Girls Basketball Top Performances: Week 7

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.

Stats are critical to highlight these players and teams. Get in touch to submit a girls team or player at any point during the 2021-22 season. I can be reached at KalebCarter4256@gmail.com or on Twitter @Kaleb_M_Carter.

Editor’s note: Records are accurate through Sunday, January 2, unless otherwise noted.

Notable Week 7 Team Performances

Spotlight: Geneva Vikings

Despite a Morton College Christmas Tournament title game loss to Fremd, the Geneva Vikings grabbed one of the more eye-opening victories of the season this year with a 59-53 win over Benet at the same tourney on Wednesday.

The balance of Geneva’s team, and the ability of players deep into the bench to step up and make meaningful contributions, makes the Vikings as dangerous as anyone in the state once again.

“They (Benet) previously beat Naperville North which we struggled against, and we had a pretty bad loss to them,” Geneva senior Zosia Wrobel said after the win over Benet. “So we were pretty excited to come out (with a win). They’re ranked really high, so we left everything out there and we were really excited from the get-go.”

“It’s just a great win, Geneva junior Cassidy Arni said. “I also think it helps us realize how great we can be.”

Geneva’s (11-4) losses have come to quality competition, including Carmel Catholic, Sycamore and Naperville North. The Vikings also have wins over eight teams with .500 or better records, including giving Deerfield one of its two losses.

Arni and Leah Palmer both made the all-tournament team at the Christmas tournament.

“We’re not riding one kid or two kids,” Geneva coach Sarah Meadows said. “We need everybody.”

The Vikings held a 29-15 halftime lead over Fremd in the tournament title game before Fremd made a furious run led by IUPUI commit Brianna Wooldridge.

“This is my last run, so I’m just leaving everything out there, Wrobel, who scored 18 in a tournament win over Rolling Meadows, said. “I’m done holding back. I think (we’re) playing with a team effort and I think I have that mentality locked in,”

She added on.

“I had really high expectations from this team and I told them that from the start,” she said. “We’re just trying to live up to those expectations.”

Serena

The Huskers are 16-2 after defeating Indian Creek 48-34 to win the Amboy Tournament. Makayla McNally, Paisley Twait and Katie Baker earned all-tournament distinctions as the Huskers defeated Mendota 63-25, Marquette 54-37 and Amboy 33-23.

Illini West

Caydee Kirkham and Rylee Reed led the charge for Illini West, which won the Beardstown Lady Tiger Classic, with both garnering all-tournament honors. A 66-51 victory over Mendon Unity clinched the title.

Kirkham scored 29 points in the championship game and averaged 20.3 points over four victories, including wins over Havana (40-32), Routt (54-20) and West Hancock (64-28).

Stevenson

Now 16-1 with a lone loss to Loyola Academy, the Patriots defeated Barrington 53-51 on Nisha Musunuri’s last-second bucket to earn Dundee-Crown’s 38th annual Komaromy Classic title.

The Patriots defeated Lake Park (50-25), St. Charles North (55-40) and Lake Forest (50-35). Ava Bardic reached 1,000 career points, while Simone Sawyer and Emory Klatt continued their strong play for one of the state’s best teams.

Williamsville

Bounced back and defeated Greenfield/NW 55-48 to win the Carlinville Holiday Tournament. 

Tylie Barton and Maddie Roberst both made the all-tournament team and Williamsville defeated South County (46-43), Nokoms (46-37), Lincolnwood (46-17) and lost to Calhoun (38-28). Alton Telegraph reporter Greg Shashack detailed the win over Greenfield.

Rockridge

Rockridge handed Monmouth-Roseville its first loss of the season and improved to 13-4 by winning the Cliff Warkins Holiday Classic, 42-29. The Quad City Times’ Terry Duckett covered the championship game.

The Rockets bounced back from a 51-49 loss to Moline by defeating Wethersfield (60-25), Brooks (73-43) and Mercer County (47-27) before defeating Monmouth-Roseville. Madison Heisch and Kierney McDonald made the all-tournament team.

Geneseo

Danielle Beach scored 18 in the title game win over Washington (52-49) as Geneseo stayed undefeated (16-0) and won the large school division of the State Farm Classic. The semifinal game was a strong 68-51 win over Morton in which Kammie Ludwig scored 25 and Beach added 16. The Maple Leafs also scored victories over Springfield (51-48) and Normal West (67-42).

Winnebago

Winnebago (17-0) claimed the small school title at the State Farm Holiday Classic, notably beating one of the state’s better small school programs, Brimfield, 57-42. Bellarmine signee Miyah Brown scored 21 in the win over Brimfield in the title game. (Brimfield’s Eastern Illinois signee Ella Lune scored 28 in the loss.)

Winnebago also defeated Riverdale (80-19), Camp Point-Central (33-21) and Normal University High (57-34) on the week.

Mattoon

Mallory Ramage scored 30 points in the title game of the Mattoon Holiday Tournament and reached 2,000 points for her career as the Green Wave downed Mahomet-Seymour 48-43

Mattoon defeated Marshall (64-46) and Teutopolis’ JV squad (73-27), as well as Mahomet-Seymour in pool play, 52-49.

Okawville

The Rockets remain undefeated after beating Alton (65-58) in the championship game of the Mascoutah Girls Invitational. They also defeated O’Fallon (58-57) and previously undefeated Freeburg, 49-24.

Megan Rennebarge’s 21-point, 10-rebound double-doble led the Rockets past Alton. Briley Rhodes and Alayna Kraus were all-tournament selections.

Neoga

Sydney Richards’ 21 points were key in Neoga’s 49-36 win over Tuscola to win the Monticello Holiday Hoopla Basketball Tournament. Neoga improved to 14-2, as detailed by Millie Lange.

Notable Week 7 Player Performances

Claire Wagner, ICCP, Sr.

Scored 32 points in a 40-28 win over Rosary in the Lisle Holiday Cage Classic.

Posted 29 points in a 51-43 overtime win over Antioch in the semifinals of the Lisle tourney.

Helped her team to wins over Reed-Custer (52-10) and St. Edward’s (46-33).

Sophie Swanson, Barrington, Jr.

Scored 20 in a title game loss of the Komaromy Classic to Stevenson.

Posted a 19-point, 6-rebound and 3-steal line in a 62-44 win over South Elgin.

Scored 37 points in a 75-39 win over Fenwick.

Xamiya Walton, Butler College Prep, So.

Averaged 22 points, 5 assists, 2 rebounds and 2 steals over four straight wins at the Hillcrest Holiday Classic, winning MVP honors in the process.

Destiny Jackson, Whitney Young, Fr.

Made the all-tournament team at the Montini Catholic Christmas Tournament alongside teammate Olivia Vick.

Had 18 points, 4 assists, 4 steals and 3 rebounds in a 50-44 win over Loyola Academy.

Posted 19 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks in a loss to Naperville North.

Layne Rupert, Hillsboro, Jr.

Scored 21 in a 59-27 win over Pawnee, her sixth consecutive 20-plus-point scoring game.

Was named all-tournament at Riverton after Hillsboro’s 42-30 win over Auburn in the fifth-place game.

Scored 26 in a 67-18 win over Heyworth.

Added 25 points in a 64-56 loss to PORTA.

Cate Uhren, Bloomington Central Catholic, So.

Led her team to a consolation championship at the State Farm Classic.

Totaled 22 points, 6 rebounds and 4 steals in a 58-42 win over Sacred Heart-Griffin.

Scored 17 in a 61-53 win over Rockford Lutheran.

Had 13 points in defeating El Paso-Gridley 61-35.

Led the Saints with 11 points in a 46-37 loss to Rock Falls.

Mia Kennelly, Oak Lawn, Sr.

Averaged ​​20.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.7 steals and 2.7 assists at the Sandburg Holiday Tournament.

Taylor Charles, Burlington Central, Sr.

The Princeton signee is averaging 13.1 points, 11.9 rebounds, 3.2 blocks and 2 assists per game as the Rockets sit 8-6.

Averaged 12.5 points, 13.8 rebounds, 3.5 blocks and 2.5 assists over four games at the Montini Catholic Christmas Tournament.

Jarius Powers, Alton, Fr.

Powers scored 15 in a 1-point loss to unbeaten Okawville and 34 points with 11 rebounds and 2 assists in a 63-52 win over Belleville West.

Sydney Harris, Edwardsville, Sr.

The Central Michigan signee scored 40 in a 76-64 win over Marquette.

She put up 24 points in a 62-34 victory against Civic Memorial.

Posted 21 points in a loss to Eureka.

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