Redhawks Rule the Roost in 4A Championship Clash CHAMPAIGN  — In a defensive masterclass that would make the old-timers nod in approval, the Marist Redhawks stifled the Benet Academy Redwings, 44-28, to claim the IHSA 4A crown on Lou Henson Court. It was a contest where every bucket felt earned and the hardwood of the State Farm Center served as a lonely place for shooters in a chilly second frame. Photos by Alan Look Photography The Redhawks relied on a balanced attack and a punishing defensive front that held Benet to just 28 points on 28.9% shooting. Charles Barnes Jr. led the Marist charge, tallying 13 points and proving nearly automatic from the charity stripe with a perfect 7-for-7 performance. When the Redwings threatened, Stephen Brown anchored the interior, chipping in 8 points and hauling down 8 rebounds to keep the Lisle squad from finding their rhythm. For Benet Academy, the afternoon proved a difficult struggle against the Marist length. After a promising first ...

  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...

   Resilience in the Paint: Dee-Mack’s Decisive Sectional Victory      Photos by  Alan Look Photography The beauty of March basketball isn't always found in the fluidity of a fast break or the perfection of a swish. Sometimes, it’s found in the grit of a defensive stance and the steady hand of a player who refuses to blink under the bright lights of CEFCU Arena. On Thursday afternoon, the Dee-Mack Chiefs embodied that resilience, securing a 48-35 victory over the Rockford Christian Royal Lions to claim the IHSA 2A Semi-Finals title. While the Royal Lions jumped to an early five-point lead in the opening minutes, the narrative of the game quickly shifted toward the Chiefs' interior dominance. The story of the afternoon belonged to Dalia DeJesus. In a performance defined by sheer willpower, DeJesus notched a double-double, accounting for 31 of Dee-Mack’s 48 points and cleaning the glass with 10 rebounds. Her presence was felt on both ends of the floor, as she...

  A Moment of Community, and a Final Glimpse of a Familiar Figure         Photo by Alan Look Photography Some images take on new resonance with time, and this quiet community gathering—people standing together under the Rainbow PUSH Coalition banner, calling for justice for Jelani Day—now carries a deeper emotional weight in light of Reverend Jesse Jackson’s passing. What was once a simple documentary moment has become a subtle reflection on aging, legacy, and the realities of public life. In the photograph, Reverend Jackson is not the polished, commanding figure many remember from his earlier decades. For much of his public career, he was known for an immaculate presence—tailored suits, crisp lines, a look that matched the precision of his oratory. Here, though, he appears more vulnerable. His hair is neatly combed, but his clothing sits differently than it once did, looser in some places, tighter in others, as if the careful attention that once shaped his publ...

  LeRoy Makes a Statement in Rivalry Win Over Heyworth       Photos by Alan Look Photography Rivalry games rarely need extra fuel, but with the end of the regular season looming and postseason positioning very much in play, Friday night’s boys varsity showdown between  LeRoy and the Heyworth Hornets  had the feel of something bigger than a typical February game. The Hornet Nest was buzzing well before tip. A larger-than-normal crowd filled the gym, bolstered by families of young cheerleaders who packed the stands ahead of their halftime performance after a pregame cheer camp. The energy was real, the noise constant, and the stage set. The junior varsity contest did little to foreshadow what was coming. Heyworth controlled the JV game comfortably, opening the bench with more than two minutes remaining and rolling into “everyone plays” mode well before the final horn. Then the varsity teams took the floor—and everything changed. From the opening possession, ...

 There are nights when college basketball feels less like a game and more like a declaration. Illinois’ 84–44 win over Northwestern was one of those nights—authoritative, methodical, and just theatrical enough to feel inevitable by the final media timeout. This was not chaos basketball. This was control. From the opening stretch, the Illini dictated tempo, space, and tone, bending the game into their preferred shape and never letting the Wildcats believe they could escape it. If Howard Cosell were hovering somewhere above the hardwood, he might have called it what it was: a mismatch revealed in real time, with clarity bordering on cruelty. At the center of it all stood  Keaton Wagler , whose impact went well beyond the obvious. Wagler played with a kind of composure that quiets a building before it electrifies it—steady decisions, sharp movement, and a presence that made Illinois feel older, wiser, and always a step ahead. His fingerprints were everywhere the game tilted Illin...