By Bobby Narang
Lenee Beaumont entered the final weekend of the girls high school basketball season with one goal left to accomplish.
The Benet Academy senior point-guard already had etched her name among the best in the State, and in program history, with a prolific career.
The Indiana University recruit guided the Redwings to a fourth-place State finish in Class 4A last season.
Throughout the offseason, Beaumont said she was driven to win a State championship and follow in the footsteps of Benet alum Kathleen Doyle, who captured two straight State championships before embarking on a memorable career at the University of Iowa.
“It would mean everything to win a State championship,” Beaumont said. “Just reflecting back to fifth grade and watching Kathleen Doyle lead the team to back-to-back State championships. This is another opportunity to get to the State championship game. We’ve put in a lot of work all year to prepare for Friday. I’m excited to have another opportunity, especially after last year’s ending.”
Unfortunately for Beaumont, she took a big step at the State tournament by helping the Redwings defeat Geneva in a semifinal, but she missed two potential game-winning shots in a 62-57 defeat in double overtime to O’Fallon in the 4A final at Illinois State University’s CEFCU Arena Saturday night, March 4.
The Redwings (25-8) made a valiant comeback from a 25-10 deficit in the second quarter, and Beaumont led the way with 27 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two steals. She missed a potential winning shot in regulation and had a short shot rim out at the end of the first overtime.
“I felt like I got every unlucky bounce,” Beaumont said. “If one of those were to fall, that would have been great. We felt like they got every lucky bounce on the other end. It’s very unfortunate. I hate losing, especially in the State championship game in my senior year. It’s tough.”
Beaumont, a four-year varsity player, will be among the all-time greats in Benet program history. She led the Redwings to a second consecutive trip to the Class 4A State tournament, averaging 18.7 points, 7.3 points and 3.3 assists per game to go with 36 three-pointers entering the final two State games.
Beaumont said the supersectional victory over Kenwood was the “biggest win of my entire life,” before the State semifinal. Beaumont, in typical point-guard fashion, fed sophomore Lindsay Harzich with a bounce pass for the winning layup with five seconds left to advance to the State semifinals.
“This whole year has not been the typical Benet year,” Beaumont said. “We usually have a better record and win conference. We’ve had a lot of ups and downs throughout the year. The goal, at least for me, was to always get back to State, so to be one step closer is great.
“I was extremely disappointed after those two losses at State last year. I really didn’t want to talk to anyone after the game. I had high expectations. I wasn’t happy with how things turned out. I remember for the third-place game I wasn’t in the right mental or emotional state.”
Benet head coach Joe Kilbride said Beaumont is the best player in the State.
“The biggest thing we wanted her to be more aggressive for her senior year,” Kilbride said. “Last year, we thought she wouldn’t try and take over a game that much. Sometimes she would take only four shots a game. When you’re the best shooter on the floor and don’t shoot, it’s selfish not shooting. She’s made huge strides this year…She’s stronger physically and she has the mindset to score more.”
Geneva, which had won two State championships in the last decade, overcame a 50-48 loss to Benet in the semifinals by defeating Hersey, 72-61, in the third-place game. The Vikings (31-4) were led by an inspired effort from Leah Palmer. The junior forward collected a game-high 25 points and 11 rebounds.
“We wanted to come out and do it for the seniors, and end out on a win and a good note for us,” Palmer said.