High School Girls Basketball
Mission: Accomplished ~ Lady Railers are STATE CHAMPIONS
Team finishes undefeated at 38-0

 

[March 04, 2024] 

Walking into CEFCU Arena on Saturday, March 2, 2024 was there ever a doubt, Railer Nation?

Your Lincoln Lady Railers were on a mission this entire season, playing on another level far above the competition, and their reward for all of their hard work was bringing home the very first basketball state championship in school history.

Game after game all season long these girls consistently demolished their opponents with their killer defense and spectacular offense.

Lincoln’s road to the state championship was not easy but they proved as a TEAM that they are the best in Class 3A girls basketball.

To be the best, you gotta beat the best.

The Lincoln fans believed in this team all season and one man in particular really believed in these girls and he did something on Saturday night at Roy S. Anderson Gymnasium that the players, coaches and fans did not see coming. When Superintendent Dwight Stricklin grabbed the microphone to talk at the state championship celebration he did not waste any time revealing a secret that had been kept between him and Coach Neil Alexander.

Pacing the floor, Stricklin said, “We had no doubt that you’d be bringing back a state championship. So I went ahead and took the liberty…..Coach Al and Mr. Helm, would you go ahead and….reveal!”

All heads turned to the end of the gymnasium opposite where the girls were seated and after a large red paper fell to the floor, there sat the new banner that matched all the others on the wall, only this one reads, “Girls Basketball IHSA Class 3A State Champions 2024.”

Stricklin yelled, “Congratulations!” and the crowd went crazy! As players, coaches and fans dropped their jaws, there were screams, cheers, applause and a multitude of smiles that went along with the shocked reaction.

Coach Alexander then took the microphone and said, “He (Stricklin) got to do the fun part. But I will tell you from a coach’s standpoint, him trying to get me to do that was not easy.”

Stricklin pulled off a miracle in convincing Coach Alexander to order a state championship banner in advance, not to mention he took a gamble on having the banner ordered in January. The banner actually came in three weeks ago and Coach Alexander has been hiding it in his garage at home.

Stricklin went on to explain that since he knew the seniors might not be able to return to Lincoln for a ceremony in November, he wanted them to enjoy it now. So he worked his magic. He truly had no doubt in the ability of this team. This team was special from the beginning and the season was so magical. The unveiling of the banner at the celebration truly was a picture perfect ending to the season.

One more game

On Saturday evening at 5:30 p.m. the Lady Railers took the court versus another Central State Eight team, the Chatham Glenwood Titans, with the state title on the line.

While the Titans were enthusiastically up for the challenge, the Lady Railers were quick to make a statement by doing what they’ve done all season long: burying the opponent early on. The evidence: a 20-point first quarter Lincoln lead.

The Lady Railers were not about to be denied the first place trophy this year, after losing in the state championship game last season to Nazareth Academy of LaGrange Park, who actually got second place on Saturday night in the Class 4A title game following the Lady Railers state championship game. Looks like now they know the feeling of “Second Sucks.”

Finally, the crowd that witnessed Lincoln’s final game of this historic run was huge! This game was the hottest ticket in town and the Lady Railers were the driving force behind this. Some folks around Illinois State University thought the entire city of Lincoln was at CEFCU Arena. In fact, the officials at the arena provide an excellent stat sheet in the press room but for Saturday night’s attendance there was no official number listed, leaving one to wonder if officials are still counting the tickets sold due to the event being record-breaking. The sea of red and green covered better than half of the arena, from top to bottom and for one final time this season they brought the energy that lifted the girls to the state title.

First Quarter

It’ll take Kloe Froebe all of thirteen seconds after tip-off to be at the free throw line. Two swished baskets later and Lincoln is on the scoreboard, up 2-0. With Katelyn Lehnen scoring on a jumper for Glenwood at the 6:44 mark the game would be tied and that would be where the fun would end for the Titans. Lincoln did what they’ve done so many times before, using their pressure defense to help themselves to an 11-2 lead.

Froebe gets credit for the first six points of the game but with Taryn Stoltzenburg burying a three from the corner by the Titans student section and Becca Heitzig driving baseline and rising above the defenders to kiss the glass for two points, it was business as usual for Lincoln.

The 11-2 lead frustrated Titans coach Alyssa Riley enough that she subbed in three players with just 4:21 on the clock. Their defense was not able to stop Lincoln either, with both Stoltzenburg and Froebe earning points in the paint on drives to the basket that occurred in back-to-back possessions that only took up sixteen seconds on the clock. The Lincoln girls do their work in a hurry. The score was now 15-5, as Makenna Yeager was able to sneak in a three for Glenwood, but still the 10-point lead prompted the Lincoln student section to chant, “It’s too easy!”

With Glenwood’s Hope Gilmore sinking one free throw at the 2:54 mark the scoreboard showed 15-6 and that was all the Titans were allowed to score in the first quarter.

Lincoln’s dynamic duo of Froebe and Heitzig made sure to school the young, up and coming Titans the rest of the quarter. Froebe will get two quick layups thanks to a steal sandwiched in the middle of the action and in about twenty seconds time the lead grew to 19-6.

Then Heitzig takes a page out of Stoltzenburg’s book and she sets up in the corner by those Titan fans. With Froebe kicking the pass out to her, Heitzig drains a three for nothing but net, 22-6 the Lincoln lead. Heitzig still had not cooled off after another Titans turnover and this time she pulled up in the paint for that short little jumper that the fans absolutely love. Again nothing but net for our little Iowa State University bound track star.

Following a Titans miss at the other end, it’s the future Colorado State University Ram dribbling up the court and losing her defender, Hope Gilmore, in the process. That would be Froebe on the attack and she pushes off Gilmore to step back and drain a little jumper next to the lane for two points.

The Glenwood defenders looked around at each other confused and with less than thirty seconds to play they really had no idea what to do when Lincoln let them get to the other end of the court. They wasted so much time passing the ball around that when Karley Hawkins finally got a shot off, it was the most awkward looking thing and it took a hard ricochet off nearly the top of the glass on the backboard. Not a good way for the Titans to end the quarter, but we’re rooting for Lincoln here and the 26-6 lead was SWEET!

Second Quarter

Just over a minute into the second quarter the Titans are going to break the scoring drought with a three by Rowann Law. Law is going to get in a groove and score another basket to trim the lead to 26-11.

Lincoln will not score until the 5:30 mark on a jumper by Heitzig. Heitzig and Froebe took turns making baskets in what was kind of a quiet quarter for the Lady Railers. In fact, the Titans outscored Lincoln 11-8 in the quarter. With Froebe and Heitzig each tossing in four points, the halftime score was 34-17 when the two teams exited the court for halftime.

Except for Froebe.

She was about to be recognized on the court with the 2024 Illinois Media All-State Girls Basketball Class 3A and 4A teams. Froebe was the leading vote getter with 125 points while making the First Team. She lined up next to Peoria’s Aaliyah Guyton, who received the second most votes. But after Froebe’s name was called she was immediately called off the court and she darted off towards the tunnel. The recognition was great but she’s got unfinished business to take care of yet.

Third Quarter

The Lady Railers were leaving no doubt after the first half, but there was still sixteen minutes of basketball on the court to finish. The scoring will get started by who else?! Froebe makes the score 36-17 on another sweet little step back jumper. With 6:40 on the clock Glenwood’s 6’0 freshman, Alexis Neumann, would hit a three and the Titans were making an attempt to crawl back into the game.

With 1:41 remaining in the quarter the Titans were actually just facing a 12-point deficit, down 40-28. For a brief moment there was a feeling like that’s okay because the closer the score, the longer these five seniors get to stay in the game.

And honestly, a lot of people had paid to see them in their last game.

Most of the scoring for Lincoln in the third quarter was done by Froebe at the free throw line, but with under a minute to play the Titans got a spark from both Law and Neumann. Each of them hit 3s with Neumann’s basket coming just ahead of the buzzer. With Heitzig contributing two points just ahead of Neumann’s shot, the Lincoln lead was still a solid 47-34 at the end of the quarter.

Fourth Quarter

Let’s get Jenna Bowman fired up! She finally attempted a three to start the final quarter and it was a beauty as it glided through the net. She let loose of the ball right in front of the Lady Railers bench and her mom, Amanda, had a perfect view from her seat behind the bench as she kept the scorebook.

After the Titans missed a shot at the other end, Froebe came storming down the court and after exchanging passes with Stoltzenburg, she headed to the bucket and drew the foul. After she sank those two shots, Railer Nation chanted, “She has 30!” Froebe adds to that number with another fun basket just over a minute later.

After Froebe misses a layup she does what she normally does: she fights for that rebound like it’s nobody’s business. It was kind of a mismatch between her and Neumann in the lane, especially with Neumann towering over her. But both of them were battling for the rebound and Neumann actually had it in her hands but in typical Froebe fashion she pulled the ball from her opponent’s grip and found a way to score.

Froebe knows just how to time her leap towards the basket, leaving the big girl just standing there, really kind of defenseless. What a lesson that the senior taught the freshman. In time, Neumann will get as strong as Froebe and learn to hold the ball tighter in the lane. She’s got potential.

The score is now 54-36 and there is 5:30 left to play.

“Let’s play football!” The Titans student section begins to chant.

From the other side of the arena, Railer Nation says, “Where’s your ring at?”

Kids. So clever.

Froebe made two more layups in the game, bringing her total to 36 points on the day. The score is now 58-41. Lincoln will actually run a lot of time off the clock and with 1:10 left in the game, as Stoltzenburg is standing in front of Press Row waiting to take the ball out of bounds, Heitzig catches the eye of Froebe and they both smile quickly at each other. They have worked so hard for this moment. They all have.

Then with 31.5 seconds left Froebe, Heitzig, Stoltzenburg, Bowman and Geriets all leave the court together that one last time. Just like their season record, the moment could not have been more perfect. They jump up and down, hugging each other and then head to the bench, arm in arm, to hug the rest of their teammates.

With tears in their eyes, they all turn to the crowd across the court and acknowledge the sea of red and green. Froebe and Geriets point to the fans, Piper Whiteman sobs and hugs Bowman, Makinley Knapp gives Stoltzenburg a hug and eventually Froebe and Coach Taylor Rohrer embrace before the game resumes.

Back on the court, Lincoln has possession and Mesa McCloud inbounds the ball to Grace Schneider, who drives towards the basket. She finds Mia Clark dashing through the lane and quickly gives her a bounce pass that she picks up and tosses towards the glass perfectly for the final two points of the game for Lincoln.

With :13 left til trophy time, Makaela Diamond will score the last basket, a three, for the Titans.

The final score is in the history books as Lincoln wins the state title 60-44 over Glenwood!

Once the final buzzer sounded, the Lady Railers jumped up from the bench and ran to center court to celebrate. The girls were immediately swarmed by the media at the Redbird logo and they have certainly earned every bit of this attention.

In their last game together Kloe Froebe (36) and Becca Heitzig (13) combined to score 49 points. Froebe and Heitzig also had five rebounds each versus Glenwood.

Froebe came up with six assists and four steals against Glenwood.

Finished business.

Goal met.

History made.

Perfection!

Time to get those medals and grab that trophy!

Following pictures on the court, the entire Lady Railers team, managers and coaching staff headed to the press conference, including the men of the Lady Railers, Cory Farmer and Ryan Fruge. Fruge is a senior manager and “coach” so this was his last dance too. Great job, Ryan!

And just like any big win in a small town, there has to be a police and fire truck escort through town. Dozens of vehicles lined up on the west side of Lincoln to follow the Railer bus back to the school for a celebration. The big surprise of the night being the unveiling of the state championship banner. The girls also signed autographs and posed for many pictures. And Coach Rohrer's son, Levi, was in attendance at the celebration, still wide-eyed at nearly 11:30 p.m.

Kloe Froebe has the stuff legends are made of!

Before diving into Froebe’s legendary status, let me take a moment to share a brief exchange I had four years ago with her older brother, Kaden. It was after his 2020 Railers were robbed of finishing the postseason due to Covid. That team was going to state and they were going to bring home a trophy. The pain of that missed opportunity ran deep but when Kloe’s name came up in the conversation, he said directly, “Kloe will be the first one in the family to win a state championship in high school.”

Big brother was right.

Kaden was unable to attend the state championship game Saturday night because, according to Kruz Froebe, “Kaden has a basketball game today.” Kaden plays for the Missouri S & T Miners.

When reached for a comment on Sunday, Kaden said this about Kloe:

“Watching your little sister grow up and be so successful is all an older brother can ask for! She’s now won in junior high, high school and I’m calling it now, she’s winning one with Colorado State as well!”

I think all of Railer Nation is with you on that, Kaden!

Kloe Froebe leaves behind an incredible legacy on the court at LCHS. Her record-breaking career is filled with stats that are like video game numbers. She shattered records all season long and Saturday at CEFCU was no different. The record for the most points scored in a Class 3A championship game was 20. Froebe had 14 in the first quarter. Breaking this record was a no-brainer. By halftime she had 18 points. Incidentally, Froebe tied her own record for 1,045 points scored in a season with her last basket before halftime. Quickly in the third quarter she would reach 20 points on a little step back two, tying 3A players like Morton’s Chandler Ryan (2015), Montini’s Whitney Adams (2010) and Quincy Notre Dame’s Kassidy Gengenbacher (2013).

Froebe’s record-breaking point would come at the free throw line with 5:24 on the clock in the third quarter. With plenty of gas left in the tank, Froebe would tally 10 points in the third quarter to bring her game total to 28 points.

How far can the Ms. Basketball and Gatorade Player of the Year candidate go?

Well, she’s an extremely focused competitor who fights fiercely until the very end and she was ready to leave the court a legend. She tossed in eight points in the fourth quarter, ending with a layup at the 3:50 mark for her record-setting 36th point of the championship game. Her offensive stat line was 11-of-18 from the field and 14-of-19 from the free throw line. It’s likely her record for points in a title game could stand for a while. Froebe also still holds the record for most points in a game during the State Final Tournament with 45. No one will ever forget her 45-point-performance in the 2023 semifinals versus Deerfield. In fact, it was still the talk of the 2024 IHSA State Tournament.

Froebe also set a new record for Most Points in a Tournament Career with 127 in the four-class system. She broke the previous Class 3A record set by Zahna Medley of Springfield High School, who went on to become the leading scorer at TCU. Medley scored a total of 115 points in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

Froebe’s four-game point totals in the last two state tournaments are: 45, 19, 27 and 36.

Solid performances - each and every one.

In all, Froebe set 8 new records at the state tournament. Repeating her terrific performance of setting 8 records a year ago at state.

Here is a quick rundown of Froebe’s 2024 state records:

Most Points, State Tournament Career: 127

Most Points, Title Game: 36

Most Field Goals, Title Game: 11

Most Field Goals Attempted, Title Game: 18

Most Free Throws Made, Title Game: 14

Most Free Throws Attempted, Tournament Career: 73

Most Free Throws Attempted, Title Game: 19

Most Assists, Tournament Career: 21

For her entire career as a Lady Railer, Froebe finishes with an impressive 3,262 points.

Kloe, you make Railer Nation proud!

Jenna Bowman also broke some state records!

The new record holder for the Highest 3-Point Field Goal Percentage, Tournament Career is Lincoln’s Jenna Bowman. She finished her career at CEFCU Arena on Saturday with a new Class 3A record of .600 (9-for-15), breaking the old record of .450 (9-for-20) set by Morton’s Emma Heisler in 2013 and 2015.

Bowman also broke the Class 3A record for Highest 3-Point Field Goal Percentage, Game with her performance on Friday night versus Montini. Bowman shot .714 (5-for-7) against Montini to set a new record. Three players previously held the record of .500 and those girls were Zahna Medley, Springfield (2011), Sophie Sullivan, Montini (2020) and Jovanna Martinucci, Nazareth Academy (2019).

Congratulations, Jenna, you make Railer Nation proud!

Fun Fact:

The only other basketball state championship in Logan County belongs to the 1976 Mount Pulaski Hilltoppers boys basketball team. This weekend at the girls tournament, Donna (Kutz) Vaughan was a host for Lincoln and as a former Hilltopper who cheered her classmates on in 1976, she proudly wore a Lady Railer t-shirt all weekend. She also made the girls decorated sugar cookies with their names and numbers.

One last note and it’s a note of thanks.

Thank you, Lady Railers, for your dedication and loyalty to not only your school and the basketball program but also the community. You brought a community together, bringing joy and happiness to all those hearts you touched.

WE thank YOU from the bottom of our hearts.

Once a Railer, always a Railer.

Take a bow, State Champions!

No one should be left out of this remarkable moment in Lady Railer history.  On Friday and Saturday both the Lady Railers showed that it take a team.

And that team consists of:

Taryn Stoltzenburg
Lily Holmes
Grace Schneider
Becca Heitzig
Kloe Froebe
Ceana Adams
Mesa McCloud
Jocelyn Perkins
Grey Gilbert
Jenna Bowman
Piper Whiteman
Emma Hutchison
Tori Geriets
Mia Clark
Makinley Knapp

Head Coach Taylor Rohrer
Assistant Coach Cory Farmer
Athletic Trainer Matt While
Managers Ryan Fruge, Destinee Harper, Myah Bowman and Tamari Pressior

One last time here is the scoring for the final win:

Lincoln 60

Froebe 36
Heitzig 13
Stoltzenburg 5
Bowman 3
Clark 2
Whiteman 1

Glenwood 44

Neumann 15
Yeager 9
Law 8
Lehnen 6
Diamond 3
Gilmore 3

A few more memorable moments

Young Lady Railer fan Everleigh Trago was selected from the crowd to presnet the game ball.

Kloe and her mom Kari Froebe

Dad Kent not to be left out

A packed house at CEFCU Arena

[Teena Lowery with photos by Lowery and Cindy Bivin]