Today is 3a/4a day at the State Basketball Tournament at the State Farm Center in Champaign. The day begins at 10 a.m. when 33-3 Sacred Heart Griffin takes on 23-12 St Ignatius College Prep. The Cyclones come roaring in after knocking off the Flyers of East St Louis to win the Springfield Super Sectional. They are making their 5th state appearance as a school but have never won a state title with their best finish being 2nd place in 1948 to Pinckneyville. The Wolfpack of St Ignatius are out of the Chicago Catholic Conference and won a double overtime thriller at the Hoffman Estates Super to beat St Patrick and advance. This is the school’s 2nd state appearance.
The 2nd 3a game of the day is at 11:30 featuring the Wolverines of Chicago Simeon coming in at 28-5 taking on 29-6 Metamora. Simeon is a staple at the state tournament making their 16th appearance downstate winning 8 state titles, their last coming in 2016 part of 5 straight state titles they won. Metamora is making their first state appearance after winning the Ottawa Super Sectional over Wheaton St Francis. The losers of these two games will play again at 7pm for 3rd place with the winner advancing to Saturday night’s championship.
In 4a at 2:30 it’s Coach Tyrone Slaughter and the Whitney Young Dolphins entering at 24-9 taking on 28-4 Barrington. In 17 years with Whitney Young, Coach Slaughter is a very impressive 373-130 that also includes 3 state titles in his tenure and 5 overall. They are making the school’s 9th trip to state. Barrington is out of the Mid-Suburban League and the Broncos are making their 6th trip to state still looking for the school’s first state championship.
Tournament favorite and the state’s top team all year in 4a Glenbard West brings their 35-1 record to the court against 30-6 Bolingbrook. Glenbard West features a starting lineup with an average height of 6-7. Their only loss of the season came to Chatsworth Sierra Canyon, California 67-64. This is the 3rd trip to state for the Hilltoppers who have their best chance to win the school’s first state title. Bolingbrook is back in to the state tournament for the first time since 2017 when they took 3rd place in Class 4a. They are making their 4th trip to the state tournament. The 4a 3rd place game will begin around 8:30.
