As we enter the final stretch of the high school basketball season, things are heating up atop the leader board of the hotly contested Lincoln Trail Conference girls title race.
This will come as no surprise for those who follow LTC girls hoops, which has been one of the most competitive Class 1A girls conferences in the state of Illinois.
One of the teams (Annawan) has been ranked No. 3 atop the AP Girls 1A state rankings throughout much of the season. After a recent loss to West Central, the Bravettes are now No. 4 and West Central cracked the Top 10 this week, coming in at No. 9.
Over the last few weeks, Wethersfield has been one of the teams receiving votes (4). Two other LTC teams also received votes. Ridgewood (Alwood/Cambridge – 2 votes) and Abingdon-Avon (1).
2022-’23 LTC Standings
The Bravettes are the defending LTC champs. Last season Annawan was 25-8 and had a perfect 11-0 conference record. Princeville was second at 24-10 (10-1) and Wethersfield was third (20-13, 8-3).
Not far behind was Abingdon-Avon at 20-14 (7-4) and Knoxville was 17-14 (7-4). ROWVA/Williamsfield was 17-15 (6-6) and West Central was 19-14 (4-6). The remaining teams’ overall records were below .500.
2023-’24 LTC standings
Biggsville (West Central) got people’s attention after recently beating Annawan (19-5) in the title game of the LTC tourney, 69-64.
West Central (15-5) is the only undefeated team remaining in the conference standings at 7-0. The Bravettes are 6-1, while Abingdon-Avon (17-5) is 4-1. Wethersfield (18-4) and Princeville (13-10) are 4-2 and Mercer County (12-11) is 4-3 in LTC play.
In addition to being one of the toughest small school conferences, the LTC also boasts a number of talented all-state players.
Shelby Bowman (West Central), senior
Chief among the noted all-staters are senior guard Shelby Bowman of West Central. During her sophomore campaign, Bowman averaged 23 points a game and was named to the AP Second Team. She was also named to the IBCA Third Team and First Team All-LTC.
Last season, as a junior, Bowman averaged 29 pts a game. She was accorded AP Class 1A First Team honors for her scoring prowess. She was also named to the IBCA All-State Second Team and All-LTC First Team.
Now a senior, Bowman has been averaging 31 points while shooting 51% from the field. She also shoots 83% at the free throw line and 39% from 3-point range. In addition, Bowman dishes out four assists and averages four steals per game.
In December, she achieved rare air status by scoring her 2000th point. In recent back-to-back games against Wethersfield and Annawan, Bowman put up crazy numbers. She scored 48 against the Lady Geese and 44 against Annawan for a combined total of 92 points.
Kennady Anderson (Wethersfield), senior
As a junior, Anderson averaged 16 points a game (in addition to averaging six rebounds and four steals a game). She also scored her 1000th career point during the final game of the season.
She received IBCA All-State Special Mention honors. She was also voted Second Team All-LTC as a sophomore and All-LTC First Team as a junior.
Currently, Anderson is averaging 16 points a games as well as seven rebounds, three steals and two assists.
Anderson started the 2023-’24 season with 1,015 points and 11th on the WHS girls all-time scoring list. She now has 1,367 points and is seventh on the list behind Alexis Nichols (’20) with 1,415 points.
Bella VanOpdorp (Annawan), junior
As a sophomore, VanOpdorp was named to the IBCA All-State Third Team and the AP All-State Honorable Mention Team. She was also an LTC First teamer.
In the midst of her junior campaign, VanOpdorp is averaging 15 points a game, five rebounds, four steals and three assists. Thursday night during Annawan’s 67-33 win over Monmouth (United), VanOpdorp scored her 1000th career point.
Key games played
Nov 29: Annawan handed Wethersfield their first conference loss, 46-37.
Dec 4: West Central defeated Annawan 60-49, giving the Bravettes their only LTC loss to date.
Dec 4: Wethersfield topped Abingdon-Avon 60-50 for the Tornadoes only conference loss.
Jan 4: West Central downed Princeville 48-43, which was the Princes first LTC loss.
Jan 24: West Central (7-0) defeats Wethersfield 56-50, giving the Lady Geese their second conference loss (5-2).
Jan 24: Mercer County edges out Ridgewood, 59-56, to move to 4-3 in the LTC.
Jan 24: Abingdon-Avon (4-1) beats Princeville 45-39, giving the Princes their second conference loss (4-2).
Key matchups ahead
Jan 29: Wethersfield at Monmouth (United)
Jan 29: Abingdon-Avon at West Central
Jan 29: Mercer County at Princeville
Jan 31: Princeville at Annawan
Feb 3: Monmouth (United) at Princeville
Feb 5: Wethersfield at Princeville
Feb 5: Annawan at Mercer County
Feb 7: Annawan at Abingdon-Avon
