Byron's Lady Tigers are one step closer to playing at the finals of the Class 2A state basketball tournament.

The Lady Tigers (31-2) will face El Paso-Gridley (28-1) at the Monmouth Supersectional on Monday, Feb. 18. Game time is 7:30 p.m.

On Feb. 14, Byron outscored Peru St. Bede 15-6 in the third quarter of the Somonauk Sectional championship game en route to a 58-38 win.

Mayson Whipple hit two treys while twin towers Sophie Reecher (6'3") and Ellie Lehne (6'1") pumped in 5 and 4 points respectively to convert a 3-point (26-23) halftime lead into a 38-26 lead at the end of three quarters.

Byron went on to outscore St. Bede 20-12 in the fourth.

Reecher, a senior, led all scorers with 19 points followed by Whipple with 11, Lehne with 9, and Ashley Dinges with 7. Other scorers for Byron were Brooke Holloway with 6, Nicole Silvers, Mallorie Getzelman, Keelyn Swanson, with 2 each and Austin Ware with 1.

El Paso defeated Sherrard 62-45 to win the Orion Sectional. It was the first sectional title for El Paso, located north of Bloomington, in either girls or boys basketball.

Eight teams remain in the Class 2A tournament. Winners of the four Supersectionals will square off against each other at Redbird Arena in Bloomington Feb. 22-23.