A Golden Milestone: The State Farm Holiday Coed Basketball Classic Turns 50 in Bloomington-Normal For half a century, the  State Farm Holiday Coed Basketball Tournament  has been a cornerstone of winter sports in  Bloomington-Normal , blending tradition, competition, and community into one of Illinois’ most enduring high school basketball showcases. Now celebrating its  50th year , the Classic stands as a testament to the staying power of the game and the student-athletes who give it life every December. What began as a local holiday event has evolved into a respected stage where boys and girls programs share equal spotlight, fans pack the stands, and generations of families return year after year. The Classic is more than a tournament—it’s a seasonal marker, signaling that basketball season has fully arrived in the heart of the state. Over five decades, it has built a reputation for competitive matchups, spirited crowds, and an atmosphere that feels both nost...

  Saturday Night Special: Pioneers Outlast Spartans in a Defensive Grind!       Photos by Alan Look Photography Welcome to the high school hoops scene! Despite a sparse pre-Christmas crowd, The atmosphere? Electric! The intensity? Through the roof! On Saturday night, December 20, 2025, the hardwood in Normal was the place to be as the  Pioneers of Normal University High  played host to the  Spartans of Springfield Southeast . It was a classic Central Illinois showdown—physical, determined, and a total defensive battle from the opening tip to the final horn! Right from the get-go, you knew points were going to be at a premium. Defense was the name of the game! The Pioneers? They brought the energy! Coach was leaning on that depth, using a revolving door at the scorer’s table. Wave after wave of fresh legs coming at the Spartans! It was a track meet disguised as a basketball game! U-High substituting early and often, keeping the pressure high and the pac...

 Peoria Lions Outrun the Ironmen in a Hard‑Charging, Heartland Showdown Photos by Alan Look Photography There are nights in Illinois high school basketball when the gym feels less like a venue and more like a broadcast booth waiting for Harry Caray’s voice to boom through it. Last night’s Peoria Lions vs. Normal Ironmen matchup was one of those nights—loud, fast, physical, and brimming with the kind of Midwest determination that Caray would have stretched into a full‑throated spectacle. From the opening tip, the Lions pushed the tempo with a confidence that suggested they wanted the game played on their terms. They attacked the floor in long, punishing strides, turning rebounds into runway‑length sprints and forcing the Ironmen to defend in transition more often than they preferred. The pace wasn’t just quick—it was relentless, the kind of up‑tempo surge that wears on legs and tests discipline. Normal, known for its structured sets and half‑court execution, found itself wrestling w...

From expanded football playoffs to board changes, IHSA schools approved sweeping by-law amendments with statewide impact. Officials say the expansion will improve scheduling and long-term stability and moves regular-season games up one week. Photo: Sentinel /Clark Brooks Structural changes to high school football in Illinois will benefit teams around the state. Quality programs can schedule games against top-tier opponents like Byron and Unity without the potential loss affecting playoff eligibility. BLOOMINGTON - Friday nights in October are about to mean a little more to a lot more Illinois high school football teams next fall. Illinois high school football will see its largest postseason field in state history beginning in 2026, after member schools approved a sweeping expansion of the IHSA football playoffs. The change reshapes not just who gets in, but how schools schedule, compete and stay invested long after the first losses of the season. I...

  Knights Stand Tall in Heart of Illinois Road Win Graphics by Alan Look Photography Under the bright lights of the Heyworth gymnasium on Tuesday night, the Fieldcrest Knights demonstrated why they are a force to be reckoned with in the Heart of Illinois Conference. Entering the contest on the heels of a dominant performance against Dwight, the Knights maintained their composure and clinical execution to secure a 54–40 victory over the Heyworth Hornets. The win further solidifies the Knights’ standing as they navigate a demanding early-season schedule. The contest was defined by Fieldcrest’s ability to control the tempo and capitalize on high-percentage opportunities. From the opening tip, the Knights established a physical presence in the paint, making every possession difficult for the Hornets’ offense. While Heyworth fought to find their rhythm in front of a supportive home crowd, the Knights' defensive rotations proved too disciplined to crack. By the second half, Fieldcrest ha...

  Saints Edge Vikings in Nail-Biter, 51–49 On December 9, 2025, Central Catholic and Tri-Valley staged a varsity boys basketball game that kept fans leaning forward until the final horn. The Saints emerged with a 51–49 victory, but both teams showed the kind of determination that makes local basketball special. Central Catholic relied on steady defense and patient offense, keeping Tri-Valley from finding rhythm in key stretches. The Saints’ balanced scoring and composure in the closing minutes proved decisive. Tri-Valley, true to its Viking identity, battled possession by possession, refusing to let the game slip away without a response. Momentum shifted throughout the night. Central Catholic’s ability to manage tempo in the second half limited Tri-Valley’s comeback attempts. The Vikings surged late, but the Saints executed when it mattered most, securing the win. Credit belongs to both benches. Central Catholic’s staff managed rotations with precision, while Tri-Valley’s leadershi...

 Hornets Sting Twice: Heyworth Sweeps Milford in JV and Varsity HEY WORTH, Ill. — The Heyworth Hornets turned Friday night into a showcase of dominance, sweeping both ends of their doubleheader against the Milford Bearcats. The opener belonged to the JV Hornets, who stormed to a 55–21 victory. The turning point came in the third quarter, where Heyworth outscored Milford 20–3, effectively sealing the contest. By the fourth, the scoreboard margin allowed for what coaches call the “everyone plays quarter,” a fitting capstone to a team effort. The varsity Hornets followed suit with a performance that echoed the same theme: control. After a tight 10–8 first quarter, Heyworth found its rhythm, closing the half with a commanding 36–17 lead. The third quarter widened the gap to 56–24, and the Hornets never looked back, finishing with a 61–32 triumph. This victory carries weight beyond the night’s box score. With the win, Heyworth’s program now boasts 1,735 all-time victories, a testament ...

  A Tale of Two Halves: Hornets Sting, Then Survive the Storm If you only looked at the scoreboard when the final buzzer sounded at Heyworth High School on December 3, 2025, you would see a lie. The lights said Heyworth 64, Cornerstone Christian 37. That score suggests a sleepy waltz, a foregone conclusion wrapped in a varsity uniform. But numbers are cold things; they don’t tell you about the heat in the kitchen during the third quarter. For the first half, the Heyworth Hornets played with the cool detachment of a card shark holding four aces. They controlled the floorboards, they moved the leather without panic, and they treated the rim like an old friend. The Cyclones looked less like a weather event and more like a gentle breeze, unable to disturb the Hornets’ picnic. Then came the halftime break, that mysterious intermission where momentum often goes to die or be reborn. When Cornerstone came out for the third quarter, they didn't just walk onto the court; they stormed it. Wha...

   Winter Storm Arrives in Southern McLean County The first major winter storm of the season swept into Central Illinois late Friday night, bringing with it a mix of heavy snow, gusty winds, and treacherous travel conditions. In southern McLean County, residents woke Saturday morning to a landscape transformed—roads coated in fresh snow, trees glazed in white, and the hum of plows echoing across rural highways. The National Weather Service in Lincoln issued a Winter Storm Warning for the region, forecasting accumulations of more than 5 inches of snow through Saturday night. While heavier totals were expected west of the Illinois River, McLean County still found itself on the eastern edge of the storm’s impact zone, with snowfall intensifying through the morning hours. On Interstate 55 near Funks Grove, traffic thinned to a trickle as drivers heeded warnings to delay travel. Sparse vehicles crept cautiously along the slick pavement, headlights cutting through the swirling snow....

  A Night of Hardwood Hysterics: The Intercity Tournament Decided at the Shirk Center By  Best Look Magazine   Photos  courtesy of  Alan Look Photography BLOOMINGTON, Ill.  — The air inside the Shirk Center last night was not merely oxygen and nitrogen; it was a volatile cocktail of anticipation, perspiration, and the squeak of sneakers against the hardwood—a veritable symphony of athletic endeavor. We witnessed a triumvirate of contests that ran the gamut from tactical brilliance to pugilistic tenacity, a display of scholastic sportsmanship that reminds us all why we endure the injection molded plastic bleachers. In the opening spectacle, we saw the girls of Normal West ascend the summit of local supremacy, vanquishing their rivals from University High to seize the tournament title. It was not a game; it was a coronation. The Wildcats, displaying a defensive cohesion that would make a Roman phalanx blush, stifled the Pioneers at ev...

Saints and Raiders Ignite the Shirk Center in Intercity Showdown The atmosphere at the Illinois Wesleyan University Shirk Center was electric on Wednesday night as the 2025 Bloomington-Normal Intercity Basketball Tournament continued with a doubleheader featuring the  Bloomington Central Catholic Saints  and the  Bloomington High Purple Raiders . In a night that showcased the depth of talent in McLean County sports, the hardwood battle highlighted the fierce rivalry and community spirit that defines high school basketball in the heartland. The evening opened with the  Bloomington Central Catholic girls basketball  team making a resounding statement against their crosstown rivals. The Saints, led by the dynamic play of standout Emme Hurie, controlled the tempo from the opening tip to secure a convincing 51-28 victory over the  Bloomington High Purple Raiders . The Saints' defensive intensity was the story of the game. ...

  Bloomington, Ill.  – The 2025 Intercity Boys Basketball Tournament tipped off Monday night at Illinois Wesleyan University’s Shirk Center, delivering a mix of blowout dominance and down-to-the-wire intensity. The double-header featured cross-town rivals facing off in the annual Thanksgiving week tradition, with the Normal Community Ironmen and University High Pioneers securing victories to open the tournament. Ironmen Roll Past Wildcats In the evening’s first matchup, the Normal Community Ironmen made a resounding statement with a 67-39 victory over the Normal West Wildcats. The Ironmen controlled the tempo from the opening tip, utilizing a stifling defense to disrupt the Wildcats' offensive rhythm. Normal Community’s balanced attack proved too much for West to handle. The Ironmen offense executed with efficiency, steadily building a lead that ballooned to 28 points by the final buzzer. The victory extended Normal Community’s recent dominance in the rivalry, marking another ...

 The Return of the King: Bald Eagles on the Upper Mississippi Photo by Alan Look Photography A Conservation Victory and a Photographer's Paradise There are few sights in nature more stirring than the white head of an American Bald Eagle gleaming against the slate-grey winter sky of the Upper Mississippi River Valley. For decades, this sight was nearly lost to us. Today, however, thanks to one of the most successful conservation efforts in history, the "King of Skies" has returned to the Heartland, reclaiming its throne along the icy waters of the Mississippi—specifically around the engineering marvels of the locks and dams. This is the story of their comeback, and your guide to witnessing it firsthand near Gladstone, Illinois. From Silence to Soaring: The Comeback Story In the mid-20th century, the American Bald Eagle was teetering on the brink of extinction. The widespread use of DDT, a pesticide that caused eggshells to become dangerously thin, decimated populations acr...

 The Art of the Harvest: Discover the Ultimate Fine Art Collection for Farm Machinery Lovers Are you a true enthusiast of the heartland, where powerful farm machinery meets the serene beauty of the American landscape? If the sight of a gleaming modern combine cutting a field or a vintage tractor silhouetted against a prairie sunset quickens your pulse, then you are about to discover your next favorite source for wall art. Photographer Alan Look has curated an absolutely massive collection of over 400 images dedicated to the dynamic world of agricultural crops and machinery. This isn't just documentary photography; it's a fine art showcase committed to Capturing the Soul of the Heartland, elevating the hardworking spirit of the farm into stunning, gallery-quality pieces. A Contemporary Take on the Classic Farmscape What makes this collection a must-see for farmers and heavy equipment fans alike? It perf...

 Dominance Defined: David Mirkovic Delivers a Historic Performance in Illini Victory The Illinois Fighting Illini men’s basketball team notched a decisive 84-65 victory over the Colgate Raiders on November 14, 2025, moving the team to a perfect 4-0 on the young season. While the final score reflects a balanced effort, the overwhelming individual performance of forward David Mirkovic was the undeniable engine of the victory, showcasing a level of interior dominance rarely seen in college hoops. Mirkovic commanded the paint and asserted himself as the premier player on the court for a remarkable 38 minutes. His final stat line tells a story of relentless effort and clinical efficiency. The big man exploded for 27 points on a solid 8-of-16 shooting from the field. Demonstrating confidence and focus, he was perfect from the free-throw line, hitting all 8 attempts, a crucial contribution to the team's overall efficiency. Beyond the scoring, Mirkovic delivered a truly lege...