
Took first at the Prairie Central Turkey Tourney with a 69-54 win over Eureka. Also defeated Pontiac (53-26), Prairie Central (47-24) and Illinois Valley Central (55-25).
Won the Comet Classic, defeating Reed-Custer 44-37 in the championship game. Also earned wins over Gardner-South Wilmington (40-15), Grant Park (38-34) and Wilmington (42-29).
Went 4-0 in the Princeton Holiday Tournament. Won games over Bureau Valley (40-21), Midland (53-32), Henry (40-33 in overtime) and Princeton (36-21). Sophomore Ava Hatton led the way for the Panthers with games of 20, 19 and 17 points.
Won the Macomb Tournament Championship, 53-30 over Alleman. Taryn Wickman and Kaity Robinson were all-tournament selections as Havana went 4-0.
Scored 37 and grabbed 23 rebounds in a 66-61 win over Olympia.
Clinton Senior Mallory Cyrulik had 37 pts & 23 rebounds and was named to the Clinton Turkey Tussle All-Tournament Team...Lady Maroons won over Olympia on Saturday 66 to 61 in the 3rd place game
— Todd Yokley (@CIC2005) November 22, 2021
Averaged 17.7 points, 6 steals and 6.3 assists per game over three games, leading the Redbirds to a home tournament title. The sophomore was named tournament MVP.
MVP ‼️ MVP ‼️ MVP ‼️ @fbclewis30 pic.twitter.com/TKLRBr5Zp2
— Alton Womens Basketball (@AltonWbb) November 23, 2021
Scored 26 in the final game of Kenwood’s tip-off tournament to lead her team to a win over Butler College Prep. Dunn also scored her 1,000th career point. Recently signed her NLI with Loyola.
Super Congratulations to @BleedGbb 2022 @whittt24 on going over the 1000-point mark today @TipoffThe. We are so very proud of you and all of your efforts! @BroncoSociety @KenwoodKAN @kenwoodfriends @ChiHoopsExpress @ILPrepsInsider @ChiEliteClassic @ChiUrbanLeague @PGHIllinois pic.twitter.com/8ff0iB9MRt
— KenwoodBleedGBB (@BleedGbb) November 22, 2021
In a 70-38 win over Hyde Park, finished with 29 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds and 2 steals.
In a 66-12 win over Lindblom posted 24 points, 3 assists, 6 rebounds and 6 steals.
Had 27 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, 3 steals in 82-15 win over DRW.
Totaled 22 points, 5 assists, 5 steals, 2 rebounds in 72-18 win versus Chicago Vocational.
Scored 45 and had 14 boards in a 71-62 overtime win over Plainfield North, had 35 points in a 64-51 win over Beecher.
Had 17 points and 7 rebounds in a 60-36 win over Chicago Agriculture.
Put up 19 points, 10-plus boards in a 59-48 win against Andrew.
@janae_kent is out here playin 2K during the regular season..
— Southsuburbanhoops (@ssuburbanhoops) November 16, 2021
These are video games numbers 👀👀🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🏀🏀 https://t.co/GVmSJ1ufYB pic.twitter.com/WGW9rjtdqH
26 points in championship game of Lincoln-Way Central Tournament and earned MVP honors. Scored 21 points in 59-54 win over Lincoln-Way Central. Posted 26 points in 72-48 victory vs. Minooka.
Lady 🐯 take the CHAMPIONSHIP of the Lincoln Way Central 🦃 Tournament.
— Joliet West Girls Basketball (@JWGirlsBball) November 20, 2021
🐯 beat Lincoln Way West 62 - 47.
🐯 were led by:
Lisa Thompson (Jr) w/ 26pts… MVP
Caiside Snapp (Sr) w/ 10pts
Destiny McNair (Jr) w/ 10pts
Grace Walsh (Sr) w/ 13pts… All Tournament Team
Scored 34 points and made 10 three-pointers in the first half of a 72-24 win over Mt. Zion. Finished with 42 points and 12 triples.
Civic Memorial - 72
— THS Athletics (@TvilleAthletics) November 20, 2021
Mt. Zion - 24
End of 3rd quarter
Olivia Durbin breaks the Taylorville Thanksgiving Tournament record for points in a game with 42 points.
Scored 36 points in a 66-31 win over Buffalo Grove. Swanson tied Barrington’s single-game scoring record, set by Taylor Thompson on 1/28/20.
Sepulveda had 22 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals versus Willowbrook. Added 23 points versus Lockport.
Willowbrook Invitational Game 1 & 2 Highlights! PEHS #42 | Game 1- 23 points | Game 2 - 22 points! @PEHSgbb @mwehoops @prephoopsjacob pic.twitter.com/k9a0PAattm
— Lexi Sepulveda (@lexi_sepulveda) November 22, 2021
Finished with 24 points, 7 rebounds, 4 steals and 3 assists in a loss to Riverside Brookfield, her first varsity game. Johnson also had 19 points in a 49-39 victory versus Hope Academy.
FORMER “GIT ON MY LEVEL” SMALLFRY BASKETBALL PLAYER HER 2ND HS GAME 2015 KIAYA JOHNSON FINISH WITH 19PTS 6 REBOUNDS PUT THAT WORK N U GIT CONSTANT RESULTS…. pic.twitter.com/zM5um4Pvdf
— Lauren Foster (@LaurenFoater) November 20, 2021
The SIUE women’s basketball commit scored 32 points in an 80-65 win over Moline, knocking down seven three-pointers. Had 23 points in a 46-32 win over Joliet Central and 23 more in a loss to Joliet West.
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