Published on February 25, 2026 7:26 am
Last Updated on February 25, 2026 7:47 am
BY MILLIE LANGE
OLNEY — This game, featuring Teutopolis against Mount Carmel in the Class 2A Olney Girls Basketball Sectional, had to have Wooden Shoes fans worried.
Mount Carmel, who finished ranked 10th in the final Class 2A State poll, fought T-town to a 7-7 opening quarter tie as both teams were slow in the scoring department in a game heard on KJ Country 102.3.
But that didn’t last long for Mount Carmel. The Golden Aces quickly went to work in the second period with a 17-8 run to lead 24-15 at halftime. Tensley Dunlap connected on two three-pointers while Alivia Peach added one from beyond the arc. Riley Hersey tallied six points.
The Shoes, meanwhile were struggling. Kelsey Niemerg kept the offense going with three baskets while Eva Mette connected on two free throws but T-town trailed by nine points.
The halftime talk by Coach Laurie Thompson must have put some fire in the team. T-town came out with a 12-6 third period and trailed by three going into the final quarter.
Mount Carmel’s Maycee Randall, at 6-foot-3, hindered the Shoes until T-town went at her, getting her in foul trouble.
Niemerg scored five points, Anna Probst connected on a three-pointer and Malea Helmink two baskets.
Then the Shoes went on a rampage and it came from a player who had not scored through the first three quarters.
Allie Ruholl cut loose, scoring three baskets and putting in two free throws for eight points. Meanwhile, Niemerg connected on two baskets and three free throws for seven points.
The Shoes were on fire from the free throw line. T-town finished with 17 of 22 for the game, 15 of those coming in the final quarter rally.
Niemerg tallied 22 points on nine field goals, one a three-pointer, and three of four at the line. Helmink added 13 and Anna Probst 11.
Allie Ruholl led the team in rebounding with seven while Niemerg pulled down five. Jersey Gaddis and Ruholl had two steals each.
The Shoes hit 43 percent from the field for the game and were 68 percent at the free throw line. T-town had a 29-27 lead on the boards.
Mount Carmel had two players in double figures as Tensley Dunlap led the way with 15 while Maycee Randall added 10. The Aces connected on only 36 percent from the field for the game but were 71 percent from the free throw line.
Now it’s on to face Paris, a 54-45 winner over Olney, Richland County in the opener Tuesday evening.
The Shoes will have to contain Macy Bicknell who scored 23 against Effingham in the victory over the Hearts.
Class 2A Olney Sectional
TEUTOPOLIS (56)
Bloemer 0-0 — 0, J. Gaddis 0-0 — 0, Helmink 4-5 — 13, Martin 0-0 — 0, Mette 0-2 — 2, Niemerg 9-3 — 22, Ordner 0-0 — 0, An. Probst 2-5 — 11, Ruholl 3-2 — 8. TOATLS 18 FG, 17 FT.
MOUNT CAMEL (49)
Peach 2-0 — 6, Hershey 6-1 — 13, Z. Randall 0-2 — 2, Dunlap 5-1 — 15, Knapp 0-0 — 0, M. Randall 3-4 — 10, Sellers 1-0 — 3, Hammell 0-0 — 0. TOTALS 17 FG, 8 FT.
Teutopolis 7 8 12 29 — 56
Mount Carmel 7 17 6 19 — 49
3-point FG — Teutopolis 3 (An. Probst 2, Niemerg 1), Mount Carmel 7 (Dunlap 4, Peach 2).