Today the 3a/4a State Final Fours will begin. In 3a at 10am it’s 24-11 St Ignatius College Prep entering at 24-11 taking on 30-3 Simeon.
That will be followed by East St Louis and Metamora. The Flyers are 25-8 for coach Mark Chambers. Kansas State recruit Macaleab Rich comes in averaging 19.7 points per game but the Flyers are balanced and loaded. It’s their 12th trip to state, the first since 2019, with the Flyers winning their only state title that year. Metamora is 32-2 out of the Mid-Illini Conference with 4 starters averaging double digits. This is the 2nd trip to state for the Redbirds, the other last year where they finished 2nd to Sacred Heart Griffin. The losers will play at 7pm tonight for 3rd, the winners play Saturday for the 3a state title.
In the 4a semifinal at 2:30 34-1 Lisle Benet Academy will take on 31-4 New Trier. Lisle Benet is making their 8th trip to state having finished 2nd in 2014 and 16 and a 3rd place in 1979. New Trier is led by Jake Fiegan averaging 20 points per game. The program with a very long, rich history goes back to their first state appearance way back in 1913, making their 18th trip to state, the last coming in 2005.
The 2nd game will feature 33-3 Moline taking on 32-3 Downers Grove. Moline is led by Owen Freeman and Brock Harding each averaging over 18 points per game. It’s the program’s 28th year at state that started back with their first trip in 1916. Moline has never won a state title having finished 2nd in 1943 and 1951. Downers Grove North is making just their 2nd trip to state, the other coming in 1999.
The winners play in Saturday’s title game with the losers coming right back tonight at 8:45 to play for 3rd.
