By FRED KRONER
fred@mahometnews.com
In a girls’ basketball season that could best be described as turbulent, Mahomet-Seymour’s regular-season finale on Thursday (Feb. 8) will be remembered strictly for what happened on the court, not off the court.
Barely 24 hours after the M-S program endured the resignation of a second head coach in 29 days, the focus was the game.
Senior night.
The pre-game focus was on Sidney Young, the lone M-S senior player.
The post-game spotlight was also on Young following a career-best performance that included team-high totals of 16 points and eight rebounds in a 58-27 victory over Rantoul.
The Bulldogs’ interim head coach for the remainder of the season is principal Chad Benedict, who stepped in after Jess Hurless resigned on Wednesday.
Young’s mantra was that there was a game to play. And, she played.
She was a mixture of feelings during warmups.
“Excited, but bittersweet,” Young said. “Very nervous.”
It didn’t show.
During a 2-minute and 6-second span of the third quarter, Young scored 11 of her points. Her torrid streak started with a three-pointer that expanded the M-S lead to 42-14.
She didn’t feel alone.
“No matter what happens or how hard it is, I have my teammates, coaches, family and friends for support,” Young said.
Though it appeared that plays were being run to isolate Young, she said that was, “coincidental. Serendipity.
“It was something that happened. A switch was flipped.”
Young’s final season of varsity basketball was also her only season of varsity basketball with the Bulldogs. She spent her junior year as an exchange student in New Zealand.
“She embodies what we want student-athletes to be,” Benedict said. “She’s a great leader.
“After a year away, the girls voted her as a captain.”
Her special game was part of a special season.
“I cherished it,” she said. “I knew it would be my last season.”
Teammate Kylie Waldinger held the hot hand early against the Eagles as the Bulldogs built an 11-4 lead after one quarter. Waldinger was one of four players to sink free throws in the opening stanza.
She recorded 13 of her 15 points in the first half, and also grabbed six rebounds.
Benedict said he was impressed by the team’s “ability to share the ball. They were very unselfish.”
Also helping the team snap a five-game losing streak were Adaline Eisenmann (eight points), Selah Campion (five points), Grace Binkley (four points), Hannah Creel (three points), Reese Gallier (three points), Courtney Fonte (two points) and Addie Lagacy (two points).
Eisenmann pulled down five rebounds. Waldinger drained two three-pointers. Gallier and Young each hit one three-pointer.
With 2:16 left in the game, Benedict pulled Young from the game, and she received a rousing ovation.
“This was probably the most people we’ve had at a home game,” Young said. “That felt like a good way to end it.”
Those associated with the girls’ basketball program have chosen to not dwell on off-court activities and the recent slew of social-media posts.
Athletic director Matt Hensley confirmed that “two coaches resigned” on Wednesday and that Benedict, assisted by Ryan Martin – also a former M-S basketball coach – and Marissa Burner will be on the bench for next week’s Class 3A regional at Danville.
The third-seeded Bulldogs (12-19) will play fifth-seeded Danville on Tuesday (Feb. 13) at 6 p.m. in the Vikings’ gymnasium. The winner will move into the regional championship game.
The M-S junior varsity – coached by Martin – ended its season on Wednesday with a 58-17 victory over Rantoul in a game it led, 21-0.
Anna Streicher scored 17 points, Hannah Creel scored 11 points while Courtney Fonte and Hannah Martin each contributed nine points.
On Wednesday (Feb. 7), hours after the previous coaches resigned, the M-S varsity lost a makeup game at state-ranked Mount Zion, 55-33.
Waldinger scored 14 points and was followed by Young (seven points), Gallier (six points), Binkley (two points), Campion (two points) and Kelsie Fuoss (two points). Gallier notched the team’s lone three-pointer.
