Washington enters postseason with 30-1 record, No. 1 ranking and momentum
But it appears the Washington girls basketball team has it after beating Morton in the regular season finale to clinch the Mid-Illini Conference title on Tuesday.
'It's really momentum for us going into postseason with this Mid-Illini Conference championship,' said junior guard Avery Tibbs. 'It feels really good and it's a boost of momentum for us.'
Tibbs scored 19 points as Washington rallied from a six-point halftime deficit to shoot past the Potters, 67-50. The Panthers hit seven of their nine three-pointers in the second half against Bob Becker's Potters.
'I think this is a huge step in the right direction,' said Washington coach Kim Barth. 'Morton is a great program. I'll always give (Becker) credit. It's a well-coached, disciplined team. For us to make a run like that in the second half, means good things are coming.'
Washington (30-1, 13-1) avenged its loss of the season with the win. The Panthers are ranked No. 1 in the state in class 3A with the Illinois High School Association postseason starting this weekend.
'Obviously, it feels good but honestly now we are 0-0,' said junior Becca McDougall. 'On any day it be any (opponent's) game. We just have to keep being us. And do our thing.'
The Panthers host a regional next week and begin play on Monday.
'The next game is the next game. We are not going to focus on this game for our next one,' junior Dani Guedet said after scoring 16 points in the win at Morton. 'Our next game is a completely new (season).'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox Sports
19 minutes ago
- Fox Sports
WNBA All-Star Game: Kayla Thornton, Gabby Williams, Kiki Iriafen, Sonia Citron among reserves
Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Kayla Thornton, Gabby Williams, Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron will be making their All-Star debuts in Indianapolis later this month as they were all chosen on Sunday as reserves for the game. Thornton has been in the league for nine years and finally is getting her chance to play in the exhibition game. She was selected in the expansion draft by Golden State last year from New York and has helped the expansion team get off to a good start. 'It would be such a reward for her,' said New York's Sandy Brondello, who will be one of the All-Star coaches. 'She's been a role player all her career, but to go into a new organization and do so well, I voted for her as an alternate to get there because she deserves it.' Williams has been in the league for six seasons, although she's missed time to play with France's national team. She's having a strong season for Seattle this year. Washington rookies Iriafen and Citron join Dallas' Paige Bueckers as first-year players on the All-Star team. Bueckers was chosen as a starter. It's the first time that three rookies will be playing in the game since 2011. Other reserves chosen include Seattle's Skylar Diggins, Phoenix's Alyssa Thomas, Atlanta's Rhyne Howard, Indiana's Kelsey Mitchell, Los Angeles' Kelsey Plum, Minnesota' Courtney Williams, Las Vegas' Jackie Young and Chicago's Angel Reese. 'It means a lot to go with these other two,' said Diggins, who will be making her seventh All-Star appearance, of playing with teammates Nneka Ogwumike and Williams. The reserves were selected by the WNBA's 13 head coaches, who each voted for three guards, five frontcourt players and four players at either position regardless of conference. The coaches were not able to vote for their own players. Captains Caitlin Clark and Napheesa Collier will draft their teams for the All-Star Game on July 19. First they'll chose from the eight other starters: Breanna Stewart, A'ja Wilson, Bueckers, Ogwumike, Allisha Gray, Sabrina Ionescu, Satou Sabally and Aliyah Boston. The All-Star teams will be revealed on Tuesday. Some notable players left off the team were Washington's Brittney Sykes, New York's Natasha Cloud and Los Angeles' Dearica Hamby. ___ AP WNBA:
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Are the Commanders trying to tell us something?
Are the Washington Commanders trying to tell us something? Last week, the Commanders announced on X that they'd unveil their new alternate uniforms on July 9. For most teams, there wouldn't be a debate over the alternate uniforms. However, things are different in Washington. While some fans still dislike the name Commanders, winning has a way of changing people's minds. Washington's 12-5 record last season and appearance in the NFC championship game made some fans forget they didn't like the name. Meanwhile, other fans have moved on from the name debate and just want to enjoy drama-free football. Advertisement The uniforms are another topic. Some fans like them, others don't. Some fans are especially critical of the all-black uniforms and the white jerseys. It has been hinted that Washington's new alternates will resemble the previous uniforms when the team was called the Redskins. Not the helmet, of course. That has led to a lot of anticipation about this week's reveal. So, are the Commanders trying to tell us something? One day after the team announced the uniform reveal, the Commanders shared the latest version of "Hail Tales," the podcast with stories from the franchise's long history. The latest version is about the "Monday Night Miracle." For the younger fans, let's refresh your memory. That game is one of the most memorable and improbable wins in franchise history. The offense could do nothing for the entire game. Quarterback Mark Brunell connected on two deep touchdown passes to Santana Moss and the Redskins shocked the Cowboys. Moss immediately became a franchise legend. Advertisement Did you notice those uniforms? Washington was wearing its traditional white tops with burgundy pants. Could this week's reveal resemble those uniforms from 20 years ago? Perhaps it's nothing, but Washington owner Josh Harris has said the Commanders "will honor the past," while looking toward the future. You can't make everyone happy. No move will have every fan happy. But bringing back uniforms that resemble the old ones would make a large portion of the fan base happy. Maybe the Commanders are trying to tell us something. Maybe not. We'll find out in a few short days. This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Are the Commanders trying to tell us something?
USA Today
8 hours ago
- USA Today
Former NFL MVP questions if Jayden Daniels will be a 'one-hit wonder'
The Washington Commanders open training camp in less than three weeks. Quarterback Jayden Daniels will begin his second NFL season, and hopes are extremely high for Daniels and the Commanders after last season's surprising 12-5 campaign. After such a phenomenal season, what can Daniels do for an encore? Washington general manager Adam Peters spent the offseason surrounding his franchise quarterback with a revamped offensive line, led by five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil, and also acquired former Pro Bowl wide receiver Deebo Samuel to pair with Terry McLaurin. Some believe Daniels could suffer a sophomore slump. He wouldn't be the first young superstar to take a step back in his second season. However, former NFL MVP Cam Newton takes it a step further, raising the question of whether Daniels could be a one-hit wonder. On a recent edition of his podcast, "Funky Friday," Newton's special guest was rapper Wale. Wale is also a Washington Commanders superfan. "Do you fear that Jayden Daniels could be a potential one-hit wonder?" Newton asked Wale. "No," Wale responded. Then, Newton asked what made Daniels different. "He loves the game too much," Wale answered. "You know, you got people that don't love the game, they love what comes with the game. That boy loves the game. He just loves the game." Then, Newton brought up a comparison that no Washington fan wants to hear: Robert Griffin III. "There was nobody who had the game in a chokehold like Robert Griffin III," Newton said. "I see that same thing happening for Jayden and, you know, being in that community, do you fear that?" he asked Wale. Wale brought up a great point from a Washington fan perspective. Fans are optimistic about Daniels and this new regime, but that "PTSD," as Wale called it, remains until there is sustained success. You can watch the episode here: It's easy to dismiss Newton as a hater here. However, remember, he shares a similar history with both Griffin and Daniels. Newton won the Heisman Trophy in 2010 and was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft. In 2011, he was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Griffin won the 2011 Heisman, was the No. 2 pick in the 2012 NFL draft and the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2012. Daniels was the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner and the 2024 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Newton experienced much more success in the NFL than Griffin. Griffin had a phenomenal rookie season, but that was it. Newton was a three-time Pro Bowl selection and the 2015 NFL MVP. He never reached the highs of that season again. Daniels is considered a much more advanced passer than either Newton or Griffin at the same stage of their careers. As for Newton's question, will Daniels be a one-hit wonder? Don't bet on it. But we'll see soon enough.
