The Ironmen girls basketball team is off to a blazing 8-0 start, narrowly defeating Edwardsville 38-37 on the road. With top-ranked Washington, O’Fallon and Peoria Notre Dame looming, their toughest tests are still ahead. Photo Courtesy of: Charles Green

Ironmen stay perfect with 38-37 win over Edwardsville, brace for tough tests ahead

Community to face top-ranked Washington, O’Fallon and Peoria Notre Dame

Marcus Russell, Zachary Ziemer, Ethan Smith and Ethane Delio

Dec 16, 2024

The Ironmen girls basketball team is undefeated after opening the season with eight straight wins, squeaking out a 38-37 win over the Edwardsville Tigers on the road Dec. 14.

Saturday’s victory was a meaningful test for Community as Edwardsville entered the contest with a deceptive 4-2 record.

The Tigers’ losses came at the hands of two of the top teams in the state, falling 41-24 to the Alton Redbirds and 34-31 to O’Fallon.

The Redbirds are a formidable foe, ranked 10th in the Associated Press’s Class 4A poll with a 8-1 record. Alton knocked off Peoria High 100-10 (you read that right) and narrowly defeated O’Fallon 30-29 on Dec. 12.

Edwardsville’s other loss came at the hands of O’Fallon, a team ranked 17th in the AP’s 4A poll after a 6-2 start.

The Iron are likely to see the Tigers again in postseason play as Edwardsville is in Community’s Sectional bracket.

While Community is off to an impressive start, the team’s biggest challenges still lay ahead– the Washington Panthers, the O’Fallon Panthers and the Peoria Notre Dame Irish–teams with a combined 23-5 record as of Dec. 16.

Photo Courtesy of: Washington Panthers girls basketball X profile // @wchs_308gbb

Washington Panthers - Dec. 16

Washington is off to a 10-0 start, ranked atop the AP’s Class 3A poll, and returning most of the roster from last season where they went 23-7.

Among the Panthers wins this season is a decisive 68-43 victory over Chatham Glenwood, a team that finished second in 3A last season and is returning a host of young players.

The Iron know Washington well, matching up against the Panthers twice last season and taking home victories in both contests (54-36, 57-47).

Photo Courtesty of: O’Fallon Panthers girls basketball Instagram @oths_girls_bball

O’Fallon Panthers - Jan. 11

The 6-2 O’Fallon Panthers are just two baskets away from an undefeated record, falling to two of the top teams in the state.

O’Fallon’s two losses are both by a 1-point margin to top 20 teams.

In addition to losing to Alton, the Panthers suffered a 54-53 defeat to the 7-0 Breese Central Cougars, ranked 2nd in the AP’s Class 2A poll.

Photo Courtesy of: Peora Notre Dame Irish girls basketball X account // @PNDLadyIrish

Peoria Notre Dame Irish - Jan. 22

Community hasn’t taken home a win against the defending 2A State champions since Mr. Dave Feeney inherited the Ironmen.

Despite back-to-back 34-4 campaigns, the Iron have been unable to come out ahead of the Irish.

Last season, Peoria Notre Dame was led by Mya Wardle, a player who averaged 16 points, eight boards, four assists and four steals in her senior campaign. While Wardle has taken her talents to Eastern Kentucky, the Irish return the majority of their star-studded roster from last season, including Mya Wardle’s younger sister, Emy.

The 7-3 Irish, ranked 4th in 2A, have recorded losses to the undefeated Washington Panthers (56-47); one of the top-programs in the nation in Missouri’s Incarnate Word Academy (69-26) and Alton (41-27).

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