High School Girls Basketball
Going back to Redbird Arena ~ Lady Railers win Super-Sectional over Dixon 46-24
Team improves to 36-0

 

[February 28, 2024] 

Lincoln knocked out Dixon 46-24 on Monday night in the LaSalle-Peru Super-Sectional to advance to the IHSA Class 3A Girls Basketball State Tournament in Normal for the second consecutive year.

The Lincoln-Dixon matchup was perhaps one of the best defensive games of the season so far. Despite Dixon’s efforts to double team Kloe Froebe the minute she touched the ball, the senior standout still found a way to score 16 points and reach 1,000 points for the 2023-24 season.

Jenna Bowman and Becca Heitzig also reached double-figures on Monday night with 12 and 10 points respectively.

First Quarter

Lincoln’s opening quarter with the Dixon Duchesses was the team’s lowest scoring quarter of the season. Coach Taylor Rohrer even commented after the game that it appeared there was a lid on the basket. With Dixon really trying to slow the game down from the tip-off, Lincoln never really got their offense in sync to start things off. Froebe would make the first basket of the game, a three at the 6:24 mark and then the Duchesses tied the game on a three at the 3:40 mark. Becca Heitzig put Lincoln up 6-3 with her basket and the ‘and one’ at the 3:00 mark. Once again Dixon tied the game on another three. After Piper Whiteman’s free throw and Froebe’s two points in the paint, the rather uneventful first quarter was over with the score 9-6 in Lincoln’s favor.

Second Quarter

Things are going to pick up in the second quarter, with Lincoln going on an 11-2 run. It’ll start with Whiteman kicking the pass out to Makinley Knapp near the top of the key. Knapp took the shot and it went through the net after a couple bounces. A minute later Jenna Bowman hit nothing but net with a three from the corner and the Lincoln lead was 14-8. After Lincoln’s press forced a Dixon turnover, the trio of Heitzig, Froebe and Bowman headed back to the bucket. With Froebe tipping the pass, Heitzig grabbed the ball and tossed it back to her.

Two Duchesses quickly collapsed on Froebe and she was able to spot Bowman running towards the basket and it was WLB’s favorite story time reader with the bank shot. Next it was Heitzig’s turn to get a jump shot to fall and with 5:16 on the second quarter clock Lincoln was up 18-8. Two more free throws, one each by Whiteman and Froebe, ended this current run with the Lincoln lead 20-8. Froebe’s steal and bucket kept the Duchesses at a respectable distance, 22-12 the score. With Bowman sinking a three with about thirty seconds left in the half, Lincoln had their biggest lead thus far, 25-12 the score.

Third Quarter

Lincoln allowed Dixon the first bucket in the third quarter and then it was a typical 10-0 Lady Railer run that fans have enjoyed all season long. Heitzig found her stride and tossed in two sweet little jumpers. Tori Geriets and Taryn Stoltzenburg also hit jump shots and Froebe used the backboard to make a layup. When it was all said done Lincoln had a 35-14 lead. With Froebe getting two more points off the steal and Bowman getting the last applause of the quarter with a three, Lincoln was able to maintain a 40-20 lead.

Fourth Quarter

No disrespect to Dixon here, but if Lincoln hadn’t missed so many second, third and even fourth shot opportunities in some of those earlier possessions, this would be a running clock game. But no time to dwell on missed opportunities because the Lady Railers had eight minutes left to play this game and then punch their ticket to State!

Plus there was going to be another cool little milestone reached in the fourth quarter by the one and only “Koko” Froebe.

A quick synopsis of the fourth quarter is going to show two field goals by Froebe and a free throw by Bowman and a free throw by Heitzig. But the true gem of the quarter came when Froebe scored her 1,000th point this season and it came in typical Froebe fashion. She was near the free throw line when her partner in crime, Becca Heitzig, tossed her the ball. Froebe then dribbled, spun around in the lane and found her way to the basket, dragging five purple uniforms with her. Some were hanging on her while others were just caught up in admiration. Of course, Froebe keeps her eye on the rim and watches the ball fall through the net. What matters to her is her team is winning 46-23 and they are just about four minutes away from that step closer to #onegoal.

The rest of the game saw the Lincoln girls playing keep away, something they don’t typically do, and Dixon didn’t press the issue by fouling repeatedly so the game ended with a final score of 46-24. It was nice that in the last minute and a half of the game, the Lincoln fans rose to their feet and applauded the girls. They have truly earned every standing ovation this postseason.

A 36-0 record is not an easy feat, nor is it easy to repeat a trip to Redbird Arena. The Lady Railers have done it!

Two more games left.

The moms

Celebrating with the sibs

Once again, the nets were cut down by tournament officials and after the Lady Railers collected the Super-Sectional Championship plaque, the team celebrated with friends and family on the court and graciously spent time with the many members of the media in attendance.

Heads up - these girls are going to be the hottest ticket in Normal this weekend!

Lincoln (36-0) will play Lombard Montini Catholic (29-7) at 11:15 a.m. on Friday, March 1, 2024.

Scoring

Lincoln 46

Froebe 16
Bowman 12
Heitzig 10
Stoltzenburg 2
Whiteman 2
Geriets 2
Knapp 2

Dixon 24

Dambman 6
Williamson 6
McGowan 5
Drew 4
Pitman 3

[Teena Lowery]