Washington vs PND set to make history in the TOC

The Washington Lady Panthers will be making history at the Kevin Brown Memorial Tournament. They will be the first girls team to compete in the tournament. They will be playing against last year’s state champs Peoria Notre Dame. The Tournament of Champions has produced a lot of talent from the boys side, now the girls are ready to start a new chapter in the tournament.

I talked to Washington’s Dani Guedet about getting to play in the tournament

Your team is playing against PND in the tournament of champions. What’s it like to be the first girls game in TOC history? “It’s really great to see how girls basketball has grown the last few years and how a tournament like the TOC added our game this year. I know we are all excited and it’s really great to be able to play with and against the amazing athletes that we do.”

The TOC has had a ton of talent on the boys side. You couldn’t have gotten a tougher opponent in Central Illinois than playing PND. What’s it going to be like playing in a packed gym against the state champs?

“It’s going to be a good game for sure. After the game this summer we are ready for another shot against PND. Playing against big time athletes and teams like PND is a good experience and opportunity and its very competitive but we are looking forward to it.”

Here's my interview with Washington Avery Tibbs about the TOC.

You play in Galesburg this weekend but let’s talk about the big one next week. Playing in the TOC against the state champs PND. How excited is everyone to be involved in the TOC?

"We are super excited to play in the TOC next week, all of us watched it growing up so to be playing in it now is a surreal moment. It’s awesome to know that we are making history for the first ever girls game being played in the TOC!

Washington has had a lot of success in recent years and your junior class has contributed in a big way. How fun has it been to play with girls like O’Brien, McDougall, and Donald?

"It has been awesome to play with them, I have grown up playing with them since 3rd grade so to be at the high school varsity level with them is awesome to show everyone what we can do and have been doing since such a young age!"

Preview Washington and Peoria Notre Dame played each other in the ICC summer league. PND beat Washington on game winning free throws in a very competitive game. Both teams are extremely talented and it will be a great game to watch. Washington is coming off of breaking a school record for three pointers in a game as they made 13 threes. Both teams come in to this game with a 3-0 record on the year. With two talented teams and a packed out gym, the first ever girls game in the Kevin Brown Memorial Tournament is set to be a good one.