Countdown to tipoff: Central-Southeastern’s goal is quite simple — finish season at Redbird Arena

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CAMP POINT, Ill. — Amidst the individual accolades and recognition, Lauren Miller has not fulfilled her ultimate quest.

That goal seems well within reach for Miller and the Central-Southeastern girls basketball team.

In 2023-24, Miller averaged 18.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.8 steals and 3.1 assists to earn first-team all-state honors from the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association and lead the Panthers to a 29-3 record and an elite eight berth.

One omission from that list of accomplishments still eats at Miller.

“The ultimate goal is to get to Redbird Arena,” Miller said.

Despite winning at least 20 games in all three seasons since Miller’s freshman year and a combined 59-8 record the last two campaigns, a trip to the final four has eluded the Panthers. Last year, CSE came the closest in Miller’s career, losing in the quarterfinals 41-32 to Nashville.

“We’re hungry every year, for sure, but losing that close last year adds some fuel to the fire,” Miller said.

Panthers coach Matt Long can feel that hunger, too.

“Everyone knows that there are very high standards here, and we left the super-sectional last year with a pretty bitter taste in our mouth,” Long said.

Long believes his squad, which features Miller, Karly Peters — an all-state honorable mention last season — and five other seniors, is primed to clear that elite eight hurdle.

“This team has the potential to be one of the best offensive groups that we’ve had,” Long said. “Ultimately when they graduate, they could be the best defensive group that I’ve ever had come through. They enjoy playing defense, they enjoy playing their scheme, and they just get after it.”

That confidence stems not only from the firepower of Miller and Peters, but also from the expected contributions from two-year starter Claire Huston, senior Kayli Bockhold, senior Anna Peters, senior Amanda Stephens, junior Agnes Genenbacher, sophomore Kara Stephens and others.

“This will be the deepest team we’ve had in 20 years,” Long said. “I think the kids will respond a little differently in a big game like that.”

Miller is the head of that snake, and her versatility at 5-foot-10 gives the Panthers the ability to exploit any defense.

“You can put her anywhere — point guard, shooting guard, post,” Long said. “We’ll put her in all three places depending on how you want to defend her and what the matchup is.”

Miller’s combination of length and athleticism allows her to get to the rim at ease and wreak havoc on the defensive end.

“Being a taller guard, being able to handle the ball, I can drive well from the outside,” Miller said. “On defense, getting deflections. I have long arms, so I use that, and I’m quick on my feet.”

Karly Peters’ shotmaking ability and clutch gene give Long confidence in late-game situations.

“Karly’s a great athlete who has a nose for the rim,” Long said. “There have been a lot of times where she’ll take the ball to the rim and I’m like, ‘No, no, no! Yes!’ She shoots the ball really well.

“She’s a gamer. I don’t know how many big shots from her freshman year on I’ve seen her hit in clutch moments. She can be 0-for-9 and you just know at some point in the game when you need a big shot, she’s going to make a huge impact and knock something down.”

Like a significant portion of the CSE players, Miller and Karly Peters have been playing basketball together since elementary school. 

“We look back at pictures, and we were so little,” Peters said. “We were looking up to these high schoolers, and it’s crazy that we’re here now and the little kids are looking up to us, so we just have to be the best that we can be. It’s crazy. It makes time feel like it’s gone by way too fast.”

Miller and Peters will go their separate ways when Miller begins her college hoops career at SIU-Edwardsville and Peters heads to John Wood Community College next year.

“It’s going to be weird, but we’re going to keep up with each other,” Peters said. “I’m going to go support her when I can. It will be different and hard to get used to, but it is what it is.”

One last campaign sharing the hardwood together combined with the sting of coming oh-so-close to the final four provide all the necessary motivation to reach the mountaintop.

“It’s definitely gone by too fast,” Miller said. “We’re definitely going to remember that game and keep pushing, keep playing CSE basketball. Everybody wants to be a part of CSE basketball. Everybody wants to be a part of this program and go far.”