Trinity takes third in 3A girls basketball  

In 2016, the Trinity High School basketball team went 30-6 and finished third in the IHSA Class 3A state tournament under head coach Mike Valente. Ten years later, Kim Coleman, who was an assistant for Valente in the 2016-17 season, his final, has guided the Blazers to another third-place finish in this year’s 3A state tournament. 

Trinity (26-11) ended the season defeating St. Viator 56-40 in the third-place game at Illinois State University’s CEFCU Arena in Normal, March 6, to claim the program’s second state trophy. Their 26 victories are the most the program has had since 2016. 

“It’s definitely great to finish with a win,” said Coleman. “The seniors are able to say they won the last game of their high school careers, and we’re not going to take that for granted.” 

Trinity began the day with a semifinal against Chatham Glenwood. There was reason for the Blazers to feel optimistic as they had lost by just four points in the regular-season matchup. But the Titans started the game with a 7-0 run and never trailed in a 46-35 victory.  

As in the previous meeting, junior Alexis Neumann and freshman Jemma Lamb did much of the damage against Trinity. Neumann scored 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds while Lamb added 16 points. 

The Blazers were led by sophomore Keyera Gamble with 10 points, nine rebounds, and three blocks. Senior Zaria Goins added eight points and junior Destiny Sacluti six. 

Poor shooting proved to be detrimental against Glenwood. Trinity made 11-of-35 field goals for 31.4% for the game, including just 5-of-23 in the first half. Free-throw shooting and rebounding were also problematic as the Blazers shot 61.1% (11-of-18) from the charity stripe and were outrebounded 34-20. 

“We just had a slow start. It took us a while to settle into the game,” Coleman said. “I was super-proud of how we fought back in the fourth quarter (where Trinity outscored Glenwood 16-5). Had we played how we played in the fourth quarter the entire game, maybe the game result is a little different.” 

That evening, Trinity met St. Viator, who lost in the other semifinal 55-34 to eventual state champion, downstate Washington, in the third-place game. Tied 8-8 going into the second quarter, the Blazers went on a 12-0 run to take control and gradually pulled away in the second half to secure the victory. Sophomore Danae Hickman had a team-high 12 points and five rebounds. Goins had 10 points and six rebounds. 

Other Trinity contributors included Gamble (eight points, six rebounds) and freshmen Destinie Roe (nine points, six rebounds) and Ijeoma Conley (seven points, five rebounds). The Blazers shot the ball much better (23-of-47, 48.9%) and established a strong inside presence, outrebounding the Lions 34-25 and getting 38 points in the paint. 

“It was really important, especially for us seniors: myself, Chloe (Santos), and Armante (Dambrauskas),” Goins said, “just to finish off our season and high school careers with a win. I would describe my time at Trinity as special. All four years I’ve been here, there’s been a lot of hard work and growing. I was used to doing the same things over and over in middle school, so transitioning to Trinity meant getting better and getting different things into my game. It’s been really special to me.” 

“We’ve been working for this all year. We stuck to the game plan,” Santos said. “Not many people get to say that they finished the season with a win, so it was great finishing on a high note and bringing home the third-place trophy. We wanted to win state, but we’re bringing home hardware. 

“It’s been amazing,” Santos added about her career. “I made all-conference three times, scored 1,000 points, and made All-State two times. It was the best experience I could ask for.” 

Santos made the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Class 3A All-State Third Team, while Gamble and Goins were named to the Second Team. 

Dambrauskas missed the season with a knee injury, but Coleman was able to insert her in the final 18 seconds against St. Viator. 

“Her commitment and sacrifice while injured, a lot of people could ghost when that happens. But Armante’s been here every step of the way,” Coleman said. “It was a special moment getting her in; I’m so proud she chose Trinity.” 

Conley, Gamble, Hickman, Roe, and Sacluti are among 10 players potentially returning next season, so there’s a good chance Trinity will again be in the state title hunt. 

“This group is super-talented,” Coleman said. “We’ve got a lot of pieces coming back; as long as they trust the process and see what’s in front of them, we’ll be back.” 

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