The Washington girls basketball team survived a heart-pounding finish Jan. 12 to defeat East Peoria.
After a 10-point lead with five minutes left dissolved into a tie on two occasions, the Lady Panthers pulled out a 45-43 Mid-Illini Conference victory.
“We made some plays at the end,” WCHS head coach Randy Marchand said.
Jennica Hipes came to the rescue late for Washington at Torry Gymnasium.
The Lady Panthers were ahead 39-29 after seven straight points to start the fourth quarter.
The Raiders answered with a 10-0 spurt in just more than two minutes to tie it.
Hipes then caught a long pass on a run out and hit a lay-up while getting fouled. She converted the free throw to make it 42-39 at the 2:28 mark.
East Peoria made its eighth three-pointer of the night to even the contest with 1:52 remaining.
Hipes rose to the occasion again, hitting a runner 35 seconds later to give Washington a lead it would not surrender.
In the final 20 seconds, both teams split free throws, creating a 45-43 margin.
After a Washington timeout at :12.9, the Raiders had the ball with a chance to tie or go ahead.
The Lady Panthers defended well, and East Peoria had to settle for an off-balance three attempt by double-figure scorer Emilee Brown that missed.
“They didn’t get a good look,” said Marchand of the Raiders’ final shot.
Lexi Grayer scored nine of her team-high 12 points in the second half.
She provided the first five points of the fourth period before a Taylor Lester bucket at 5:02 gave Washington its biggest advantage of the night.
The Lady Panthers’ shot selection was not very good in the next couple minutes.
“We rushed. We got the lead and we got impatient,” said Marchand. “We didn’t take good shots at times.”
Lindsey Boyer, who finished with nine points, drilled a pair of treys in the first quarter to help Washington stay within 12-10 after eight minutes.
The Lady Panthers trailed 20-12 at one point in the second frame, but used a 9-2 run to pull within a point at the break.
As she has done on multiple occasions this season, Moriah Peterson swished a three just prior to the buzzer.
Peterson tallied all nine of her points in the first half.
Washington outscored the Raiders 11-7 in the third quarter.
East Peoria helped the Lady Panthers by committing four turnovers in the stanza before getting off a shot attempt.
Raider Erica Harper shared game scoring honors with Grayer with a dozen points.
Washington clamped down on Kelsey Shoemake of East Peoria, holding her to a mere six points.
The junior reached double figures in each of her previous nine games, averaging 17.1 points over that stretch.
Shoemake was hampered by foul problems, but Marchand said the Lady Panthers made an effort to put an extra defender on the weak side.
Hipes collected eight points, seven of which came in the second half.
Metamora 67, WCHS 62
The Lady Panthers pushed the Redbirds Friday, but the home team prevailed.
Washington (11-8, 4-4) fell three games behind the Mid-Illini leader after its 10th straight loss in the series.
Three players in double figures led a balanced Lady Panther offense.
Boyer and Peterson compiled 16 points apiece for Washington and Grayer added 12.
Ally Friday topped Metamora with a game-high 23 points.
The Lady Panthers remained in fourth place in the conference after Pekin lost Saturday.
Postseason: Team seed “meetings” are next week for Class 3A.
Washington is part of the LaSalle-Peru Sectional complex.
The Lady Panthers join East Peoria, Central, Notre Dame and Richwoods in a six-team Woodruff Regional field that also includes the host Warriors.
Washington currently is 4-0 against teams in the regional.
Pairings should be determined by Jan. 29.
The LaSalle-Peru and Country Club Hills Hillcrest sectionals feed into the Streator Super-sectional.
Washington, Ill. —
