Niekamp's 3-point shooting delivers Spark, while Panthers deletes a deficit in the second half in the second half

Waverly, Ill. – When the training is finished, Lexi is not Niekamp.

Niekamp is a freshman guard in the Central code Eastern Girls-Basketball team. He usually goes home after training and leads himself through another tedious training in the interiors on the property of her family.

“I'm in there every night,” said Niekamp.

Same shots, the same rhythm, the same amount.

“There are 250 three a night,” said Niekamp.

And that's every night?

“Well,” she said with a slight smile. “Almost every night.”

When she caught the ball in the right corner and introduced herself a 3-point attempt to take the lead over the Plains in the Waverly Cup in class 2a in class 2a on Thursday evening, she thought of all these hours.

The same shot, the same rhythm, everything.

“It felt like one of the three that I shoot in my shop,” she said.

It also looked like one. Niekamp's shot hit the side of the rim, opened and fell for a 29-28 lead with 5:40 in the regulation through the network. It was one of four 3-digiters who worked in the second half and overtime and put the Panthers a 51: 44 victory and their second section Croon in a row.

CSE (30-3) will compete in class 2a Vandalia Super-Sectional against Nashville (31-3) on Monday, where the hornettes removed the panthers last season 41-32.

Niekamp was not in this team, but it is aware of the story and is determined to maintain the Panthers their first trip to the State Tournament since 2017.

“It means that we can get one step closer to our goal,” said Niekamp, ​​who scored 18 points.

It took contributions from different sources to achieve this. The shootout and the defense of Niekamp played an important role and helped CSE to overcome a 12-point deficit in the third quarter, as well as the length, relaxation and defense of senior Amanda Stephens.

Stephens, an all-State volleyball player, came from the bank in the second half to deliver a spark.

“It was a difference that has the manufacturer,” said CSE coach Matt Long.

So was Niekamp.

“She played like a veteran,” said Long.

It is because she shot it with confidence.

“We tell her when she is open that she has to shoot it,” said CSE Senior Guard Karly Peters. “This is your role in this team. She went and did her job. “