Sadee Hamilton & Illinois Win 8th Straight

The last time Geneseo’s Devan Griffin suited up, she finished with a triple-double.

While her stats weren’t quite as illustrious, the Maple Leafs senior once again was the dominant force she had been all year. Griffin was named Most Outstanding Player in Illinois’ 62-39 win in the Iowa-Illinois Senior All-Star Showcase.

Griffin finished with 20 points, five rebounds, five steals, two blocks and an assist. She was the only player for either squad to crack double digits.

“It was a lot of fun,” Griffin said. “I’m glad I got to play with some of the top names in the Quad-City area. I was really honored to play with all of them.”

The win was the eighth in a row for the Illinois girls.

While Griffin, a future St. Ambrose Queen Bee, was stealing the show on the offensive end, it was Illinois’ defense that starred. It took until the 13:08 mark of the first half for Iowa to finally record a bucket when Assumption’s Kate Herrig got loose to put Iowa on the board 12-2. Iowa went into the half down 28-12.

United Township’s Abby Van Deventer took home the girls’ portion of the 3-point contest after being a late-minute addition, edging Moline’s Kylie Romeo 7-6 in the final. Van Deventer couldn’t shake Alleman’s hot-shooting Tyler Yeocum as the Pioneers senior — who won the boys title — buried 16 in the final round and 46 makes overall to take the 3-point title.

Before the final round, Van Deventer jogged across the court and shook the hand of her opponent.

“I said, ‘Good luck’ and ‘I know you’re going to win,’” Van Deventer said, laughing.

Van Deventer was Illinois’ second-leading scorer with eight points. Moline’s Tiana McCormick had seven, followed by Van Deventer’s UT teammate, Mikayla Fallon, and Romeo with six points apiece.

Clinton’s Larissa Brewer led Iowa with nine points. State champion Assumption’s Grace Fennelly and Jasmine Binion followed with six points.