Lebanon spoils Steeleville's Senior Night

Krista Bass scored 23 points to lead five players in double figures, and Lebanon ruined Steeleville's Senior Night with a 75-57 win on Thursday.

Kendra Bass (19), Casey Berberich (11), Madison Schoenfeld (10) and Mallory Schmitt (10) also reached double figures for the Greyhounds (23-3), who jumped out to a 17-3 lead and led 49-26 at halftime.

"We knew we had to take care of the ball and if we turned it over, they were probably going to capitalize on it just about every time," said Steeleville coach John Antonacci. "They're a quick team and when they get a turnover, there's five bodies that are going and it's hard to keep up with them."

The turnover problems continued to plague Steeleville (11-17) to start the second half and the Lady Warriors trailed by almost 30, 62-34, on a 3-pointer by Kendra Bass with 3:22 left in the third quarter.

Lebanon took a 68-41 advantage into the final quarter.

"They're very quick, they make good cuts," Antonacci said. "When that happens and when they have someone who can make the outside shots and can cut (to the basket) on top of that...they do a great job of using each other to set screens to make the back cuts open and our talking has to be better and definitely on the weakside help."

Senior Chloe Gerlach led the Lady Warriors with 16 points, while Mackenzie Pim added 13. Bailey Gale and Morgan Bockhorn, the team's other seniors, combined for 10 points.

Gerlach, Gale and Bockhorn were honored prior to the contest and were accompanied by their parents at half court. All three were part of Steeleville's magical run a year ago that ended at the Class 1A Salem Super-sectional.

"This group of seniors has been invaluable to the program," Antonacci said. "You get a group of three girls that come out, play all four years, that work together all the way through grade school, that's something that you can't create in four years.

"That's something that's created over the course of their whole careers."

Steeleville moves on to host its own Class 1A regional as the No. 6 seed and will face third-seeded Webber Township on Monday at 7:30 p.m.

No. 2 seed Christopher will face No. 8 seed Elverado at 6 p.m. The winners of each game will play in Thursday's regional championship at 7 p.m.