High School Basketball Season Preview

My High School Basketball Season Preview.

Washington Panthers

Record last season 23-7 Regional champion

The Washington Panthers are ready to roll with the key players returning. From Tibbs, McDougall, Guedet, and O'Brien, these Washington Panthers return with a fierce starting lineup. They finished in 2nd place in conference play and had a great season with a record of 23-7. 

This team has a lot of players that will be playing in college. Mazzy O'Brien and Dani Guedet have offers to Chicago State. Avery Tibbs has an offer to McKendree University. Becca McDougall will have some offers in the future. Kate McDougall will have offers in the future. Washington is filled with talent and that has led to a lot of success. This year they look to win the Mid Illini conference after falling one game short of Morton last year.

Players to Watch 

Junior Becca McDougall

Junior Avery Tibbs offer: McKendree

Junior Mazzy O’Brien offers: Chicago State, Valparaiso 

Dani Guedet offer: Chicago State

Peoria Heights Patriots

Record last season 26-7 (most wins in school history) Regional champion

The Peoria Heights girls basketball team had a historic season last year. 26 wins is the most wins in school history. They won regionals for the first time in 10+ years. This year will look a little different. They have a new head coach Derek Scott who was the assistant coach for Peoria Heights last year. They lost their leading scorer in Emily Dana, who now goes to ICC. Janessa Wallace led the team in assists, now goes to Kankakee Community College. The freshman that led the team in blocks with 2.1 blocks per game transferred to IVC.

There is essentially a brand new Peoria Heights team after breaking the school record in wins and winning a regional title. The Lady Patriots will look to climb back up and rebuild to get better.  

Richwoods Knights

Record last season 19-12

The Richwoods Knights have a promising player in Londyn Sommerville. The 6'1 sophomore has a couple offers and looks to be a force in the paint to opposing teams. Losing point guard Kamryn Heider and a bunch of other seniors will be a tough loss for the Knights. We will see how this Knights team does at the start of the season.

Player to watch

Sophomore Londyn Sommerville offers: Bradley, Gardner-Webb, Wichita State

Peoria Notre Dame Irish

Record last season 34-4 (most wins in school history) State champion

PND is coming off its first state championship in school history. With star returners like Lexi Baer, Emy Wardle, and Julia Mingus. The Lady Irish are in a good spot for another terrific season.

The Irish lost their star point guard Mya Wardle as she graduated but her sister Emy is looking like one of the best sophomores in the state and is on the rise as a national recruit. Emy has a couple of division one offers already like Bradley, DePaul, and Eastern Kentucky. The Irish also lost their Southern Illinois Edwardsville commit Kaitlin Cassidy. She will miss her senior year after tearing her ACL in volleyball. 

With a team stacked and ready to go, the Lady Irish can make another run to state. 

Players to Watch

Senior Julia Mingus University of Illinois Springfield commit 

Junior Lexi Baer offers: Bradley, Green Bay, DePaul, Butler, Murray State, Wisconsin Milwaukee, Toledo 

Sophomore Emy Wardle offers: Bradley, DePaul, Eastern Kentucky 

Morton Potters

Record last season 26-6 Regional champion

The Morton Potters are ready for the season as they return with some superstars. After winning the Mid Illini conference and ending the season with a record of 26-6. Paige Selke and VanMeenen’s are player's to keep an eye on. With a hall of fame coach and some serious talent, the Morton Potters can make a run this year and make a lot of noise. Coach Becker's Potters are always good and they will be a team looking to repeat as conference champions and win a regional title. 

Players to Watch 

Senior Ellie VanMeenen offers: North Central, Concordia University, Carroll, Millikin, ICC, University of Dubuque 

Sophomore Abby VanMeenen

Sophomore Paige Selke 

Brimfield Indians

Record last season 20-12

Brimfield had a really solid season last year but without Simpson, Troxell, Kappes, and Vaughn. They will need to find some other ways to win games. Ava Heinz is a senior and had a really good season last year. Brimfield will have to hope Ava has an even better year if they want to improve on last season.

Players to Watch

Senior Ava Heinz stats last year 15.5 points per game, 7.4 rebounds per game, 2 assists, 2 blocks per game.

Metamora Redbirds

Record last season 12-20

The Metamora Redbirds are ready to go back on the court and battle in the Mid Illini, with their star point guard Liv Vaughn expected to play college ball. They have tons of other weapons across the floor. Metamora has a young coach with a lot of experience as a basketball player. Coach Reedy is a great fit for Metamora. The Metamora Redbirds are looking for a good year and if they stay healthy, they could be a sneaky good team in the Mid Illini. 

Players to Watch

Senior Liv Vaughan offers: ICC, Oakton, John Wood, Parkland, Eureka, Aurora, UW-Platteville, Marian, Carroll, Wisconsin Lutheran

Junior Addyson Wooden 

Junior Kessa Sell 

Deer Creek-Mackinaw Chiefs

Record last season 32-3 (School record in wins) Regional champion

Dee Mack is coming off of a program record in wins with a lot of talent on the team. Dalia DeJesus is a player to keep in mind as she is a force on the court. The team went 32-3 last year winning the Heart Of Illinois conference with a perfect 12-0 record. 

Players to Watch

Senior Mackenzie Knowles Danville Area commit for softball

Senior Lexi Cottingham 

Junior Dalia Dejesus

Sophomore Kate Schmidgall

Dunlap Eagles

Record last season 17-13

The Dunlap Eagles have a fun team this year. With new faces that will look to impress the area to a couple returners, this team has a bright future. After losing their point guard Julia “Bubba” Sollberger as she now plays basketball at Northern Illinois. This team has a new guard that is bound for a bright future. Keyaira Haywood is a freshman but this guard could see varsity action immediately.

Players to Watch

Caroline Holmes Junior

Keyaira Haywood Freshman

Keniya Todd Freshman offer: Chicago State 

Amiyah Gulley Freshman

IVC Grey Ghosts

Record last season 18-14

The IVC Grey Ghosts will have a good year with a new addition to the team. Sophomore Rianna Foster has transferred from Peoria Heights and will be a factor for the Grey Ghosts. IVC had a record of 18-14 and I think will have a better record this year. 

Players to Watch  

Sophomore Rianna Foster

Freshman Alayah Nelton 

Canton Little Giants

Record last season 25-9 Regional champion

The Canton Little Giants have quite the squad. Last year they had a record of 25-9 and placed third in the Mid-Illini conference. This year they return with a load of talent. Demler, and Wheeler will be a duo to watch. They may be the Little Giants, but they have big plans this season. 

Players to Watch 

Senior Ella Demler Lincoln Land Commit 

Senior Allison Wheeler University of Illinois-Springfield Commit

Pekin Dragons

Record last season 12-17

The Pekin Dragons are coming off of a 12-17 season and have some players to look out for. They struggled in a tough Mid-Illini conference going 4-10 in conference play. This year the team looks to continue to build on what they have. The Mid-Illini conference is very tough and will be even more of a challenge this year. 

Players to Watch 

Senior Allie Lambe offers: St. Ambrose University, Webster University, Clarke Pride, University of Dubuque, Loras College, Monmouth, Lewis and Clark, Carl Sandburg 

Junior Cadence Covert

Limestone Rockets

Record last season 13-17

The Limestone Rockets have always been a team that produces great college basketball players. This season they have a couple stars. West, Karmenzind, and Pilgrim are all names to be on the watch for. You should go to a Limestone game this year because this team has talent. 

Players to Watch

Senior Hannah West Illinois Central College commit

Senior Ella Karmenzind 

Junior Michaela Pilgrim 

East Peoria Raiders

Record last season 8-24

Record wise East Peoria hasn’t been one of the teams you see at the top of the conference. They do have a player that is worth the price of admission. Kylie Moeller, the McKendree commit is someone you need to watch if you haven’t seen her play. The East Peoria Raiders haven’t won a conference game in a while but this year could change that. 

Player to Watch

Senior Kylie Moeller McKendree commit 

Olympia Spartans

Record last season 20-11

The Olympia Spartans are coming off of a 20 win season last year. Mia Boudeman is now gone but the Spartans have a player to keep an eye on. Sophomore Elyse Eimer is a 5'6 guard that could be a weapon for the spartans. We will have to see how the first month of the season goes before I fully know what this team will have in their future.

Player to Watch

Sophomore Elyse Eimer

Macomb Bombers

Record last season 17-13

The Macomb Bombers went 17-13 last year and have a great point guard in Kylie Robinson. Kylie is also a little league senior world series champion. Macomb will look to have a good year again with Kylie’s senior season. 

Player to Watch 

Senior Kylie Robinson offers: Grand View University, Lincoln Land, Aurora University

Eureka Hornets

Record last season 21-10

The Eureka Hornets went 21-10 last year and got 2nd place in the Heart Of Illinois conference where Deer Creek-Mackinaw won it going 12-0 in conference play. The Eureka Hornets are a fun team because my two players to watch are twins. Ivy and Mya Edwards made a huge impact on the varsity team last season and they will do it again this year.

Players to Watch

Sophomore Ivy Edwards

Sophomore Mya Edwards

Lincoln Railsplitters

Record last year 38-0 state champions

Lincoln had one of the greatest years you could ever hope for. Winning the state championship and having an undefeated season is pretty remarkable. Losing one of the best basketball players in IHSA history in Kloe Froebe is a big blow for Lincoln. It will be interesting to see how Lincoln plays at the start of the season and see what they have.

Porta

Record last year 30-2

Porta/Ashland-Chandlerville Central had a phenomenal year last season winning 30 games. Now without their star point guard in Jayce Privia, things will look a little bit different. The team returns some key players that will certainly do well this season. It will be tough to replicate the season that this team had last year.

Players to Watch

Junior Cassie Cox

Senior Carson Arthalony

Games to Watch

November 19th Washington vs Glenwood (Galesburg Invite)

November 26th PND at Washington (Tournament of Champions)

This game will be a fun one as these are two of the best teams in Central Illinois. This game will be the first ever girls basketball game in the Kevin Brown Memorial Tournament held at Washington High School. December 3rd Washington at Richwoods

December 7th PND vs Incarnate Word Academy (MO)

PND Incarnate Word Academy

PND will be taking on Incarnate Word Academy. Incarnate Word is a private school out of the state of Missouri. They are known as one of the best girls basketball teams in the nation. They are coming off of their fourth straight state championship. This team is special because they have a 131 game winning streak which is the longest active winning streak in the country. The team that is in 2nd for longest winning streak is nearly 80 games less than that. PND will have a very tough time against them.

December 14th PND at Alton

December 16th Washington at Normal Community

Washington will play Normal Community at Normal on December 16th. This game will be a great game as both teams had great seasons last year.

December 26-28th Washington at State Farm Classic opponent TBD

January 25th Dunlap vs Richwoods

Conference predictions 

Conference champs

Mid Illini 

Tie: Morton Potters, Washington Panthers

Big 12

Peoria Notre Dame

Heart Of Illinois

Deer Creek-Mackinaw

If your team didn't make it on here, please DM me on twitter at Brock_Alkire and I will gladly add your team on here if you are a team in the Peoria area.