Kelsey Mischel didn’t want to end her senior season on Feb. 27 against Flasher in the Region 5 championship game. When her team trailed by 10 at halftime it wasn’t looking great. Fast-forward to the final seconds of the contest and Shiloh Christian fans were storming the court after Mischel knocked down a last second 3-pointer that lifted the Skyhawks over Flasher 61-60.

Her shot gave Shiloh Christian (17-7) back-to-back state tournament appearances as they’ll get a chance to avenge three losses from the 2018-19 tournament.

The Skyhawks are led by a pair of student-athletes I like to call the “Twin Towers” with junior Jacie Hall (12 points and 8 rebounds per game) and sophomore Grace Kelly (14.5 points and 5.9 rebounds per game) scoring half the teams points. The two also lead Shiloh Christian in rebounds per game and field goal percentage. Hall and Kelly definitely require a lot of attention on the hardwood and that leaves opportunities for shooters like Mischel and sophomore Kennady Walth along with freshmen Hannah Westin and Aliya Schock to knock down some shots.

Shiloh Christian is one of if not the youngest team out of the Great Eight. Five of the Skyhawks’ top seven scorers are underclassmen.

Interesting note: Shiloh Christian lost to Flasher in the District 9 championship 70-55 but 10 days later the Skyhawks got the 51-50 victory. That was the win that matter the most. Flasher finished the season 19-5 and two of those losses came to the hands of Shiloh Christian.

State tournament predection: As much as I like the way Daryl Bearstail’s team plays I just don’t think this is the season they play for a state championship. The Skyhawks are a super young team as six of their 11 players are underclassmen. And of those 11 players only three of them are seniors. So, this team is going to be back in the state tournament again very soon. I wouldn’t be stunned if they put four consecutive state tournament appearances together. But this season isn’t the season they take home the crown. Yes, they have experience at the top of their lineup but overall this is a young squad. As much as I don’t wish this upon any team, I think Shiloh Christian is going to finish last in two straight state tournaments. However, if we were talking two years in the future this would be a totally different conversation. The Skyhawks play No. 3-seed Trenton at 2:45 p.m. Thursday.

Starting Lineup

Grace Kelly | So. | F | 5-foot-11

Jacie Hall | Jr. | C | 6-foot-3

Hannah Westin | Fr. | G | 5-foot-4

Kelsey Mischel | Sr. | G | 5-foot-4

Kennady Walth | So. | G | 5-foot-3