Charleston girls’ basketball snapped its 41-game Apollo Conference losing streak, beating the Mattoon Greenwave 29-28 Saturday evening at Baker Gym.
The Trojans (5-19, 1-7) led for the entire game since taking the lead midway through the first quarter.
The program’s last conference win came on March 11, 2021.
Not only was it the first conference win for Alex Koebele in his time as head coach of Charleston, but it came on his 37th birthday.
“Everything comes back to this senior group,” Koebele said. “I just wanted it so bad for them and I’m so happy that they got to enjoy this against Mattoon tonight.”
With Baker Gym nearly packed, Charleston clung to a one-point lead with eight seconds to go. However, after a turnover by the Trojans in the back court with 3.4 seconds to go, the Greenwave (6-19, 1-5) got the ball back with a chance to win the game.
Tasked with inbounding the ball, Mattoon senior guard Reagan Dunkin’s pass intended for senior forward Aylexis Otto was behind its target, which forced Otto to catch the ball with her momentum falling away from the basket.
By the time Otto was in a shooting position, there was only enough time for her to shoot from the logo, which fell well short as time expired.
“It was just one of those situations where we didn’t execute very well at the end,” Koebele said. “We allowed too many drives to the basket. But in the end, our girls are fighters and they’ve done nothing but get better every game and that’s all I can ask for them.”
Both Charleston and Mattoon got off to slow starts offensively, with the first made shot from the field not coming until four minutes into the game.
Through three quarters, the score was 18-11 in favor of Charleston. However, both offenses started to click in the final quarter, nearly producing what was scored across the first three quarters in the fourth quarter alone.
The Trojans were without senior point guard Brie Tomlinson, who has been unavailable due to injury for almost a week.
Sophomore guard Sadie Phillips was inserted into that role and scored 10 points, including a deep three-pointer to begin the fourth quarter which extended the Charleston lead to 10.
“We’re without our starting point guard, and that hurts,” Koebele said. “Sadie Phillips has stepped up big time.”
Mattoon kept itself in the game thanks to junior forward Ava Larson, who led both teams in scoring with 19 points. The Greenwave outscored the Trojans 8-1 in the final minute of the game, with five of those points coming from Larson.
However, with 17 seconds remaining, Larson was fouled and sent to the line. With her team down by one point, Larson was unable to make either free throw.
“I knew that Ava Larson was a good competitor,” Phillips said. “I’m honestly just amazed that we pulled through with that win and I’m so proud of my team.”
Koebele says he was impressed with the amount of noise the crowd was making throughout the entire game.
“I told the girls before the game, ‘this feels like a state football playoff game atmosphere,’” Koebele said.
Charleston remains at home for another Apollo Conference game on Tuesday against Effingham.
Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
Gabe Newman can be reached at 581-2812 or at ghnewman@eiu.edu.