Illini Bluffs wins in overtime and will play for girls basketball state title
NORMAL — Lily Luczkowiak has seen her friends play at state.
The Illini Bluffs senior was in the crowd last June, watching teammates Annabelle Fortin, Chloe Eeten and Anabelle Reimer play for the Class 1A state softball title. Now, it’s her turn.
“The roles are reversed,” Luczkowiak said following Friday’s 60-48 overtime girls basketball win against Altamont in the first Class 1A state semifinal at CEFCU Arena on Thursday. “It’s truly amazing to have all the support from the fans coming this way to watch us.”
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Luczkowiak was a second-half wrecking crew for the sixth-ranked Tigers (32-4), who now take on No. 5 and reigning state champion Okawville (24-11) at 11 a.m. Saturday for a shot at the program’s first state championship. She scored all 10 of IB’s third-quarter points including a rebound putback at the buzzer, getting fouled in the process.
Her team-high 27 points came on 11-for-19 shooting to go with 11 rebounds.
“Confidence was really the key,” the 5-foot-10 forward said. “I never once was doubtful … You just got to keep up that confidence and I know that I have the ability to get in there when I need to, and I feel like that’s what I did.
“The rest of the team did the jobs that they needed to do to get us here.”
The Illinois Central College signee then added three points in the final frame of regulation, then four more in OT.
“The way they were defending her,” IB coach Jim Belville said, “she really worked for everything she got tonight.”
However, Illini Bluffs would need to twice overcome a six-point, fourth-quarter deficit.
Altamont all-stater Grace Nelson proved to be a problem in the comeback. Her steal and layup gave the No. 9 Indians (27-7) a 43-39 lead with 3:52 left in regulation. The Illinois State commit showed out big time, scoring a game-high 32 points, with six rebounds and two blocks.
“I stayed pretty focused on just the game,” Nelson said of playing at her future home. “Coming out and seeing everyone, all the crowd, it’s kind of crazy being able to be there and knowing that I’ll be here this summer.”
From there, IB closed out the quarter on a 7-3 push including the game’s final possession. This was highlighted by a five-point spurt to go ahead by one after a Chloe Eeten’s jumper.
The poise and patience shown by IB helped spark that rally.
“Definitely in moments like that,” Fortin said, “you just trust your teammates and you can’t turn on each other and start yelling or get frazzled. We were pretty confident that whole time.”
Nelson then tied the game when she split a pair of free throws with just under a minute remaining. A corner 3-pointer from Fortin bounced off as time expired.
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“I thought we had a chance there to win it,” Bellville said. “Obviously, we had a good look at a shot there before overtime.”
In the extra five minutes, Illini Bluffs outscored Altamont, 14-2 highlighted by a 9-for-10 effort from the free-throw line. Eeten helped extend the Tigers lead to 10 by hitting a 3-pointer and knocking down four OT freebies. She came up short on her first three 3-point attempts but swished the fourth triple try from the top of the key.
“Gamechanger, for sure,” the junior said of her trey at the 2:25 mark of OT, “(Those early misses) got me a little nervous, but I think I just trusted my ability to shoot and … I just knew if I kept shooting one of them would fall.”
The 5-foot-11 junior scored 11 points off the bench. Fortin scored 12 by hitting three 3s for Tigers, who made eight in the game.
Kaylee Lurkins scored 11 points and grabbed four rebounds for Altamont, which was outrebounded, 35-24.
“We got some length,” Belville said. “We got some jumpers. We’ve got a bunch of volleyball (players) on here.”
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Okawville 44, St. Bede 30
St. Bede saw its 18-game win streak snapped, falling to the reigning state champion Okawville in the second Class 1A semifinal at CEFCU Arena.
The Rockets (24-11) got a 25-point performance from all-stater Alayna Kraus. After holding a slight early lead, St. Bede felt Okawville clamp down on defense to build a double-digit advantage in the third quarter.
Ali Bosnich scored 11 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for the Bruins, which shot 31.7 percent (13-for-41) from the field.
Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on X.com @AdamDuvall.
Live updates from CEFCU Arena are below:
11:19 a.m. - Illini Bluffs will play for the Class 1A state title
The Tigers beat Altamont, 60-48 in OT
Lily Luczkowiak goes for 27 points and 11 rebounds. Annabelle Fortin adds 12 and Chloe Eeten scores 11 off the bench.
Grace Nelson finishes with 32
11:11 a.m. - Illini Bluffs 53, Altamont 48 with 1:39 to play in OT
Illini Bluffs up five thanks to a Chloe Eeten 3-pointer and 2 FTs with 1:39 to play in OT
11:05 a.m. - Illini Bluffs 46, Altamont 46 OT
IB's Annabelle Fortin had a good look for the win.
10:54 a.m. - Altamont 43, Illini Bluffs 39 with 3:31 left 4Q
IB turns it over, leading to a layup by Grace Nelson, who now has 29 points.
10:42 a.m. - Altamont 36, Illini Bluffs 32 end of 3Q
Lily Luczkowiak scores and is fouled just as the third-quarter buzzer sounds. She misses the free throw, but has 20 points and nine rebounds.
10:33 a.m. - Illini Bluffs 28, Altamont 28 with 3:31 left 3Q
Lily Luczkowiak has taken over, going on six-point individual run. She has 16 points and 8 rebounds.
Grace Nelson has 18 points, scoring the first basket of the second half.
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10:10 a.m. - Altamont 24, Illini Bluffs 22 Halftime
Lily Luczkowiak with 10 points and 7 rebounds for IB.
Grace Nelson has 16 points.
10:01 a.m. - Illini Bluffs 17, Altamont 17 with 3:42 left 2Q
Lily Luczkowiak has 7 points and 6 rebounds
Illinois State recruit Grace Nelson has 12 of the Altamont's points.
9:53 a.m. - Illini Bluffs 14, Altamont 11 after 1Q
Kayle Lurkins scores a pair of baskets to get Altamont within three after the opening quarter.
9:48 a.m. - Illini Bluffs 14, Altamont 7 with 2:09 left 1Q
Tigers are 4-for-4 from the 3-point line. Anabelle Fortin has 6 points.
Illinois State recruit Grace Nelson has all 7 of the Altamont's points.
9:23 a.m. - Illini Bluffs warming up
The Tigers are shooting around prior to the 9:30 a.m. tip against Altamont in the Class 1A state finals.
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This article originally appeared on Journal Star: IHSA girls basketball state finals: Illini Bluffs wins in OT, will play for title
