Photo by Jason Brown
Chloe Riley passes the ball out of the zone defense.

•February 21, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports

After a magical IHSA Class 2A post-season run that included regional wins against the No. 10 seeded Meridian, No. 3 seeded Greenville and No. 2 seeded Tuscola to win its 12th regional title and an upset win against No. 1 seeded Marshall in the sectional semifinals, the Sullivan girls’ basketball team’s season came to an end with a 56-25 loss to Teutopolis at Effingham St. Anthony last Thursday.

“I’m so proud of what these girls were able to accomplish down the stretch,” said Sullivan coach Sheri McCain. “They brought home a regional title and made it to the Sweet 16.”

With a loud crowd behind Sullivan to start the game, Elizabeth Green stole the ball two possessions in a row and scored each time on transition layups to help put the Redskins up 8-6 at the end of the first quarter.     Login or Subscribe to read the rest of this story.

Photo by Jason Brown
Coach Sheri McCain claps hands with Elizabeth Green after Sullivan forced Teutopolis to call a timeout.

With that momentum, Sullivan scored on an out-of-bounds play to start the second quarter to take its biggest lead at 10-6.

With 4:47 left in the second quarter, T-Town, who is ranked No. 6 in the state, tied the game at 10-10 with a three pointer and eventually took the lead.

With 1:32 left, Green scored again to cut the lead to 14-13, but the Wooden Shoes scored the last four points of the quarter to take an 18-13 lead into the half.

To start the third quarter, Teutopolis went on a 10-2 run to take a 30-15 lead with 3:51 left.

From there, the Wooden Shoes added to the lead for the eventual 56-25 win.

Green finished with a team-high eight points and six steals that led to multiple points.

Photo by Jason Brown
Esther Miller goes for the steal.

Photo by Jason Brown
Elizabeth Green collects one of her six steals.

Esther Miller followed with seven points, and Avery Still recorded six points and a team-high five rebounds.

Sullivan made its seventh Sweet 16 appearance in Effingham, the last in 2001-02.

The Redskins won the Class A title in 1990-91 and placed second in 1991-92.

Sullivan’s season ends with a 16-13 record.

Four Redskins played their last high school game including Green, Haley Rose, Laine Cameron and Chloe Riley.

“It was truly amazing to see our community come together and support us on this journey,” said McCain. “I can’t begin to tell you how honored I am to be the coach of the Sullivan Lady Redskins. Once a Lady Redskin always a Lady Redskin.”