27-02-2025
Sectional title preview: Morton, Washington girls to square off for fourth time
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD/WYZZ) — The fourth meeting will be the most important.
Washington and Morton are set to meet for the fourth time this season in girls basketball. But Thursday's match-up will determine the champion of the class 3A Ottawa Sectional.
'We know them just as well as they know us,' said Morton senior Ellie VanMeenen. 'We've played them so much. But we'll have to find a new way to get by them.'
VanMeenen scored 19 points to lead Morton past Ottawa, 59-46, in the sectional semifinal on Tuesday. Washington beat Galesburg, 55-47, to set up the championship match-up between Mid-Illini Conference schools.
Washington (32-1) beat Morton in their first match-up in December. It was a 44-40 decision in the State Farm Classic semifinals.
Then the Potters (24-6) answered with a win on Jan. 14 at Washington, 46-45, handing the top-ranked Panthers their only loss of the season. Washington went to Morton on the final night of the conference season Feb. 11 and beat the Potters, 67-50, to win the outright league title.
'It's going to be hard to beat them three times but I truly do think we are capable of it,' said Washington junior Avery Tibbs, who scored 22 points in the sectional semifinal Tuesday. 'We try not to look at them as a rival. They are from a town down the road. We should be good.'
Now the teams are set to meet in Ottawa for the right to advance to the class 3A state quarterfinals.
'If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best,' Washington coach Kim Barth said. 'And I think (Morton coach Bob Becker) would probably say the same back at us.'
The winner advances to the Rochelle super-sectional on Monday and would be one win away from advancing to state.
'It just speaks volumes about the Mid-Illini, of the Washington program, of the Morton program. Two teams in the Sweet 16 from the Mid-Illini. It's pretty fantastic,' Becker said. 'Hopefully there's a big crowd. I think it's two teams with kids that will lay it all on the line for a sectional title Thursday. It should be fun.'
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