Neoga Victorious, Advances To Class 1A Girls Super-Sectional

Neoga players are surrounded by happy fans after winning the Casey-Westfield Sectional.

CASEY -- It's de ja vu all over again.

Neoga High School is headed to the Class 1A girls super-sectional after picking up a 44-38 victory over Tuscola at the Casey-Westfield Sectional championship game Thursday evening.

The Indians won the sectional and super-sectional last year and competed at the State Girls Basketball Tournament land fell in the opener to Brimfield, 60-44. But Neoga rallied to take third place by downing Serena, 45-23.

Now, the Indians have a chance to head back to the State Tournament once again after putting themselves into the Effingham St. Anthony Super-Sectional Monday.

The evening at Casey didn't always go as planned, but Neoga had the fortitude to stay calm and put on a 15-7 final quarter run for the victory.

Neoga whipped out to a 12-6 opening quarter lead on Tuscola behind the scoring of Sydney Richards. Richards hit a three-pointer then nailed an old-fashioned three-point play with a basket and a free throw. She finished out with a regular basket for eight of her team's 12 points.

Neoga held a 34-23 halftime lead despite being slightly outscored by the Warriors with an 11-10 count. Brynn Richards and Alison Sampson kept Neoga on track by nailing a three-pointer apiece.

But here came Tuscola. The Warriors went on a third quarter tear as Ella Boyer hit two three-pointers, Sydney Moss put in two baskets and Harley Woodard was three of four at the line. The Warriors moved into a 31-29 lead going into the final period.

Then it was time for Coach Kim Romack's squad to remain calm.

Neoga had a 15-7 final period run behind three baskets and nine of 12 at the line.

S. Richards hit a basket and was six of six from the free throw line while Haylee Campbell nailed a basket and was two of two at the line. Allison Worman put in a basket and Brynn Richards a free throw and the Indians pulled out the 44-38 victory.

S. Richards finished with 19 points on five of 10 fron the field and eight of nine at the line. She also pulled down 13 rebounds. Also in double figures was B. Richards with 10 points and seven rebounds.

Neoga had a slight 33-32 edge in the rebound department  The Indians hit 37.1 percent from the field but came through from the free throw line with 71.4 percent.

Tuscola was led by Boyer with 13 and Woodard with 12. The Warriors connected on a mere 23.5 percent from the field and were only 38 percent at the line. Tuscola ended the season with a 33-2 record.

Neoga advances to the super-sectional with a 32-3 mark and will now meet Christopher at 7 p.m. Monday.

Christopher was a 58-43 winner over Edwards County (Albion) at its own sectional. Christopher was led by Amiah Hargrove with 30 and Jessica Gordon with 18.

In other sectional championships -- Havana 40, Mount Sterling Brown County 34; Chicago Hope Academy 45, Chicago Morgan Park Academy 31; Okawville 63 ,Carlyle 41; Champaign St. Thomas More 63, Mount Pulaski 48; Galena 48, Orangeville 17 and Serena 36, Newark 24.

Monday's games, along with Neoga vs. Christopher, include Chicago Hope Academy vs. Galena at Elgin, Havana vs. Okawville at Mount Sterling and Champaign St. Thomas More vs. Serena at Pontiac.

Class 1A Casey-Westfield Sectional

Championship

TUSCOLA (38)

A. Boyer 1-3 -- 5, E. Boyer 3-4 -- 13, Woodard 4-4 -- 12, Wilcox 0-0 -- 0, Moss 3-0 -- 6, Patterson 1-0 -- 2, McCauley 0-0 -- 0, Thomason 0-0 -- 0. TOTALS 12 FG, 11 FT.

NEOGA (44)

B. Richards 3-3 -- 10, Sampson 1-1 -- 4, Hakman 1-0 -- 2, S. Richards 5-8 -- 19, Campbell 1-3 -- 5, Worman 2-0 -- 4, Osborn 0-0 -- 0. TOTALS 13 FG, 15 FT.

Tuscola              6    11    14      7    --    38

Neoga              12    10      7    15    --    44

3-point FG -- Tuscola 3 (E. Boyer 3), Neoga 2 (Sampson 1, S. Richards 1).

Neoga players hoist the sectional trophy aloft towards their fans Thursday.

Neoga High School with its sectional trophy.

Class 2A Sectionals

In Class 2A sectional championships:

Chicago DePaul College Prep 50, Wilmette Regina Domincan 25; Minonk Fieldcrest 68, Peotone 64; Breese Mater Dei 40, Breese Central 38; Chicago Noble/Butler 41, Chicago Phillips 27; Paris 42, Pana 28; Quincy Notre Dame 44, Camp Point Central 29; Mackinaw Deer Creek 37, Eureka 32 and Byron 61, Stillman Valley 38.

Monday's super-sectional schedule includes:

Chicago DePaul College Prep vs. Byron at Elgin; Quincy Notre Dame vs. Deer Creek-Mackinaw at Macomb; Minonk Fieldcrest vs. Chicago Noble/Butler at Peotone and Breese Mater Dei vs. Paris at Salem.

Class 3A Sectionals

In 3A sectional championships:

Highland 66, Mount Vernon 54; LaGrange Park Nazareth Academy 60, Chicago St. Ignatius College Prep 32; Chicago Heights Marian 45, Chicago Morgan Park 34; Deerfield 49, Mundelein Carmel 39; Lombard Montini 53, New Lenox Providence Catholic 38; Peoria 35, Washington 29; Oak Park Fenwick 34, River Forest Trinity 28 and Lincoln 53, Rochester 23.

Monday's super-sectional schedule includes:

Deerfield vs. Lombard Montini at Carpentersville, Chicago Heights Marian vs. Peoria at Pontiac, LaGrange Park Nazareth Academy vs. Oak Park Fenwick at River Forest and Highland vs. Lincoln at Taylorville.