SALEM – Seniors Lauren Bogle, Jessica Richardson and Lindsey Ross are prominent players on Shiloh girls' basketball teams that have 118 varsity wins since they entered high school.

Despite being ranked as one of the state's Top 10 teams during their tenure, the ultimate recognition has been slow to arrive.

The Raiders earned that respect Monday, holding off a spirited Goreville team 36-31 in a Class 1A super-sectional at Salem High School that assures the school of a state tournament trophy this weekend.

"We thought we'd get it two years ago (losing in the super-sectionals)," Bogle said. "Now that we finally did, it means we've put our place on the map. We're not Hume in the middle of a cornfield. We're Hume that went to state."

Bogle scored a game-high 17 points and was the only Raider to score after Larissa Moses' shot from the lane with 3:38 remaining lifted Shiloh into the lead for good, 30-29.

It surprised none of the Raiders that Bogle was the player who took over.

"Lauren always plays with fire and keeps our team together," Ross said.

"She is the inspiration on our team," Moses added.

Bogle scored nine points in the first nine minutes, and by the time 11 minutes had elapsed the Raiders (29-4) held a 17-4 lead.

Six-footers Moses (11 rebounds) and Ross (six rebounds) were pivotal.

"They were huge," Goreville coach Mike Helton said. "We're not used to that size. Post play has been our strength, but tonight we were not able to put the ball in the basket."

The Blackcats (27-3) clawed back nonetheless and grabbed a 22-21 lead with 4:02 left in the third quarter.

"I was freaking out for a second," Moses said, "but I know our team is strong, and I had faith in us."

There were four more lead changes before Moses nailed the shot that put Shiloh in command.

Thirteen Shiloh turnovers during the middle two quarters aided Goreville's rally.

"We kept making little mistakes," Raiders coach Dave Tingley said. "The pressure has to get to you when you know a team is closing in, but we've been in those positions. Salt Fork, Cumberland and Cowden-Herrick all had leads on us (in the postseason), and our girls responded every time."

Tingley said Shiloh's advancement validates the school's record despite comments he frequently hears to the contrary.

"Sometimes, we're the school in the sticks that has the record we do because we play a weak schedule," Tingley said. "For us to prove that a team from the LOVC can get to state means everything."

Once Moses gave the lead to Shiloh, her teammates made sure it wasn't lost. Bogle scored on a drive to the left side of the basket at 2:15 and followed with a steal and layup 50 seconds later, pushing the Raiders' margin to 34-29.

With 14 seconds left, after Goreville had closed within a three-point shot, 34-31, Bogle drained 2 of 2 free throws.

"It came down to the fact that we wanted to go to state," Bogle said. "I said to myself (before the free throws), 'Concentrate. You can do it.' "

Amid the postgame celebration, Tingley paused a moment to stare at the overhead scoreboard.

"It feels like a dream," he said. "I had to look at the scoreboard and see what it actually said and that the clock was at 0:00. For a school our size (enrollment 138) to be in the mix every year and do it this year is outstanding."

Besides her 17 points, Bogle had seven rebounds and team-high totals of five assists and four steals.

Shiloh's Shelby Smith scored six points, with two baskets from beyond the arc, Her final trey, from the baseline, came after Goreville built its largest lead, 29-25, with 4:27 left.

Bogle, Moses, Smith and Jessica Richardson played all 32 minutes in a contest that required 64 minutes (including a 10-minute halftime) for completion.

Shiloh's girls last played at state 21 years ago, when the team ended a run of four successive trophy seasons. Another group from the school is ready to make its mark.

"This gives us another shot to play two more games and bring home the big trophy," Ross said.

Ridgeview 48, Stark County 45. Paige Nord had 18 points and seven rebounds to lift the Mustangs (26-6) in the super-sectional game at Illinois Wesleyan University.

Megan Jones added 14 points and Analita Voss 10 for Ridgeview, which received two clutch free throws from Korri Gilbert with 25 seconds left.

Gilbert played only 34 seconds after replacing Jones, who fouled out.