CHAMPAIGN — One day after the Uni High subfreshman girls made history on the basketball court, they almost outdid themselves with an even more remarkable accomplishment.

On Monday, competing in the Illinois Elementary School Association eighth-grade regional playoffs at St. Matthew School, the No. 4-seeded subbie girls defeated No. 5 Judah Christian 27-20.

It was the first time in school history that a subbie girls team won a regional playoff game. Jamie Blue led Uni with 16 points.

The next day, head coach Morgan Reeder's players took the court against the top-ranked team in the five-school bracket, host St. Matthew.

The Raiders wasted no time living up to their No. 1 seeding. By the third quarter, they had built up a 33-13 lead over the visiting Illineks.

But that's when the Uni girls began their comeback attempt — and they almost made it. The Illineks outscored St. Matthew 18-2 the rest of the way, drawing to within 4 points and almost pulling off the upset. In the end, the Raiders came away with a 35-31 victory.

Blue, who finished with 20 points, was again Uni's leading scorer. It was the 11th time in 14 games that Blue led the team in scoring.

Uni's final record of 5-9 included one overtime loss (38-35 to Thomasboro) and five other losses by 5 points or fewer. Only two losses were by double digits.

In other words, if this class of talented athletes has anything to say about it, look for plenty of good things from Uni High girls basketball in the coming years.

2007 SEASON IN REVIEW

2007 Subfreshman Girls Basketball Record: 5-9 overall (4-8 regular season, 1-1 playoffs)
Home games listed in bold

• Sept. 17: at Thomasboro, L 28-26
  High scorers: Jamie Blue & Kathy Qiu, 11 pts each




• Sept. 19: Ludlow, W 34-12
  High scorers: Sarah Sutter & Kathy Qiu, 12 pts each




• Sept. 24: at Holy Cross, L 28-13
  High scorer: Jamie Blue, 9 pts




• Sept. 27: Judah Christian, W 31-28
  High scorer: Jamie Blue, 20 pts




• Oct. 9: at Holy Cross, L 20-16
  High scorer: Jamie Blue, 12 pts




• Oct. 16: at Ludlow, W 33-11
  High scorer: Jamie Blue, 14 pts




• Oct. 22: at Gifford, W 28-21
  High scorer: Jamie Blue, 14 pts




• Oct. 25: at Thomasboro, L 38-35 (OT)
  High scorer: Jamie Blue, 20 pts




• Nov. 6: at Normal Calvary Baptist, L 45-37
  High scorer: Jamie Blue, 25 pts




• Nov. 9: at Shiloh, L 35-16
  High scorer: Kathy Qiu, 6 pts




• Nov. 16: at St. Malachy, L 25-20
  High scorer: Jamie Blue, 10 pts




• Nov. 20: at St. John's Lutheran, L 25-20
  High scorer: Kathy Qiu, 8 pts




IESA Regionals at St. Matthew: Uni seeded No. 4 out of five teams

• Nov. 26: vs. No. 5 Judah Christian, W 27-20
  High scorer: Jamie Blue, 16 pts




• Nov. 27: vs. No. 1 St. Matthew, L 35-31
  High scorer: Jamie Blue 20 pts

2007 TEAM ROSTER

• Head coach:
  Morgan Reeder




• Players:
  Jamie Blue
  Sarah Heffley
  Hanan Jaber
  Marie Lilly
  Leah Malkovich
  Sydney Muchnik
  Kathy Qiu
  Abigail Radnitzer
  Sarah Sutter
  Sarah Yockey