Lenee Beaumont carries Benet to brink of victory in state semifinals. Samantha Trimberger makes last push.

NORMAL, Illinois — Benet star Lenee Beaumont returned to Illinois State’s CEFCU Arena on a mission.

Throughout the season, the Indiana recruit has been driven by memories of the Redwings’ back-to-back losses in the 2022 Class 4A state finals.

“Last year was very disappointing,” she said. “We didn’t want to have the same outcome. We came out with a different kind of energy.”

True to form, Beaumont was the catalyst in Benet’s state semifinal against Geneva on Friday. The senior guard had a double-double just 12 minutes into the game, and she finished with 27 points and 14 rebounds in a dominant performance.

“She’s the best player in the state and just showing people that,” Benet coach Joe Kilbride said.

In the end, however, Beaumont didn’t put the Redwings over the top. Senior center Samantha Trimberger did, making two free throws with 2.4 seconds left to secure a 50-48 victory.

Trimberger had 10 points, 12 rebounds and seven blocked shots as Benet (25-7) advanced to the state championship game against O’Fallon on Saturday night. Junior guard/forward Leah Palmer had 13 points and 11 rebounds for Geneva (30-4), which missed a half-court shot at the buzzer.

Trimberger, who had made 1 of 2 free throws with 39.8 seconds left, said she was determined to hit both on her next trip to the line.

“I knew I had a chance to win us the game,” she said. “It was a 1-and-1, so I really had to make the first one so we’d have the lead. Once I made that one, it was a little pressure off for the second one. It was great that I ended up making both.”

Beaumont got the Redwings to that point. She was in attack mode from the opening tip, pushing the pace by penetrating Geneva’s defense with crossovers, behind-the-back dribbles and hesitation moves.

Beaumont hit the floor hard on a drive late in the third quarter and took a few seconds to get up before Kilbride called a timeout. But she returned to the floor 29 seconds later and immediately went coast to coast for a basket, was fouled and made the free throw to give the Redwings a 34-33 lead. They didn’t trail again.

Beaumont, who went into the game averaging 18.7 points, 7.3 points and 3.3 assists, said she’s motivated to win a state championship like Kathleen Doyle, who led Benet to back-to-back titles.

“I love Kathleen, and honestly she’s my idol,” Beaumont said. “Little elementary school me would be watching her on TV take over games and win two state championships. To think I’m in the same position — and the team is in this same position — is just awesome.”

Geneva coach Sarah Meadows, who won state championships in 2017 and 2018, said her team couldn’t contain Beaumont at key stages of the game. Beaumont made 10 of 18 shots.

“I thought we fought hard with her,” Meadows said. “It was pretty obvious they wanted the ball in her hands and that their offense runs straight through her. She had a nice game, but overall our kids played her really tough. I thought she had to work really hard. I don’t think things were easy for her.”

Bobby Narang is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.