Neoga Headed To State Girls Basketball Tourney

Neoga claims the Class 1A Wayne City Super-sectional.

WAYNE CITY -- Sydney Richards and her Neoga High School teammates decided they weren't done yet.

Down by 14 points in the third quarter, it looked like their season was going to end. With a first-ever sectional championship in school history for the Neoga squad last Friday evening, it seemed as if that's where the Indians would finish. But, the scrappy squad pulled within 12 points before heading into the final period.

From there, Richards went on a tear. She knocked in a basket, got fouled on a three-pointer and calmly went to the line to nail all three free throws. She then added on three more baskets for 11 points in the quarter. Avery Fearday nailed a three-pointer and two baskets for seven points while Trista Moore put in the three-pointer that gave Neoga the lead.

After scoring only 26 points over three quarters, Neoga put in 24 in the final period to pull out the 50-48 victory over Goreville and earn a trip to the Class 1A State Tournament this Thursday.

Goreville edged out to a 12-8 opening quarter lead as Abby Compton scored five points for the Blackcats. The lead went to 26-16 at halftime. Goreville had a 14-8 run with Compton scoring five and Macie Tosh adding four points. Neoga's S. Richards scored six of her team's eight points.

But the contest was beginning to turn. The Blackcats outscored Neoga only 12-10 in the third period setting up the final quarter heroics by Neoga.

Coach Kim Romack's squad then put together the miracle final quarter.

S. Richards finshed with 21 points on eight of 13 from the field and five of five at the free throw line. She also had 11 rebounds in the contest. Also in double figures was Haylee Campbell with 10 on four field goals and two of three at the line. She also had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Moore chipped in with nine points.

Goreville finished the season with a 23-11 record. The Blackcats were led by Compton with 14 points and 11 rebounds and Jasilyn Westerfield with 12 points and nine boards.

Neoga advances to the Class 1A State Tournament with a 28-7 record. The Indians will square off against Brimfield, a 45-42 winner over Okawville for the Mount Sterling Brown County Sectional.

The other two squads competing at State will be Serena, a 46-34 winner over Colfax Ridgeview to win its own regional and Galena, a 55-25 winner over Chicago Hope Academy at Hoffman Estates.

Neoga will meet Brimfield at 10 a.m. Thursday while Serena and Galena will square off at 11:45 a.m. The losers drop into the third place contest at 7 p.m. The winners advance to the state championship game at 11 a.m. Saturday. This year all the state tournament championship games will be played Saturday. The Class 2A is at 1 p.m., 3A at 5:30 p.m. and 4A at 7:15 p.m.

Class 1A Wayne City Super-Sectional

Championship

NEOGA (50)

S. Richards 8-13 5-5 -- 21, Campbell 4-11 2-3 10, Fearday 3-12 0-0 7, Moore 4-8 0-0 9, Hakman 0-4 1-2 1, B. Richards 1-5 0-0 2. TOTALS 20-53 FG, 8-10 FT.

GOREVILLE (48)

Compton 6-15 2-6 14, Suits 1-8 2-2 4, Westerfield 5-10 2-3 12, Webb 3-6 0-2 7, King 2-4 0-0 5, Tosh 2-5 2-2 6. TOTALS 19-48 FG, 8-15 FT.

Neoga                8      8    10    24    --    50

Goreville          12    14    12    10    --    48

3-point FG -- Neoga 2 (Fearday 1, Moore 1), Goreville 2 (Webb 1, King 1).

The Neoga crowd roots the girls on during the Class 1A Wayne City Super-sectional.

Neoga players and fans celebrate after the buzzer sounds.