•February 21, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports

Three years ago as sophomores, Paige Robinson, Natalie Jeffers and Hope Ruppert saw major playing time for the Okaw Valley girls’ basketball team.

The Timberwolves finished that season 16-7 overall and 4-1 in the Little Okaw Valley Conference.

More importantly, the seeds were sown.

Last year the trio had high expectations for the team, and though the OV finished 18-9 overall and 3-1 in the LOVC, the Timberwolves were bounced out of the regional by a tough Central A&M team.

This year as seniors, the trio of Robinson, Jeffers, Ruppert and the team’s strong supporting cast were not going to be denied.     Login or Subscribe to read the rest of this story.

“Our girls are pretty special,” said OV coach Brad Ackers. “Any moment we have encountered has not been too big for them. We have been in every game we have played, including the losses.”

But the three years of playing together in big games and striving for a deep run in the IHSA Class 1A playoffs finally paid off.

“These girls have been in some big games the past three years; many we feel we have had chances to win,” said Ackers. “I think some of those experiences have helped us grow as a group.”

One of OV’s losses this season was to Central A&M in the Pana tournament earlier this year, but OV avenged that loss a week later in the same tournament and then knocked off the Raiders in the regional championship.

Another loss this season came at the hands of Tri-County in the LOVC championship game a month ago, keeping OV from one of its team’s goals.

But the Timberwolves trio would not be denied their post season run.

OV avenged its earlier loss by knocking off Tri-County 51-43 in the North Clay Sectional championship game Thursday night.

But the Timberwolves and the trio of seniors were not done setting school records.

“The seniors have been unbelievable all season long,” said Ackers. “They’re a special group, one that does not come around very often. They have brought it every day to practice for three years, and that is why they are in the situation they are in. Just an extremely competitive group.”

Monday night, OV earned its first ever trip to the Final Four by defeating Mounds Meridian 46-38 in the Salem Super-Sectionals at B. E. Gum Gym.

“Pretty surreal,” said Ackers. “These girls are unbelievable. We did not play a perfect game tonight by any means. But played well enough to win.”

The Timberwolves took advantage of a second quarter run to take a 23-8 lead at the half.

OV held Mounds Meridian to 0-for-9 shooting from the field in the second to help a 16-2 run.

“Second quarter was big,” said Ackers. “All night we rebounded well enough to win I thought. I thought that would be the biggest area of focus going in.”

During the run, Robinson scored four straight points, and Natalie Jeffers drained a 3-pointer.

“Paige did what Paige does, Kate Jeffers and Natalie Jeffers both stepped up and had big games,” said Ackers.

Madison Vogel scored on a rebound putback to extend the lead to 16-8 with about four minutes left in the half.

After Natalie Jeffers and Robinson free throws, Kate Jeffers, who returned from an ankle injury, scored on a rebound putback, and then Natalie Jeffers scored again to end the half.

In the third quarter, Ackers knew the Bobcats would make a run and challenged his girls to be ready and overcome it.

That run came with a minute left in the third quarter when Mounds Meridian cut the lead to 37-29 with just over six minutes left to play, but OV held on for the win.

“We weathered their run in the second half and never let it get under 7-8,” said Ackers. “We are one of four teams left playing and excited to get up to Redbird.”

Paige Robinson recorded 22 points and 16 rebounds to go with six assists and two steals.

Natalie Jeffers followed with 14 points, and Kate Jeffers contributed six points and six rebounds.

Against Tri-County, in a packed gym both lit with energy, OV took an early 8-2 lead on two Robinson three pointers.

Tri-County answered with an 8-0 run to take a 10-8 lead.

OV turnovers from Tri-County’s 1-2-2 press helped the Titans take a 31-28 halftime lead.

Ackers made adjustments at halftime to better break the press and handle the pressure.

Heading into the fourth quarter, OV was down 36-32, but again, the Timberwolves were not going to be denied.

In the fourth quarter, Robinson started the Timberwolves’ comeback run with a three pointer.

OV tied the game at 37 for the sixth tie of the game, but the Timberwolves would not allow another tie or lead change the rest of the way.

In just more than three minutes, OV went on a 15-2 run to take a 7-point lead when junior Madison Vogel scored four-straight points to force the Titans to call time-out.

Then Robinson took over.

The Drury University recruit drained two more three pointers, made a layup and hit 4-of-4 from the free throw line to put the game away with 33 seconds left.

“Great effort by the girls,” said Ackers. “Paige got hot and stepped up like she has all season when we have needed her to. Her threes and layup in the fourth quarter were some big time shots.”

Robinson finished with a game-high 32 points, including six three pointers and 15 points in the final six minutes of play. She also collected seven rebounds.

OV held Tri-County to 25 percent shooting for the game and 4-of-31 (.129) from beyond the 3-point line.

OV was 7-of-12 (.583) from the field, while holding Tri-County to 9-of-23 (.391) shooting.

Vogel finished with nine points including the four big points in the fourth quarter, and Natalie Jeffers had eight points and seven rebounds.

“Madison hit a huge jumper in the fourth quarter, and Natalie Jeffers hit a big three (in the third quarter),” said Ackers. “Bella Benning had, I think, six deflections in the fourth.”

Ruppert scored two points and collected seven rebounds, and she played tenacious defense.

“Hope Ruppert chased the younger Barry girl off the three-point line the entire second half,” said Ackers.

Okaw Valley girls’ overall record improved to 29-5, which set another school record for most wins in a season, overtaking the 2004-05 OV team (28-1) lead by Tracy Yantis.

The Timberwolves are scheduled to play Stockton at 11 a.m. Friday at Illinois State University’s Redbird Arena in Normal.