Edwardsville Basketball star heading to March Madness Finale [Video]

After being down most of the game, Iowa finally pulled ahead and barely pulled out a nail-biting 71-69 win against UConn on Friday.

One local player, Kate Martin, helped make their last match against LSU the most-watched college basketball game in ESPN history with 12.3 million viewers. The Elite Eight game for Iowa against LSU became the most-watched men’s or women’s collegiate game ever. 

At a watch party in Glen Carbon, the Edwardsville native needed no introduction. One of Martin’s former high school coaches said they’ve been waiting for this game their whole lives.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime situation I don’t think I’ll see this again in my coaching career,” Martin’s Edwardsville High School coach Jackie Harlin said at the Friday watch party.

Coaches, former teammates and even Edwardsville teachers watched the Final Four game at Edley’s Barbeque in Glen Carbon. All …