Sophomore guard Sadie Phillips and junior forward Mekenzie Wanek-Clementi combined for 27 points, but it wasn’t enough for the Charleston girls’ basketball team in its regional quarterfinal game against Mattoon, losing 43-40 in overtime Saturday afternoon at Baker Gym. 

The loss eliminates the Trojans (5-24, 1-9) from the Illinois High School Association Class 3A postseason. 

Charleston had the lead over the Greenwave (8-24, 2-7) with under 20 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, and after a made free throw by junior guard Samantha Fehrenbacher, the Trojans led by two. 

However, after a Charleston turnover with 14.6 seconds remaining, Mattoon was able to tie the game after junior forward Ava Larson pulled down a rebound, spun to her left, and pushed the ball into the hoop before crashing into the ground.

Mattoon would go on to outscore the Trojans 9-6 in overtime.

“We played six players today that just gave their hearts and souls and left everything on the court,” head coach Alex Koebele said. “I told [the players] the night before the game, win or lose, we’re going to go out our way.”

Phillips, who led both teams with 16 points, banked in a straight-away three-pointer with three minutes to go in the fourth quarter to extend the Trojan lead to six points. 

During a timeout with 2:22 remaining, Koebele expressed to the team the need to slow the game down and remain in control. 

However, the Greenwave’s press was too much for the Trojans, and it forced Charleston into a few mistakes that allowed Mattoon to go on a 7-1 run to force overtime. 

Koebele remained adamant about how proud he was of the entire team for being in a position to win, especially without senior guards Brie Tomlinson and Mia Hinds who are both out with ACL injuries.

“Everybody could agree that we didn’t execute some things at the end of the game; we’re also without two starters for half the season,” Koebele said. “But [the injuries] are no excuse. The people have stepped up big time.”

Charleston switched its defense for the first time all season, according to Koebele, and the change held Larson and senior guard Alexis Otto to nine points. 

No Greenwave player was able to get into double figures.

“[Charleston’s defensive changes] gave us more fits than I’d like,” Mattoon head coach Troy Haacke said. “They tried to take our two best players away.”

There were three lead changes in overtime before freshman forward Alana Perez put the Greenwave ahead for good with two minutes remaining. 

Despite an attendance of only about 100 people, Baker Gym sounded like it was full with how loud everyone was as the game got closer to its conclusion.

“The girls continued to play extremely hard and never quit,” Haacke said. “This is a rivalry game. This is the second game in three days against [Charleston].”

After a 3:44 Trojan scoring drought in the second quarter which allowed Mattoon to open up a 17-9 lead, Charleston went on an 11-1 run to take the lead midway through the third quarter. Both teams exchanged the lead seven times throughout the game. 

“At the end of the day, I couldn’t be more proud,” Koebele said. “[The Trojan players] gave us a chance to win and gave us everything they had. They represented Charleston the way they should, with class.”

Koebele said that the senior class is his favorite group of seniors that he’s worked with.

“I don’t know if there’s a word to describe them better than character,” Koebele said. “They do things the right way on and off the court. They are good human beings that care, that teach others how to do things the right way, that are receptive, and that are coachable.”

Koebele is excited to have, among all the returners for next season, three players that played nearly every minute for the Trojans this season and who learned how to play without the best player on the court. 

However, he said that this year’s senior class leaves big shoes to fill next season. 

“Like I said, this is my favorite group I’ve ever coached,” Koebele said. “If every program could have seniors like I had this year, we wouldn’t be losing coaches in the IHSA.”

Gabe Newman can be reached at 581-2812 or at ghnewman@eiu.edu.