Pape’s 18 Points Power Peotone Past Wilmington in 35-32 Thriller

The Peotone Blue Devils relied on a dominant scoring performance from freshman Payton Pape and a gritty defensive effort to edge out the Wilmington Wildcats 35-32 in a tightly contested matchup.

In a game where offensive rhythm was hard to come by for both sides, Peotone overcame a slow start to secure the victory. After trailing 6-5 following a defensive first quarter, the Blue Devils seized control in the second frame. Peotone outscored Wilmington 12-6 in the period, taking a 17-12 lead into halftime—an advantage that would prove decisive as both teams scored 18 points apiece in the second half.

Freshman Payton Pape was the catalyst for the Blue Devils, delivering a breakout performance with a game-high 18 points. Pape accounted for more than half of Peotone’s total offense, shooting an efficient 54 percent from the field (6-of-13). She displayed versatility by knocking down two three-pointers and converting 4-of-6 attempts from the free-throw line in critical moments.

Senior leadership helped stabilize the Blue Devils alongside the rookie’s outburst. Senior Addison Brandau contributed six points on 50 percent shooting, while senior Peyton Bisping added five points, including a three-pointer.

Wilmington stayed within striking distance thanks to a balanced attack. Junior Keeley Walsh led the Wildcats with 10 points and was perfect from the free-throw line. Juniors Sami Liaromatis and Nina Egizio chipped in nine points each, with Egizio connecting on two shots from beyond the arc to keep the pressure on Peotone until the final buzzer.

Game Summary

Score by Quarters

Scoring Breakdown

• Data not provided: Detailed scoring drives/play-by-play data was not available for this contest.

Individual Statistics

SCORING:

• Peotone: Payton Pape 18, Addison Brandau 6, Peyton Bisping 5, Olivia Moe 2, Madi Schroeder 2.

• Wilmington: Keeley Walsh 10, Sami Liaromatis 9, Nina Egizio 9, T. Stefancic 2, M. Hincherick 2.

SHOOTING:

• Peotone: 13-44 FG (30%), 3-14 3PT (21%), 4-8 FT (50%).

• Wilmington: 13-44 FG (30%), 3-15 3PT (20%), 3-7 FT (43%).

THREE-POINT GOALS:

• Peotone: Payton Pape 2, Peyton Bisping 1.

• Wilmington: Nina Egizio 2, Sami Liaromatis 1.