On Thursday the 2024 Altamont Lady Indians won 3rd Place and made history by going further than any other basketball team in Altamont school history. This years Lady Indians squad already made history by advancing to the first final four in school history, with the win in the Farmer City Super Sectional on Monday over Cissna Park. Altamont captured third by winning 64-56 over Peru St. Bede.
The day for Altamont started with a semi final matchup with the Tigers from Illini Bluffs. Illini Bluffs came out of the gate strong with a 5-0 led, with a three for Annabelle Fortin and a jumper from Lily Luczkowiak. Altamont would respond with Grace Nelson answering with a three of her own and two free throws tying the game at 5. IB would then go on a 9-2 run to take the lead 14-7 into the first quarter TV time out. The media time out helped out Altamont. The Tribe closed out the first quarter strong with two huge baskets from sophomore Kaylee Lurkins to close the gap to one possession, 14-11 after one.
In the second quarter Altamont tied the game and eventually would take their first led with 3:27 to go with another basket from Lurkins. The Lady Indians would build up their led to 23-19 with a three from Nelson and a layup from Lurkins. Luczkowiak would cut the deficit to just one with a three pointer. Nelson would make one of two at the line to give Altamont the 24-22 lead at the half.
Out of the break Altamont pushed their led to 28-22 with a layup from Nelson and two free throws from Claire Boehm. Luczkowiak would score three straight baskets to tie things up at 28 to go into the third quarter media timeout. Peyton Osteen would make one of two free throws off the time out to give Altamont the led back. Nelson extended the led to four a couple different times with a three and free throws. Altamont would take their largest led to that point 36-30 with 37 seconds left. A second chance basket by Luczkowiak had the Lady Indians lead down to 36-32 after three.
Altamont would be up early on in the fourth 38-32 on a second chance basket from Nelson. Boehm would connect with a floater to give Altamont the 40-34 lead with 6:13 left in the game. The Lady Indians would have the lead 43-39 on a Boehm steal and Nelson bucket on the other end with 3:50 to go.
Then the media time out happened.
This time Illini Bluffs would benefit and the Tigers would grab the led 46-45 with a short Chloe Eeten jumper. Nelson would draw the foul and with 55 seconds left and would split the pair of free throws to tie it up at 46. A missed three pointer by Fortin would send the game into overtime tied at 46.
In the extra session it was all Illini Bluffs. The lone field goal for Altamont came from Nelson and once IB had the led and kept going to the line, the deficit was too hard to comeback from. IB outscored the Lady Indians 14-2 in the overtime session to win 60-48 and advance to the 1A championship game.
Altamont was led in scoring by future Illinois State Redbird playing on her future collegiate home floor Grace Nelson with 32 points and 6 rebounds. Kaylee Lurkins also finished with 11 points. Claire Boehm had 4 and Peyton Osteen had 1 point. Luczkowiak led Illni Bluffs with 27 points and 11 rebounds. Fortin had 12 and Eeten had 11 points off the bench.
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | OT | ||
Altamont | 11 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 48 |
Illini Bluffs | 14 | 8 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 60 |
IB Points
Luczkowiak 27, Fortin 12, Eeten 11, Buchen 5, Robertson 3, Cruit 2
Altamont Points
Nelson 32, Lurkins 11, Boehm 4, Peyton Osteen 1
After a heartbreaking and emotional loss the Altamont Lady Indians shifted their focus and formed a new goal.
End the season with a win..
The opponent that stood in front of Altamont and that goal was Peru St. Bede who lost their game 44-30 against Okawville earlier in the day. Nelson would open up the scoring ten seconds in with a three pointer to ease the Lady Indians nerves. The first quarter was back and fourth for the most part. Nelson poured in 13 in the opening quarter, Lurkins made a couple of free throws and Skylie Klien would have a steal and a layup for Altamont’s 17 points. St. Bede had Ella Hermes connect with a couple of three pointers for 8 opening quarter points. Ali and Lily Bosnich combined for 11 to give the Lady Bruins the 20-17 lead after one.
In the second quarter St. Bede built up their led to six points at two different parts of the quarter. Nelson, after making that three at the beginning of the game, would go 0-5 after that. The Lady Indians would cut the deficit down, Bri Grunloh would knock down one from long range. Peyton Osteen with 10 seconds in the half would knock down a three of her own to pull the Lady Indians within one, 30-29 at halftime.
Altamont would take their first lead since the first quarter with Grunloh’s second three pointer of the game to make it 37-35 with 4;54 to go in the quarter.
Altamont would not look back
The Lady Indians would build up their lead to 10 at one portion of the quarter. Thanks to free throws and a three pointer by Nelson. Altamont led 51-41 after three quarters.
In the fourth quarter St. Bede would get as close as three but that was as close as the Bruins got for the rest of the game. Skylie Klien would make a three pointer, layups from Boehm and Nelson would get the lead back to 1o, 62-52. The clock would run down and when the buzzer sounded and the Altamont Lady Indians would emerge victorious and take 3rd Place back home to Altamont.
Nelson would finish the game with 39 points to finish the season with 1,066 and finish her career with 2,862 points. Peyton Osteen would finish with 10 points. Bri Grunloh 6 points, Skylie Klein 5 points, Claire Boehm and Kaylee Lurkins both with 2 points.
Altamont finishes the season with a 28-7 overall record. 8-0 and National Trail Conference Regular Season Champions, Robinson Holiday Tournament Champions, Dieterich Regional Champions,, Central A & M Sectional Champions, Farmer City Blue Ridge Super Sectional Champions and finally
Class 1A 3rd Place.
What a team. What a ride. What a tribe.
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | ||
St. Bede | 20 | 10 | 11 | 15 | 56 |
Altamont | 17 | 12 | 22 | 13 | 64 |
Altamont Points
Nelson 39, Peyton Osteen 10, Grunloh 6, Klien 5, Boehm 2, Lurkins 2
St. Bede Points
Ali Bosnich 21, Ella Hermes 16, Ehm 9, Lily Bosnich 6, Lili McClain 2, Bray 2
Seniors Peyton Osteen, Claire Boehm, Brianna Grunloh and Grace Nelson
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