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[Picture caption: Hailie Williams poses Monday at Lincoln
Community High School with the Country Financial IHSA Queen of the
Hill plaque.]
 Williams is the first basketball player to win the Queen of the Hill
title from Lincoln. Williams, a junior, represented Class 3A at the
IHSA State Tournament contest. She knocked off all the other 3A
competition earlier on Friday by sinking 11 of 15 three-pointers to
advance to the finals on Saturday against the winners from the other
classes.
During the Saturday finals, she was the last shooter of the
afternoon and therefore knew what number she had to beat.
Right before Williams took her turn shooting, she walked around to
each rack of basketballs and arranged them in an order to her
liking. When asked about the little routine she answered, “Yes, I
have been practicing like that, so Coach said, “You have to do it
like that every time.” It worked.
Although she appeared to be calm in front of the crowd and the
television cameras, Williams said she was kind of nervous Saturday
afternoon. “I was kind of nervous to go last because I knew what
everyone else made and I had to make more than that. I mean it made
me a little nervous but once I got started it was fine.”
Indeed it was. She got in a groove and at one stretch during the
middle of shooting she connected for eight shots in a row, all
nothing but net. Even television announcer, Lee Hall, was heard
saying twice “feeling it” in the middle of her hot streak. With 15
seconds still left on the shooting clock, Williams sank her tenth
basket and the other tv commentator, Zach Kerker, proclaimed “And
there is your Queen of the Hill - a Railsplitter.” By the time the
horn sounded, she had again sank 11 of 15 three-point baskets in
front of the crowd at Redbird Arena.
It was obviously a very exciting weekend for Williams and that
excitement carried over to school on Monday. As the first to earn
this honor, Williams said that everyone was telling her good job in
the hallways Monday. She also appreciates everyone’s support and
“everyone being happy for me.”
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Both of her coaches, as well as some teammates and family, were
cheering her on at Redbird Arena Saturday afternoon. Even her
sister, Caitlin, made the trip from Evansville, Indiana, to watch
her little sister make history. Williams’ mom is Jodi O’Hara and her
step-dad is Rick O’Hara.
Congratulations, Hailie, on this major accomplishment!
2016 Queen of the Hill finalists listed in shooting order with the
results
4th Place: Angelina Villasin Senior Mt. Prospect Class 4A 2-3-2=7
2nd Place: Cami Meddows Junior Trenton Wesclin Class 2A 3-4-2=9
3rd Place: Arieal Scott Sophomore Danville Schlarman Class 1A
2-3-3=8
1st Place: Hailie Williams Junior Lincoln Class 3A 3-4-4=11
[Teena Lowery]
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