Flyers Ground Warriors in Physical 3A Battle CHAMPAIGN  — In a contest defined by grit and second-chance opportunities, the East St. Louis Flyers outlasted the Deerfield Warriors, 52-46, on the hallowed hardwood of the State Farm Center. It was a blue-collar performance for the Flyers, who used a relentless assault on the offensive glass to secure the victory in this IHSA 3A matchup. Photos by Alan Look Photography The Flyers took control early, establishing a 17-13 lead by the end of the first period. While Deerfield found success with efficient shooting—hitting 50% of their field goals for the game—they simply could not keep the Flyers off the boards. East St. Louis hauled in 18 offensive rebounds, a staggering figure that translated into 19 second-chance points, nearly quadruple the production of their opponents in that category. Jamison White proved to be the engine for the East St. Louis offense, leading all scorers with 19 points and dominating the glass with 17 reboun...

Washington Lady Panthers Secure Historic 3A State Title Over Chatham Glenwood Photography by Alan Look Photography  The journey to the top of Illinois high school basketball reached its pinnacle on Saturday at CEFCU Arena, as the  Washington Lady Panthers  captured the program’s first-ever state championship. Facing off against a resilient  Chatham Glenwood  squad in the IHSA Class 3A final, Washington utilized a balanced offensive attack and a clinical defensive performance to secure a 60-45 victory. The win marks a historic milestone for the Panthers, who improved upon their third-place finish from the previous season to claim the ultimate prize in Normal. Washington established control early, finishing the first quarter with a 14-10 lead and extending that margin to 34-22 by halftime. The Panthers’ shooting was particularly sharp in the second frame, where they hit 75% of their field goal attempts.  Avery Tibbs  anchored the Washington offense, deli...