The Taylorville girls basketball team's season remains alive after a 68-46 win against Lanphier in Decatur in the regional semifinal stage of the IHSA playoffs. The Tornadoes will face regional host MacArthur in the final on Friday.
The Tornadoes had one of their better starts to a game in the season, scoring 11 unanswered from the tip. The Lions attemped to claw back, and a strong second-quarter run brought them to within two. Taylorville responded with important makes at the end of the quarter to go into the changing room up 32-26.
The purple-and-gold continued the momentum into the third quarter as McKynlee Siempelkamp, Baileigh Jackson, and Julie Wayman each put up multiple baskets. Nora Thomas came alive in the fourth with nine points, the same number she had in the first three periods.
For the second straight game, Baileigh Jackson earned the title of Chill Nicole Patrick Country Financial Player of the Game. She and Thomas each finished with 18 points, with Grace Rogers and Siempelkamp at 21 and 11, respectively. Alayah Jarrett put up 21 points for Lanphier.
With the win, Taylorville is now 10-21 and faces MacArthur on the latter's home court in the regional final. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Friday. Lanphier ends the season 11-18.
