NASHVILLE — The Nashville Hornettes came into Thursday night’s 2A Nashville Sectional final against Breese Central sporting a 30-3 record. Two of those three losses came to 4A schools, Alton (sectional champion) and O’Fallon (regional champion). That other loss came after Christmas to the aforementioned Cougars, 39-34 in the semis of the Mascoutah Tournament.
The Hornettes not only avenged that loss, but they collected a sectional championship and earned a trip to the Vandalia Supersectional in the process, thanks to a 46-34 win over the Cougars.
This figured to be a defensive battle, and it lived up to the billing with Nashville taking a 16-15 lead into halftime.
Central grabbed a 25-22 lead late in the third, but the Hornettes scored the final five points of the quarter and the first six of the fourth quarter. That 11-0 run put Nashville up 33-25 and in control.
Central cut the deficit to five on a 3-pointer from Kylie Rakers, but the Cougars could get no closer. The Hornettes closed it out, pulling away for a 12-point win.
Nashville improves to 31-3 and will now face Camp Point Central Monday night at 7:00 at Vandalia. The winner will head to Bloomington/Normal for the state final four.
Central finishes the season 30-4.
