High School Sports

O’Fallon outlasts Lisle Benet Academy in double overtime to secure Class 4A title

By Jonathan Duncan For the News-Democrat & O’Fallon Progress

Shannon Dowell, Jailah Pelley, and the O’Fallon Panthers girls basketball team were dialed in early against Lisle Benet Academy on Saturday night in the IHSA Class 4A state tournament at CEFCU Arena (formerly Redbird Arena) on the campus of Illinois State University.

However, the Redwings, led by Lenee Beaumont, flipped the script in the second half with their own comeback and forced overtime.

However, when the dust settled, Pelley and Dowell nailed two free throws each in the final 16 seconds and then in the final 10 seconds of play and O’Fallon held on for a heart-stopping 62-57 double-overtime victory over the Redwings in the IHSA Class 4A championship game.

O’Fallon (34-4) won its first state championship and turned in a record-setting season in the process.

“This team just kept pushing limits,” O’Fallon coach Nick Knollhoff said. “We broke so many records this year and now we have a state championship

Pelley and Dowell kickstarted a 10-0 run that put the Panthers in control early against the Redwings.

A Pelley bucket and a D’Myjah Bolds inside score pushed the Panthers’ lead to 23-8 with just under five minutes left in the first half.

Lenee Beaumont triggered a 7-0 Lisle Benet surge with a 12-foot pull-up jumper, and Lindsay Harzich’s three-ball pulled the Redwings within 27-20 at halftime. Beaumont led Lisle Benet with a game-high 27 points.

Lisle Benet went ahead 50-48 on an Emma Sularski bucket with 28.7 seconds left in regulation, but Dowell answered with a pair of free throws in the final 17 seconds to force overtime. Dowell finished the night with 25 points and Pelly added 16 points.

The teams were tied at 54-54 after the first extra session and then in the second OT, with the Panthers up one, Pelley and Dowell knocked down a pair of foul shots each to give O’Fallon its first state title.

“It means everything to us (to win it) because we’ve worked so hard all year, so it means everything,” Dowell said.

Coming up short in the championship game was a painful end to the year for Lisle Benet, which finished the season at 25-8.

“We had our chances at the end ... they made a few plays at the end, we didn’t” said Lisle Benet Academy coach Joe Kilbride. “It’s an amazing group of kids and I’m incredibly proud of them.”

Parade info

A parade/reception for O’Fallon will be at 1 p.m. Sunday. The community will meet at the Panther Dome for a reception of the team and then the parade will follow.

BND reporter Ahmad Lathan contributed to this story.

O’Fallon head coach Nick Knolhoff during the awards ceremony after Saturday’s IHSA Class 4A state championship game against Lisle Benet Academy at CEFCU Arena (formerly Redbird Arena) on the campus of Illinois State University. O’Fallon ultimately prevailed 62-57 to claim the state title.
O’Fallon head coach Nick Knolhoff during the awards ceremony after Saturday’s IHSA Class 4A state championship game against Lisle Benet Academy at CEFCU Arena (formerly Redbird Arena) on the campus of Illinois State University. O’Fallon ultimately prevailed 62-57 to claim the state title. Chris Johns For the News-Democrat




Pictured is the O’Fallon basketball team after defeating Lisle Benet Academy 62-57 in the IHSA Class 4A state championship game at CEFCU Arena (formerly Redbird Arena) on the campus of Illinois State University.
Pictured is the O’Fallon basketball team after defeating Lisle Benet Academy 62-57 in the IHSA Class 4A state championship game at CEFCU Arena (formerly Redbird Arena) on the campus of Illinois State University. Chris Johns For the News-Democrat


O’Fallon’s Malia Robertson during the awards ceremony after Saturday’s IHSA Class 4A state championship game against Lisle Benet Academy at CEFCU Arena (formerly Redbird Arena) on the campus of Illinois State University. O’Fallon ultimately prevailed 62-57 to claim the state title.
O’Fallon’s Malia Robertson during the awards ceremony after Saturday’s IHSA Class 4A state championship game against Lisle Benet Academy at CEFCU Arena (formerly Redbird Arena) on the campus of Illinois State University. O’Fallon ultimately prevailed 62-57 to claim the state title. Chris Johns For the News-Democrat


O’Fallon’s Jailah Pelly shoots the ball during Saturday’s IHSA Class 4A state championship game against Lisle Benet Academy at CEFCU Arena (formerly Redbird Arena) on the campus of Illinois State University. O’Fallon ultimately prevailed 62-57 to claim the state title.
O’Fallon’s Jailah Pelly shoots the ball during Saturday’s IHSA Class 4A state championship game against Lisle Benet Academy at CEFCU Arena (formerly Redbird Arena) on the campus of Illinois State University. O’Fallon ultimately prevailed 62-57 to claim the state title. Chris Johns For the News-Democrat


O’Fallon’s Shannon Dowel celebrates with the championship trophy after defeating Lisle Benet Academy in Saturday’s IHSA Class 4A state championship game at CEFCU Arena (formerly Redbird Arena) on the campus of Illinois State University. O’Fallon ultimately prevailed 62-57 to claim the state title.
O’Fallon’s Shannon Dowel celebrates with the championship trophy after defeating Lisle Benet Academy in Saturday’s IHSA Class 4A state championship game at CEFCU Arena (formerly Redbird Arena) on the campus of Illinois State University. O’Fallon ultimately prevailed 62-57 to claim the state title. Chris Johns For the News-Democrat


O’Fallon’s Shannon Dowell drives to the basket during Saturday’s IHSA Class 4A state championship game against Lisle Benet Academy at CEFCU Arena (formerly Redbird Arena) on the campus of Illinois State University. O’Fallon ultimately prevailed 62-57 to claim the state title.
O’Fallon’s Shannon Dowell drives to the basket during Saturday’s IHSA Class 4A state championship game against Lisle Benet Academy at CEFCU Arena (formerly Redbird Arena) on the campus of Illinois State University. O’Fallon ultimately prevailed 62-57 to claim the state title. Chris Johns For the News-Democrat


O’Fallon’s Shannon Dowell brings the ball up court during Saturday’s IHSA Class 4A state championship game against Lisle Benet Academy at CEFCU Arena (formerly Redbird Arena) on the campus of Illinois State University. O’Fallon ultimately prevailed 62-57 to claim the state title.
O’Fallon’s Shannon Dowell brings the ball up court during Saturday’s IHSA Class 4A state championship game against Lisle Benet Academy at CEFCU Arena (formerly Redbird Arena) on the campus of Illinois State University. O’Fallon ultimately prevailed 62-57 to claim the state title. Chris Johns For the News-Democrat
O’Fallon’s Josie Christopher takes a 3-pointer shot during Saturday’s IHSA Class 4A state championship game against Lisle Benet Academy at CEFCU Arena (formerly Redbird Arena) on the campus of Illinois State University. O’Fallon ultimately prevailed 62-57 to claim the state title.
O’Fallon’s Josie Christopher takes a 3-pointer shot during Saturday’s IHSA Class 4A state championship game against Lisle Benet Academy at CEFCU Arena (formerly Redbird Arena) on the campus of Illinois State University. O’Fallon ultimately prevailed 62-57 to claim the state title. Chris Johns For the News-Democrat


O’Fallon’s Jailah Pelly drives to the basket during Saturday’s IHSA Class 4A state championship game against Lisle Benet Academy at CEFCU Arena (formerly Redbird Arena) on the campus of Illinois State University. O’Fallon ultimately prevailed 62-57 to claim the state title.
O’Fallon’s Jailah Pelly drives to the basket during Saturday’s IHSA Class 4A state championship game against Lisle Benet Academy at CEFCU Arena (formerly Redbird Arena) on the campus of Illinois State University. O’Fallon ultimately prevailed 62-57 to claim the state title. Chris Johns For the News-Democrat

This story was originally published March 4, 2023 at 11:17 PM.

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