Today is the opening day of the IHSA boys state basketball tournaments as the 1a and 2a semifinals will be played along with 3rd place games in both classes.
The day begins at the State Farm Center at 10am with the first 1a semifinal between Lawrenceville and Goreville. The Blackcats are 33-4 and come in after a blowout win over Routt at the Jacksonville Super Sectional 60-43 and already own a win over Lawrenceville this year 50-45. Coach Todd Tripp has been at the helm for 22 years and is closing in on 500 wins at the school with 497. Goreville was 4th under coach Tripp in 2018 and also qualified for the state tournament in 2019 but Covid canceled the tournament before it could begin.
Lawrenceville comes in ranked in the top 3 most of the year with a record of 34-2. This is Coach Tad Shick’s 2nd year with the team but has amassed a record of 58-10. The program is making it’s 18th trip to State, but first since 1996. They are looking for the school’s 6th state title.
The second semifinal will feature 21-9 Chicago Marshall taking on 32-5 Lanark Eastland.
In the 2a semifinals begin at 2:30 with 33-2 Tolono Unity Rockets taking on the Manual Rams who enter at 23-9. Then at 4:15, Quincy Notre Dame enters with a record of 31-1 and will take on Chicago Farragut who comes in with a 13-14 record.
The losers of all four games will play tonight in the 3rd place games and the winner’s advance to Saturday’s finals. The 3a/4a semifinals will begin tomorrow.
