Illini Bluffs sinks ‘three-peat:’ Tigers earn third consecutive regional title, set sights on state

By Staff

Illini Bluffs beat Elmwood 48-41 last Friday to secure their third consecutive regional championship title, potentially paving the way for their second state appearance in recent history. The Lady Tigers’ formidable defense made the difference, with their key players Anabelle Reimer, Chloe Eeten and Chenoa Howard pulling in the win. 

For the Tigers, friendship on and off the court and their loyalty towards each other have led them to a successful season. 

“Doing things outside of basketball, just like coming together as a group, having team dinners, and doing stuff like that has really made us better on the board,” senior forward Chloe Eeten said. 

Although friendship and team cohesion are a hope for all teams, there is a unique advantage to team bonding at Illini Bluffs.

“I think it’s just partially being in a small school,” senior post Anabelle Reimer said. “We see each other every day. It’s not like we go days without seeing each other and have to come practice; we’re all close and we’re comfortable talking and we can joke around and have fun while also playing.”

This team of girls spending significant time together both on and off the court seems to help them lead each other, strengthening not only their bond but also their ability to play together. 

“We have good leadership on the team, like our seniors,” Eeten said, “I think this year we have really stepped up and led our team like [the graduated seniors] have in the past as well.”

Though good leadership seems to be vital, shifts in the number of high-performing players have played a major role in the proficiency of the team. 

“When there’s a one-person team, obviously, you can shut down that one person and then basically the game is over,” Reimer said.  “We have two posts this year, not a lot of teams have that, and everyone on our team can shoot and be a part of the scoring.”

There is a lot of pressure when there’s one dominant scorer, like Lily Luczkowiak, who was an All-State 1a Girls Basketball player. Luzckowiak has now graduated, but while here, she led our girls to the State Tournament. 

Since losing Luczkowiak, the IB girls have moved towards a six-person rotation, with all of the players being proficient scorers, each giving over 10 points on any given night, making it difficult for opposing coaches to strategize against.

“Yeah, I think we have multiple scores on our team. I think that just takes people stepping up. Like, obviously, that one year we had one scorer, but I think it obviously takes pressure off of different people’s shoulders,” Eeten said. 

While making shots holds pressure; more pressure is on these girls to make it to state again after the team placed second in 2024. With a season record of 24-3, other teams are looking to dethrone IB to get to the state series. 

“We’ve only lost three times, so Belville’s made it clear that we have a target on our back, and I feel like that’s kind of put a little pressure on us, but I think it’s good for us because, you know, we put the work in, so it’s okay to have a target,” Reimer said.

Despite the target, the girls are taking everything in stride.

“We’re taking it one game at a time, but I do think we could make it all the way,” Eeten said. 

In order to get to the Super Sectional Championship, they must beat Havana, and then the winner of Brown County vs. AVON. Although that’s two whole games away, the team has already been thinking of what they could do to snag a win at making it to state

“I think it was our free throws that killed us last time,” Reimer said, ”So I feel like if we get that and we win this, I think we have a pretty good shot at making it to state.”