What's it like being No. 1? Peoria Notre Dame girls are finding out one game at a time

PEORIA — Little steps to little victories every day have helped Peoria Notre Dame ascend to a No. 1 ranking.

As the state’s top Class 2A girls basketball team, the Irish are taking care of the little things now for big things later. Atop the list are winning the Big 12 Conference, and then having a successful postseason run.

“That’s kind of what we look for,” PND senior Mya Wardle said of handling the details, “and to me, that is what makes No. 1 so special. We’re No. 1 in many different areas.”

Peoria basketball renaissance? This generation's elite talent makes the case

PND took one step closer to the program's first Big 12 title Thursday night, using a balanced effort in beating Richwoods, 58-33, on the road. Victories against Champaign Central and Manual over the next week would lock up an unbeaten run through the league. This win over their rival Richwoods was the Irish’s first game back at No. 1 since holding the top spot in the Jan. 24 poll by The Associated Press.

“It’s a testament to all of our hard work,” Wardle said. “Our coaches who have spent countless hours with us in the gym. Honestly, it’s good to be No. 1, but we’re just really proud of if we take care of business these next two games, we can win conference.”

Layne Langholf echoes that sentiment about the No. 1 ranking.

“It’s great recognition,” the PND coach said. “It demonstrates what people around the area and the state and the people who know basketball think of our program and our kids that have elevated us to this level.”

He praised Wardle for being a big factor in putting the Irish on the map. Wardle scored seven of PND’s 13 second-quarter points against Richwoods including a steal and a nifty spin move to finish on a layup. The 5-foot-7 guard headed to Eastern Kentucky also splashed in a 3-pointer as the Irish led 25-14 at halftime.

“She’s the leader of the team,” Richwoods coach Shamar Hill said. “They go off of her, so when she’s hitting shots, they’re even tougher to beat. She’s really good. She’s the heartbeat of that team.”

Wardle finished with nine points, while Julia Mingus and Kaitlin Cassidy led the Irish with 12 each. Lexi Baer added 10 and Emy Wardle chipped in eight. Londyn Sommerville paced Richwoods (18-10, 6-3) with 12 points.

Maybe the most important No. 1 came when PND garnered a top seed in their sub-sectional. The Irish are a part of the Canton Sectional and will start their postseason journey at the Illinois Valley Central Regional on Monday, Feb. 12.

“We’re really excited to play some new teams going into postseason,” Mya Wardle said. “I know I am. Obviously, I would have loved to play in that super competitive (Class 3A) sectional, but we got to just focus on what we got to do. … It will be a good challenge for us.”

Wardle sisters: Sisterly bond something special for Peoria Notre Dame's newest basketball teammates

Challenging is the perfect way to describe the rough and tough schedule PND has played this season. The Irish are 26-4, boasting wins over top-four regional-seeded teams in Normal Community, Palatine Fremd, O’Fallon, Evanston, Mahomet-Seymour, Morton, Peoria High, Bloomington, Metamora, Canton, Camp Point Central/Southeastern and St. Bede.

Those dozen teams are spread across all four enrollment classes.

“The schedule we’ve created for ourself,” Langholf said, “has prepared us to come into loud environments on the road, rivalry games. … You get these kids mentally prepared, and you can withstand an effort on the road in a rivalry game.”

“We’ve beat some really, really good teams,” Mya Wardle added, “and we’ve lost to some really, really good teams. I think that is what’s really going to help us in postseason. We’ve played in those types of atmospheres and games.

“… Hopefully, we take care of business, and we’ll get to Redbird Arena, but until then, we just got to take it game by game.”

Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Peoria Notre Dame girls basketball works hard to keep No. 1 state rank