Ridgeview Mustangs JV and Varsity boys basketball teams both scored decisive victories on Friday noght December 6th against the Knights of Blue Ridge.  Action took place on Kellar's Court at Ridgeview High School in Colfax IL.

See all the pics at Alan Look Photography!  Here is a video and a few teasers off the "B" list.

 

2024 State Farm Intercity Basketball Tournament Champions - Normal Community High School Ironmen

Earlier this week the last 2 games of the 2024 inaugural State Farm Intercity Basketball Tournament at the Shirk Center in Bloomington IL wrapped up it's activities. The CEO and president of State Farm, Jon Farney was on hand to receive a complimentary ball in thanks for the company sponsoring the tournament. Jon had played in the tournaments predecessor as a student athlete at Normal Community High School when the tournament had no sponsor and was simply known as the Intercity Basketball Tournament. Both iterations of this tournament pit the high schools of Bloomington Normal against each other. Those teams being Bloomington High School Purple Raiders, Bloomington Central Catholic Saints, Normal Community Ironmen, Normal Community West Wildcats and the University High Pioneers. The tournament is coed and the addition of the State Farm sponsorship enabled the playing of both brackets to be played at the Shirk Center in the same week with as many as 4 games a day in some cases.

The NCHS Ironmen dominated this years tournament in both the boys and girls brackets adding a pair of trophies to the Normal Community trophy cases.

A good selection of world class sports images of many of the games played at this years tournament are available from Alan Look Photography online at his website. Be sure to check out the videos!

 The Normal Community Lady Ironmen basketball team took home the hardware last night for the State Farm Intercity Basketball Tournaments girls bracket after defeating the Saints of Bloomington Central Catholic.  The Lady Iron defeated the Normal West Lady Wildcats, University High School Lady Pioneers and the Bloomington Lady Purple Raiders on previous days play leaving them in sole possession of 1st place.

In other action on the late part of the bracket November 29th, 2024 were the Central Catholic Saints challenging the Normal Community Ironmen on the boys bracket.  Earlier play pitted the University High Pioneers against the Normal Community West Wildcats on both the girls and boys brackets.  

Play continues on Saturday November 30th.

Be sure to heck out all the photos and videos from the Intercity games that Alan Look Photography covered.

  Be sure to check out the photos from the State Farm Intercity Basketball Tournament from Alan Look Photography!  Here's a sample from the Wednesday night games between UHigh Pioneers and Normal Ironmen.  

Locally seen talent to Quarterback in NFL SuperBowl

On September 15th, 2012 Jimmy Garoppolo visited Hancock Stadium at Illinois State University as the starting quarterback for the Eastern Illinois Panthers.  Who knew that 8 years later he would become one of 2 starting quarterbacks in the NFL's SuperBowl.  Jimmy of course is the 2nd starting Quarterback from Eastern to do well.  Ten Years before, another named Tony Romo completed his senior year at Eastern.  Tony went on to an NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys.

Freelance photographer Alan Look was fortunate to have captured both players in action.  The image of Tony Romo was taken at Eastern during the Homecoming game in 2002 against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels.  The image has been used by national media and in several books.  The images of Jimmy Garoppolo were both used by Upper Deck as trading cards for his rookie season.

Redbird Classic - a real winner!

Illinois State University Redbird Women's Volleyball hosted a 4 team volleyball this past weekend.  Participating visiting teams were #7 ranked Marquette Golden Eagles, #7 ranked University or Illinois Fighting Illini and the Knights from the University of Central Florida.  Events kicked off on Friday evening with the Knights and Golden Eagles followed by ISU v the Illini.  Both those matches went 4 sets with Golden Eagles defeating the Knights and ISU upsetting the Illini!

On Saturday UCF took on the Illini in a morning match.  The Illini fell once again moving their record in the tournament to 0-2 and setting UCF's record to 1-1.  The evening matchups included a 5:30 match between UCF and Illinois State and the nightcap was Marquette and the Illini.  Both matches went 5 sets, both thrillers with ISU taking the win over UCF and the Illini besting Marquette.

Sunday afternoon, the final match between Marquette and Illinois State was nothing short of epic.  Marquette opened by taking the first set.  ISU returned to the floor for the second set with an improved look, taking it to tie the match and then coming in the 3rd set to take 2 straight both at a score of 25-18.  Marquette struggled back in the 4th set to tie the match and forcing the 5th.  The score in the 5th seesawed back and forth past the normal 2 ahead at 15 to win and eventually ending at a score of 21-19 with Marquette on top.

Final results for the tournament by team were:
ISU - 2-1
Marquette - 3-1
UCF - 1-2

Illini - 1-2

There was some really great volleyball played this weekend.  We encourage everyone to get out and see these teams.

Photo coverage can be found here:  https://alanlook.photoshelter.com/gallery/2019-Illinois-State-Redbirds-Volleyball-photos/G0000M5uXz0kVczI/C0000jPKkS1Kv84g

Football season gets started with ISU Redbird Red-White Scrimmage

The local football season kicked off today with the Illinois State Redbird Red-White scrimmage.  A healthy combination of fans and students attended the event and the preliminary activities which included the annual student promo photo on the field in Hancock Stadium with the Big Red Marching Machine, cheerleaders, flag corp, and Redline Dancers forming ISU all wearing red shirts.

High School football will follow in 13 days with the first Friday Lights games.

Get out this fall, support your local teams and see some of the great talent that passes through our communities!

Red-White game gallery