By Randy Whalen
Correspondent
Even through the disappointment of a close state championship game loss, Olivia Austin was nothing but grateful.
Between basketball and volleyball, the Nazareth senior played in five state title game over the past three years. Unfortunately for her and the Roadrunners, the ending to the most recent of those wasn’t what they wanted.
That was a 44-40 loss to Loyola on March 2 in the girls basketball Class 4A state championship game.
The defeat at CEFCU Arena in Normal snapped the Roadrunners’ 22-game winning streak as the Ramblers (38-0) completed an undefeated season and tied the 2005 Peoria Richwoods and 2024 Lincoln teams for most wins in girls basketball state history.
Loyola became the 18th undefeated state champion in IHSA history, including this year’s Lincoln squad, which captured the Class 3A title with a 60-44 victory over Chatham Glenwood to finish 38-0.
“I’m very happy and lucky to have been a part of this team,” Austin said. “Everyone gave their all and most (athletes) don’t get to play in a title game, let alone five. So I’m extremely lucky and didn’t take it for granted.”
The senior forward and sophomore guard Stella Sakalas each scored 16 points in the loss. But it wasn’t enough.
Loyola senior guard Paige Engles had a game-high 17 points, 11 in the second half, and added three assists and three rebounds as Loyola rallied from a 25-17 halftime deficit. The Ramblers came out of halftime to score the first 11 points of the third quarter to take the lead, and they never trailed again.
“We had a chance up eight, and I said, ‘Let’s extend it,” Nazareth coach Ed Stritzel said. “But it went the other way. We didn’t execute and our offense got sloppy. Credit to Loyola, but we didn’t do what we were supposed to and it cost us.”
Nazareth committed 17 turnovers.
“At halftime, our goal was to extend the lead,” Austin said. “But they came out punching and we fell back.”
Loyola led 32-27 after three quarters. The Roadrunners tied it at 32 on a 3-pointer by senior guard Mary Bridget Wilson with 5:39 to play.
But Engles, who added three rebounds and three assists, hit a 3-pointer a minute later to put the Ramblers back in front.
Austin had 12 points in the first half and Sakalas had 10 as Nazareth led 25-17 at halftime.
Moving up to Class 4A this season, Nazareth was the reigning Class 3A champ. The Ramblers finished second in Class 3A in 2022.
Austin, along with guards Amalia Dray and Danielle Scully, were three-year starters. They and Wilson played in three straight girls basketball state championship games.
Dray had a game-high 22 points, Austin had 16 points and eight rebounds, and Sakalas scored 15 points on March 1 in a 69-44 state semifinal win over Waubonsie Valley.
“All in all, it was an amazing three-year run with these girls,” Stritzel said. “Their futures are ahead and secure. They’re hurting, but I told them don’t be sad, going downstate three years in a row is amazing.”
Austin was also on the Roadrunner volleyball teams that finished first in the fall of 2021 and second in 2022 in Class 3A. She will continue her basketball career at Dartmouth College.
“I’m so proud of the individual development and team development,” Austin said. “I feel very lucky to be a part of this team and I’m going to miss them a lot.”