Breaking the barrier
Bloomington Central Catholic is the first girls team since Galesburg (1997-1999) to win three straight State Farm Holiday Classic tournament titles, and in doing so became the first girls team to top 300 points for the tournament. The Saints trailed early in the second half, before pulling away from Pana for a 66-52 victory. The win gives the Saints 12 straight tournament wins, and next year, they’ll have an opportunity to challenge the Galesburg record of 16 straight.
The Saints did etch their name in many new tournament records including:
- The Saints scored 310 points, which is an average of 77.5 ppg – more than 10 ppg more than the previous record.
- The Saints margin of victory was 34.5 points per game – a new record.
- Central Catholic made 120 total field goals (107 field goals and 13 three-pointers).
- Allie Norton became the first female player in tournament history to be named to the all-tournament team four times.
Another Saints record
Central Catholic’s boys finished sixth, but senior sharp shooter Hayden Hoerdemann set two new records. After having no free-throw attempts in the Saints tournament opener, Hoerdemann went to the free-throw line 24 times in the final three games, and made all 24. The performance set marks for most consecutive free throws made and for best percentage (minimum 20 attempts).
More records
Other records set Thursday during the State Farm Holiday Classic:
- Rockton Hononegah’s boys notched eight three-pointers, giving the Indians 33 for the tournament, a large-school record.
- Springfield’s girls made six three-pointers en route to the large school girls title. That gave the Senators 27 for the four games, a new record. Zahna Medley, a junior for Springfield, tied the individual mark with 16 three-pointers.
- On a high note, Annawan took home the fourth-place trophy. At the other spectrum, the Bravettes set a new record for most points allowed – 230 in the four games.
