***Dillon Price is a participant of The Kewanee Voice Student Journalism Program, funded by the Harry Anderson Memorial Trust.
The Kewanee Boiler Girls hosted the Orion Lady Chargers for their regional play-in game on Saturday, Feb 15. Kewanee won 61-35 and is now set to play Monmouth Roseville High School for the regional semi-final at Orion High School on Monday.
Despite having two injured players, the Boiler Girls got a strong start on both sides of the ball. Kewanee’s full-court press was simply too much for Orion, forcing numerous turnovers.
The Boiler Girls ended the first quarter with a 20-9 lead and never gave Orion a change to come back.
Kewanee went 13 for 17 from the free throw line. The Boilers shot over 50 percent from the field and had four players in double figures on the scoreboard, including Addison Yespen, who made her first varsity start for the Boiler Girls, filling in for senior Tejhiana Amos.
Points
Audrey Clucas – 11
Mya Dearing – 13
Bailey VanWinkle – 19
Addison Yepsen – 11
The Boiler Girls are now 20-10 and will face Monmouth Roseville for the third time this season.
The current record between the two squads is split, with one win for each team. Even with Demaris Diaz out for the season and Tejhiana Amos questionable to return, Coach Wallace is confident in his team’s depth and trusts his players to step up again as they did against Orion.
