NORMAL, Ill. — Early in the fourth quarter, with Montini making a surge, Lincoln guard Kloe Froebe attacked the basket with focused aggression. She dribbled hard with her right hand before using a fake pass to score an and-one to quell any chance of a Broncos comeback.
After Friday’s 58-41 Class 3A semifinal victory over Montini, the Railsplitters (37-0) get another chance at perfection. No 3A team has run the table since the 2012-13 Peoria Notre Dame team.
That heart-turning loss in last year’s state championship game to Nazareth is still at the forefront of the Railsplitters’ minds.
“Ever since we saw Nazareth rush the court, that just set a fire underneath us,” said Froebe, who scored 27 points. “Even before this game, we have a little video that we watch, and it’s about Nazareth rushing the floor and winning. That’s just been a driving force all season long.”
The Railsplitters won each quarter, showing their experience on this stage. Despite shooting 43.6% from the field, they got to the free-throw line and manufactured points. Lincoln shot 21 more free throws than Montini (29-8).
Froebe — a Colorado State commit — is the head of the attack. She’s averaging 28.6 points, one of the best marks in the state.
“They’re very difficult to defend because they have those weapons,” Montini coach Shannon Spanos said. “When [Froebe is] getting in the lane and we’re collapsing, trying to take that away, and then to kick it out for threes that we are too far away to close out correctly, those are daggers.”
Froebe received help from senior guard Jenna Bowman, who scored 15 points and shot 5-for-7 from the three-point line.
“I definitely feel more comfortable,” Bowman said of the difference she feels this year. “Last year, I was definitely behind the college three-point line, and we made sure this year to say, ‘Get on the high school three-point line because that’s what you’re used to.’ ”
Lincoln played some of the toughest teams in the state, facing off against Kenwood, Peoria Notre Dame, O’Fallon and Alton. The Railsplitters have one more test remaining in the Class 3A state title game against Glenwood at 5:30 p.m. Saturday. Lincoln demolished the Titans 54-20 on Jan. 6. The rematch doesn’t figure to be as easy.
“They’re doing a really great job of pressuring ball handlers,” coach Taylor Rohrer said.
Glenwood played an aggressive defense all game, stifling the Hornets. But the Titans have to find a solution to slow down Froebe.
“They play a tight defense,” Froebe said. “I don’t think I got an outside shot up, but I don’t need to when I have the shooters that I have on my team.”
Rohrer said she was pleased with the Railsplitters’ preparation and focus entering Friday, but she knows they still haven’t accomplished their goal.
“We’ve been waiting to make it back to the state title game,” Rohrer said. “Going undefeated was never the goal. The goal was to win a state title.”
