Putting the super in supersectional: Hargrove’s monster night leads Christopher to State


Darren Kinnard
Section618.com

EFFINGHAM — You could pick any number of superlatives to describe Amiah Hargrove’s performance Monday night in the Effingham St. Anthony 1A Girls Supersectional. Hargrove scored in just about every way imaginable, piling up 36 points to lead Christopher past Neoga 50-45, sending the Lady Bearcats to the 1A state semifinals in Normal.

Hargrove scored 22 of her team’s 23 points spanning the end of the second quarter and start of the third, helping the Lady Bearcats turn a 19-14 deficit into a 37-28 lead.

The Indians answered with their own run fueled by Haylee Campbell. Campbell scored eight of her team high 16 points during a 15-6 spurt over the end of the third and the first half of the fourth quarters to tie the game at 43-43.

But again Hargrove had the answer.

The junior standout was in the right place at the right time as a loose ball came right to her for an open layup to put the Lady Bearcats on top. Then after a defensive stop, Hargrove drove around three Neoga defenders for another layup to make it a two possession game.

Senior Tori Crain then hit three pressure-packed free throws to clinch it, as Christopher scored seven of the game’s final nine points for the win.

Next stop for the Lady Bearcats will be the CEFCU Center, the building formerly known as Redbird Arena in Normal, where they will face St. Thomas More out of Champaign in the second semifinal Thursday around 11:45. Okawville will take on Galena in the opener at 10:00.

The winners will play for the state championship Saturday morning at 11:00. The losers will have to come back Thursday night at 7:00 for the third place game.