Lady Aces Position Themselves Well At PGA National Invite

The Mt. Carmel Lady Aces finished day one of the PGA High School Golf Invitational in 12th place out of 31 teams. But, the Lady Aces are in much better shape than that 12th place position may indicate. That’s because Mt. Carmel played the toughest of the three courses teams will see during the three day tournament in Frisco, Texas. In fact, all top 10 teams in the standings played on the Gentle Creek Country Club course while the Lady Aces only finished behind a team from Oklahoma among the schools playing on the tough Fields West Ranch Course.

Mt. Carmel finished the first day with a team score of +18. In first place is a team from California with a blistering -16. The Lady Aces had balanced scorecards today with Maria Kennard shooting 3 over including an eagle on #14. Emily Gottman, Miley Kennard, and Zeme Moore were right behind with +5 each. Elyse Swanson is also on the team and shot a +23. Only the best four scores on each team count to their score. Teams also had to battle through a 15 minute lightning delay too before finishing play.

Tomorrow, the Lady Aces will play the Gentle Creek Country Club and should benefit from the less challenging course than what they played today.

Coach Karin Kelsey told us, “We plan on going up the scoreboard some tomorrow and then on Wednesday, the leading teams will be on the Fields Ranch course, we will make our way up then!”

Photo Credit: Lady Aces Facebook page

Shot clock plans announced for Illinois High School Basketball

Illinois High School Association leaders recently approved a shot clock for high school basketball.

The much-anticipated move brings a 35-second shot clock to boy's and girl's basketball starting in the 2026 school year.

For I-H-S-A Executive Director Craig Anderson, the move comes from feedback from coaches and administrators.

Over the past several school years, tournaments have been allowed to use a shot clock. However, regular-season games were not allowed to use it.

Use of the shot clock for lower-level contests will be determined by conferences and mutual agreement by competing teams in non-conference games.

IHSA State Girls Basketball To Remain at Illinois State University's CEFCU Arena Through 2029

The Illinois High School Association (IHSA), Illinois State University (ISU), and the Bloomington-Normal Area Convention and Visitors Bureau announced on June 18, 2024, that they have reached a five-year contract extension for the IHSA Girls Basketball State Finals to remain at CEFCU Arena on the ISU campus in Normal through the 2029 state tournament.

“CEFCU Arena feels like home for the IHSA Girls Basketball State Finals, so we are excited to be able to announce an extension that pushes us closer to 40 years of the state tourney being held on the ISU campus,” said IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson. “CEFCU Arena is beautiful, and we have an incredible support from the ISU staff and community volunteers. Their passion and professionalism make for an unforgettable experience for our student-athletes, coaches, and fans.”

Horton Fieldhouse on the ISU campus hosted the inaugural IHSA Girls Basketball State Finals in 1977. The tourney then moved to Champaign for a little over a decade, before returning to CEFCU Arena in 1992, where it has remained ever since.

“Illinois State University values the long-standing relationship between ISU, the IHSA, and the Bloomington/Normal Convention and Visitors Bureau,” said ISU Interim Director of Athletics Jeri Mullins Beggs. “We're proud that the IHSA Girls Basketball Tournament is synonymous with Illinois State University.  We look forward to providing a first-class experience to all the teams and their fans.”

Through the years, future stars like Candace Parker, Tamika Catchings, and NFHS Hall of Fame coach Dorothy Gaters won IHSA state titles competing in CEFCU Arena as a part of America’s Original March Madness.

“We are honored that the Illinois High School Association has given us the opportunity to continue to host the prestigious IHSA Girls Basketball State Finals,” said BNACVB President and CEO Crystal Howard. “We appreciate the great working relationship we have with the Illinois High School Association and look forward to welcoming the athletes, students, and fans. The economic impact this event has on our community is considerable and we will make every effort to give our visitors a great State Finals experience.”

In 2021-22, the IHSA altered the state final format and now crowns state champions in all four classes on a single-weekend (Thursday, Friday, Saturday). In June 2024, the IHSA Board approved time and game order schedule changes to the state tourney that will go into effect in 2025.

Photo Credit: IHSA

Lady Aces Softball Banquet

The Lady Aces softball team had their end of the year banquet after a 15-9 season and winning the conference championship for the 2nd time in 3 years. 

Riley Hershey- All Conference and Gold Glove Award. 

Selby Patberg- All Conference and Golden Ace Award. 

Bella Andrews- All Conference and Offensive Player of the year. 

Leah Lewis- All Conference and Rookie of the Year Award. 

Lyla Keepes- All Conference and Pitcher of the Year Award. 

Evie Sellers- All State, All Conference, and Team MVP. 

Aces Win 1st Sectional Title Since 1980

From Coach Tyler Browning: SECTIONAL CHAMPS!!!

Golden Aces defeat Nashville by the score of 3-2 in extra innings to claim the 2A Sectional title. What a game, what a crowd, what an atmosphere!! Thank you to everyone who continues to show out and make this run even more special!

Banks threw his normal awesome game on the mound and the Aces battled back from down 2-0 to take the game to extras. Coston drove home the winning run in the bottom of the 8th with a single to right field to seal the Sectional victory! Browning, Gillihan, Coston all had multi-hit games for the Aces, and we were stellar defensively once again!

On to the Super Sectional this Monday at 2:00 p.m. at SIU-Carbondale. The Aces will take on Effingham St. Anthony who is the #1 team in class 2A, for a chance at a berth in the State tournament.

Click the link to listen to the game broadcast on WSJD.

Photo courtesy of FlashMac Photography

Golden Aces Win 1st Regional Title Since 2010; Beat Fairfield 3-2 In 8 Innings

Levi Banks’ RBI single in the bottom of the 8th drove home Jaxon Browning from second base to give the Aces the championship at Dee White Field.

Mt. Carmel will play DuQuoin at 6:30pm Wednesday night in the Benton Sectional.

Click the link to listen to the 8th inning and the postgame interviews with Coach Tyler Browning, and Aces players Andrew Gillihan, Jaxon Browning, and Levi Banks.

McCORKLE WINS SECTIONAL HIGH JUMP, LEWIS 3RD IN DISCUS

Mt. Carmel Lady Ace, Sarah McCorkle, won the Charleston 2A Sectional high jump on Thursday with a jump of 1.54 meters (5’0.5”). McCorkle out jumped 22 other competitors to qualify for the 2A Illinois State Championship to be held at Eastern Illinois University starting May 16th.

Teammate, Leah Lewis, placed 3rd in the discus with a personal best throw of 32.88 meters (107’10”). Both Lady Aces earned sectional medals for their efforts leading the Lady Aces to an 11th place tie with Charleston in the team standings.

LADY ACES 3RD AT HARRISBURG

The Lady Aces Track team, with a score of 100 points, placed 3rd in the Harrisburg Invitational on Monday. The Lady Aces were led by a one / two finish in high jump by Sarah McCorkle (5’1”) and Madi Stevens (4’10”), both personal bests. McCorkle (32’0) and Stevens (30’3) also combined for a 1st and 4th place finish in the triple jump.

Also medaling for the Lady Aces:

Linden Stevens - 5th 200 meters (31.78)

Tenley Davis - 5th 400 meters (1:10.05) pr

Madi Stevens - 3rd 100 meter hurdles (19.98)

Madeleine Mann - 2nd 300 meter hurdles (56.04)

Ashlin Trail - 3rd shot put (26’2”)

Katelyn Kline - 4th discus (78’1”)

Chandler Cusick -4th pole vault (6’0”)

Linden Stevens - 4th long jump (14’5.25”)

4x100 relay - 5th (55.77) Mariska Hopper, Tenley Davis, Madeleine Mann, Shelby Mayhue

4x200 relay - 6th (2:05.68) Mariska Hopper, Kate Andrews, Linden Stevens, Shelby Mayhue

4x400 relay - 4th (5:01.99) Tenley Davis, Madeleine Mann, Chandler Cusick, Shelby Mayhue.

The Lady Aces next meet is Wednesday at the Charleston Sectional.