3-PEAT! Chargers race past Sauk Valley to clinch 3rd straight Arrowhead Conference title 

GALESBURG — Add another trophy to the Sandburg women's basketball team's collection.  

The Chargers clinched their third straight Arrowhead Conference championship Thursday by running past Sauk Valley 68-54. The victory gave Sandburg (20-8, 8-1) its fourth consecutive victory, the outright conference title, its third league crown in a row and its third straight 20-win campaign under fourth-year coach Kellen Fernetti.  

It's the 16th conference championship in the program's history (1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1997, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2016, 2017, 2024, 2025) and the first time the Chargers have pulled off an Arrowhead three-peat since winning five in a row from 2004-08. 

Sandburg avenged its only conference loss — a 67-57 defeat Jan. 20 at Sauk Valley — by roaring to a huge early lead. The visiting Skyhawks, who with a win would've pulled into a first-place tie with one game remaining, instead watched the Chargers score the game's first nine points and never trail. Sandburg led 21-10 after a quarter and used a 10-0 run to end the first half for a 42-17 lead. 

Hailey Redding turned in a team-high 20 points, including three first-half 3-pointers. Sophomore Antonia Kisler had 13 points, nine rebounds, four assists and three steals in the win. 

Janessa Wallace gave the Chargers a trio of double-digit scorers as she finished with 10 points. Wallace also had six rebounds, a team-high six assists and tied Kisler for the team lead with three steals. 

Freshman forward Camryn Atterberg had 15 rebounds to lead all Chargers, and she scored eight points to just miss out on a double-double. Tiera Hall had eight points and nine boards for Sandburg. 

Shelby Veltrop led Sauk Valley with 19 points. 

UP NEXT 
5:30 p.m. Tuesday vs. Black Hawk (Sophomore Night) 

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