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The calendar won't turn by tipoff, but America's Original March Madness is officially underway as the IHSA Class 1A & 2A Girls Basketball State Finals return to Redbird Arena on the campus of Illinois State University in Normal on Friday and Saturday, February 22-23.
The Country Financial Three-Point Showdown continues Thursday at Redbird Arena, as prelims will whittle down Sectional qualifiers to four final shooters from each class. The final four shooters from Class 1A and Class 2A will shoot for their class titles between semifinal games on Friday, with the winners returning on Saturday, March 4 for a chance to be the all-class champion Queen of the Hill.
The games will air live on NBC Sports Chicago, NBC Sports Chicago Plus and IHSA TV Network affiliates (click for local listings). The games will also be carried live on the internet via NBC Sports Chicago and www.IHSA.tv, which will also stream the post-game press conferences. Country Financial is the presenting sponsor of the broadcasts.
Lee Hall and Patricia-Babcock McGraw will bring viewers the 1A action, while Dave Bernhard and Rachel Galligan step in to call the 2A games. Piper Shaw and Joe Brand will handle the hosting and sideline duties, along with the finals of the Country Financial Three-Point Showdown.
Both state champs from a year ago are back to defend their crowns in Schlarman (1A) and Marshall (2A), respectively.
CLASS 1A
EASTLAND COUGARS (30-4)
vs.
TRI-COUNTY TITANS (29-4)
Fourth-ranked Eastland comes to the Final Four on a 16-game win streak with all five postseason games decided by 13 or more points. A third-place finish five years ago was the Cougars lone previous state finals appearance. Coach Nicole Brinker (100-30, four years) boasts a 1-2 punch in junior guard Erin Henze (16.3 ppg, 4.2 apg, 3.6 rpg) and sophomore forward Karlie Krogman (11.2 ppg, 7.1 rpg). Junior guard Lydia Coatney (10.9 ppg, 6.3 rpg) gives Eastland a third double-figure scorer.
2019 makes a half-dozen state finals trips for the Tri-County Titans, a coop between Kansas, Oakland and Shiloh. The No. 6-ranked Raiders finished fourth eight years ago, but coach Joe Morrisey (121-31, five years) is making his first appearance. Tri-County enters the Final Four on a 12-game win streak, including a 33.4 average margin of victory in the postseason. Watch out for the trio of sophomore guard Tayler Barry (15.6 ppg), senior center Kiersten Price-Wilson (12.2 ppg, 4.0 rpg) and senior guard Harley Barry (11.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 4.5 apg).
LEWISTOWN LADY INDIANS (31-1)
vs.
SCHLARMAN ACADEMY HILLTOPPERS (31-2)
No. 2 Lewistown makes its return to the state finals after a Class A runner-up finish in 2000. Four of Lewistown's five postseason opponents were rematches from the regular-season. Look for junior guard Anna Heffren (18.7 ppg, 4.6 apg, 3.7 rpg), junior guard/forward Sydney Shaeffer (13.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg) and senior forward Hannah Burdess (7.6 ppg, 5.5 rpg) to be big-time contributors. Coach Greg Bennett (291-223, 17 years) has his team riding a 10-game win streak following a 21-0 start to the season.
Reigning state champion and top-ranked Schlarman, winners of 19 in a row, is back at the state finals, looking to join Aquin (2012, 2013) and Hinckley-Big Rock (2009, 2010) as the only repeat 1A champs. Senior guard and McDonald's All-American Anaya Peoples (20.1 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 3.8) is hopes to hoist another title trophy before heading to play at the University of Notre Dame. Aside from his daughter, Coach Keith Peoples (185-49, eight years) will also rely on junior forward Capria Brown (19.1 ppg, 3.5 apg) and senior guard Janiah Newell (12.7 ppg).
CLASS 2A
CHICAGO MARSHALL COMMANDOS (25-8)
vs.
HILLSBORO HILLTOPPERS (29-5)
Reigning state champion and fifth-ranked Marshall are back in the Final Four the 22nd time under legendary coach Dorothy Gaters (1,131-206, 44 years). The Commandos look to repeat as state champs for the third in program history (1989-90, 1992-93). Half of Marshall's losses came during a four-game streak in December. Senior forward Brandi Hudson (17.8 ppg, 7.8 rpg) and senior guard Dashiera Butts (10.1 ppg, 6.1 rpg) provide veteran leadership alongside fellow offensive catalyst Jalyn Jimenez (9.5 ppg).
No. 9 Hillsboro comes back to the state finals for the first time since winning the 2006 Class A state title. Senior guard Sammi Matoush has been dominate this season, averaging 25.5 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. Look for senior forward Aubrey Rupert (8.6 ppg, 3.6 rpg) and senior guard Kylie Meier (8.0 ppg) to contribute for the Hiltoppers, who are on a nine-game win streak. Bret Tuetken (344,198, 18 years) was the coach the last time Hillsboro won the state championship.
ST. JOSEPH-OGDEN SPARTANS (28-4)
vs.
TEUTOPOLIS LADY SHOES (32-4)
St. Joseph-Ogden, ranked No. 4, gets its program's first shot at a state trophy following a 2007 Class A super-sectional appearance. The Spartans are on a 15-game win streak under coach Kevin Taylor (49-13, two years). Senior forward Bree Trimble (16.9 ppg, 6.3 rpg) hopes to follow in her brother Brandon's steps, as he led SJO to the boys basketball state title in 2016. Senior Peyton Crowe (11.9 ppg, 4.5 rpg) and junior guard Hannah Dukeman (8.3 ppg, 3.7 apg) are both key contributors as well.
Teutopolis, last season's third-place finisher, makes it second successive trip to the Final Four and fourth state appearance since 2014. The Lady Shoes will leave Redbird this weekend with the Lady Shoes 15th state trophy in program history. The No. 7 Wooden Shoes are on a 12-game win streak under Laurie Thompson (356-91, 14 years). Balance for Teutopolis comes in the form of sophomore guard Lexie Niebrugge (12.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg), senior guard Sadie Bueker (9.4 ppg) and junior forward Claire Bushur (9.0 ppg, 6.2 rpg).
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TOURNAMENT HISTORY
43rd annual State Series
28th year at Redbird Arena
SITE
Redbird Arena (Normal)
Directions
HOST
Bloomington-Normal CVB
BN Sports Commission
SCHEDULE
Friday, February 22
Session 1
Class 1A Semifinals
11:00 a.m. - Eastland vs.
Tri-County
1:00 p.m. - Lewistown vs.
Schlarman
Session 2
Class 2A Semifinals
5:30 p.m. - Marshall vs.
Hillsboro
7:15 p.m. - St. Joseph-Ogden
vs. Teutopolis
Saturday, February 23
Session 3
Class 1A Finals
11:00 a.m. - Third-Place
1:00 p.m. - Championship
Session 4
Class 2A Finals
5:30 p.m. - Third-Place
7:15 p.m. - Championship
TICKETS
$10 per session (general admission)
WATCH
Television
NBC Sports Chicago &
NBC Sports Chicago+
Internet
NBC Sports Chicago
www.IHSA.tv
LISTEN
WBYS 1560 AM/93.7 FM (Canton)
Lewistown only
Internet Broadcast
WCCI 100.3 FM (Savanna)
Eastland only
Internet Broadcast
WDAN 1490 AM (Danville)
Schlarman only
Internet Broadcast
WKJT 102.3 FM (Effingham)
Teutopolis only
Internet Broadcast
WMCI 101.3 FM (Mattoon)
Tri-County only
Internet Broadcast
WPXN 104.9 FM (Paxton)
St. Joseph-Ogden only
WSMI 106.1 FM (Litchfield)
Hillsboro only
Internet Broadcast
RESULTS & LIVE STATS
IHSA Girls Basketball Page
COUNTRY THREE POINT SHOWDOWN
Thursday, February 21
5:00 p.m. - 1A/2A Prelims
Friday, February 22
12:45 p.m. - 1A Finals
7:00 p.m. - 2A Finals
OFFICIAL STATE FINAL
Gear from Minerva
Photos from VIP
Balls from Wilson
Souvenir Program
SOCIAL MEDIA #IHSA
Twitter - @IHSAstate
Instagram - @IHSA_IL
Facebook.com/IHSA.IL
Classic IHSA YouTube Video
STATE SUPPORTERS
Country Financial
Wilson Sporting Goods
Biaggi's Ristorante Italiano
Busey
Northern Iowa University
Gatorade
MaxPreps
HISTORY & RECORDS
2019 Road To Redbird
Record Book & Past Champions
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