OLNEY — When the basketball was in Teutopolis senior Kelsey Niemerg’s hands, it felt like something positive was going to happen every single time she touched it.
Niemerg had another banner evening on Thursday night in the championship of the Class 2A Olney (Richland County) Sectional, scoring 16 points to help the Lady Shoes (27-6) win their first sectional title since 2020.
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“My confidence was really high,” Niemerg said. “I just kept looking to get to the basket.”
Teutopolis has been in the sectional finals in each of the last two years, losing to a Little Illini Conference opponent each time. The Lady Shoes made amends for that on Thursday by defeating LIC member Paris, 40-30.
“This group is special,” head coach Laurie Thompson said. “I have seven seniors and they’re great basketball players, but, more importantly, they’re great kids. I love them to death and I’m super proud that they’re at this point, because they deserve it.”
The win over the Lady Tigers was the third time this season that Teutopolis had beaten Paris. The first occurrence was in the championship of the Paris North American Lighting Tournament in November; the second was a road contest in December.
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“We knew they were quick and had good shooters,” Niemerg said. “We knew we had to keep them contained and keep them from getting to the basket.”
The Lady Shoes trailed 9-4 at the end of the first quarter.
Niemerg started the scoring with a layup with 7:28 left.
The Lady Tigers answered by going on a 9-0 run before a layup by T-Town senior Anna Probst.
“We kept telling them to attack the basket,” said Thompson after her team’s start. “We missed shots that we would normally make.”
The Lady Shoes inched closer to the lead at the beginning of the second after a senior Malea Helmink shot. She drew a foul, as well, but missed her ensuing free throw.
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Niemerg later made a layup with 5:15 left before another layup from Helmink cut the Paris lead to one.
The Lady Tigers added two more points after that before a midrange shot from Niemerg with 2:39 to go.
T-Town took the lead with 2:12 left after another Niemerg shot. She then increased the lead to three points after a pair of free throws.
The Lady Shoes outscored Paris 12-5 in the third frame. Both teams scored 12 points in the fourth.
Probst, Helmink and junior Jersey Gaddis added eight points to the total.
Junior Macy Bicknell led the Lady Tigers (26-6) with 13 points.
Sophomore Paedyn Keys had 10 points. Junior Kailey Young had three points and sophomore Pailynnne Camp and junior Jacie Young had two points.
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T-Town advances to the Class 2A Benton Super-Sectionals on Monday at 6 p.m. at Benton High School.
The Lady Shoes will face Breese (Central). The two teams met on Jan. 31 at J.H. Griffin Gym, with the Cougars winning, 59-39.
“These girls have to be focused on the game plan that we put together,” Thompson said. “We’re going to play one heck of a team, but that’s what happens when you get to the super-sectional.”
