Lebanon girls will face deep field at Class 1A state basketball tournament
The Lebanon Greyhounds will make their first appearance in the IHSA Class 1A state girls basketball tournament Friday when they take on the Danville Schlarman Hilltoppers at 12:45 p.m. at Redbird Arena In Normal.
The Stockton Blackhawks will play the Bethany Okaw Valley Timberwolves in the first semifinal at 11 a.m.
The semifinal winners will meet for the Class 1A state championship game at 12:45 p.m. Saturday. The third-place game is at 11 a.m.
Following is a closer look at the four teams competing for the Class 1A state title.
Bethany Okaw Valley (29-5)
Classification enrollment: 163
Nickname: Timberwolves
Colors: Royal Blue/Black/Silver
Conference: Little Okaw Valley
Coach: Brad Ackers (3rd year, 67-23)
Last year's advancement: Lost to Moweaqua (Central A&M) 70-59 in regional final
State tournament history: This is the first state tournament appearance for Bethany Okaw Valley.
Starters: Paige Robinson, sr. (24.3 ppg, 310 rebounds, 99 assists); Madison Vogel, jr. (4.6 ppg, 141 rebounds); Natalie Jeffers, sr. (9.1 ppg, 169 rebounds); Hope Ruppert, sr. (2 ppg, 120 rebounds); Bella Benning, jr. (8.2 ppg, 92 rebounds, 40 assists)
Stockton (31-2)
Classification enrollment: 190
Nickname: Lady Blackhawks
Colors: Maroon/Gold
Conference: Northwest Upstate Illini
Coach: Tim Timpe (2nd year, 44-17)
Last year's advancement: Lost to Pearl City 53-44 in regional semifinal
State tournament history: This is Stockton's third appearance. The Blackhawks were fourth in Class 1A in 2003.
Starters: Aspyn Stewart, sr. (9.2 ppg, 81 rebounds); Tiana Timpe, fr. (12.5 ppg, 114 rebounds, 116 assists); Megan Gille, sr. (8 ppg, 259 rebounds); Elizabeth Eisfeller, soph. (8.9 ppg, 88 rebounds); Emily Offenheiser, sr. (15.4 ppg, 393 rebounds)
Danville Schlarman (31-1)
Classification enrollment: 99
Nickname: Hilltoppers
Colors: Royal Blue/Gold
Conference: Vermilion Valley
Coach: Keith Peoples (7th year, 154-47)
Last year's advancement: Lost to Heworth 48-47 in sectional semifinal
State tournament history: This is the first state tournament appearance for Danville Schlarman.
Starters: Sydney Gouard, jr. (9.9 ppg, 162 rebounds); Anaya Peoples, jr. (17.2 ppg, 220 rebounds, 148 assists); Janiah Newell, jr. (9.8 ppg) Capria Brown, soph. (14 ppg, 143 rebounds, 102 assists); Destiny Dye, jr. (5.3 ppg)
Lebanon (31-1)
Classification Enrollment: 146
Nickname: Greyhounds
Colors: Purple/White
Conference: Cahokia
Coach: Chad Cruthis (4th year, 107-12)
Last year's advancement: Lost to Hardin Calhoun 61-50 in sectional semifinal
State tournament history: This is the first state tournament appearance for Lebanon.
Starters: Kendra Bass, sr. (14.3 ppg, 114 rebounds); Krista Bass, sr. (11.1 ppg, 124 rebounds, 83 assists); Abigail Reinneck, jr. (5.6 ppg, 126 rebounds, 102 assists); Emily Reinneck, jr. (12.8 ppg, 141 rebounds, 108 assists); Madison Schoenfeld, sr. (9.8 ppg, 244 rebounds)
This story was originally published February 22, 2018 at 7:05 PM with the headline "Lebanon girls will face deep field at Class 1A state basketball tournament."