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- Written by: Jeremy Chawgo - Breese Journal Sports Editor
The Central Cougars put together about as dominating of a postseason as you can imagine with a 7-0 postseason run where all were at least by eight points and six of them were by double figures.
They trailed for just 85 seconds in the entire postseason en route to their second State Championship. It’s their fifth Final Four trophy and they ended the season with 30 or more wins for the third-straight season, checking in at 32-3.
Central senior Taylor Trame made the IBCA’s All-State First Team while finishing her career with 1,579 career points, which is the third-most in school history.
Fellow senior Lexy Santel was selected to the Second Team, while junior Ella Nettemeier was honored on the Third Team.
Senior Lily Butler was selected to the Special Mention Team and also is believed to be one of the only players to win two State Championships on two teams in the same class. She also won the title as a freshman at Mater Dei. Her freshman State title also came against Byron.
Mater Dei senior Amelia Beer was also selected to the All-State Special Mention Team.
Central 44, Byron 28: The Cougars balance and defense proved to be the difference in their rout over the Tigers on Friday at Illinois State University.
“Adversity teaches you a lot in life,” said Central head coach Nathan Rueter. “I think one of the most important lessons in life is to never give up and learn from your mistakes.”
Like they have in all of the postseason, the Lady Cougars ran out to an early lead with a three-pointer from Lily Butler and a put-back jumper from Taylor Trame to lead 5-0, 5:45 in.
Byron got their first bucket with three minutes left in the first when Malia Morton scored on a drive. CHS got a jumper from Lexy Santel for a 7-2 lead.
The Tigers ended the quarter with a 7-0 run to take a brief lead at 9-7 as the quarter expired.
Ella Nettemeier, who had only hit 12 three-pointers this season, hit a triple from the left baseline with 20 seconds gone in the second quarter to take the lead for good for CHS.
