McLean County Basketball Tournament 2026: Preview and Look Back Basketball season in McLean County reaches its annual peak with the  2026 McLean County Basketball Tournament , tipping off   January 17th . This is the tournament where every team rises to the occasion, where pride, bragging rights, and lasting memories are on the line. Many of these players know each other off the court as teammates in travel leagues when the school season isn’t in play, adding extra intensity and rivalry to every matchup. Fans can expect fast-paced action, fierce competition, and the kind of moments that define high school hoops in our community. The  boys’ bracket  kicks off in  El Paso-Gridley , where first-round games promise plenty of intensity, surprises, and early fireworks as teams fight to advance. While the top seeds —  Le Roy  (#1) and  Eureka  (#2) — won’t see action until Monday, every matchup before then is a chance for underdogs to make a s...