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America's Original March Madness is now in full swing and continues with the IHSA Class 3A & 4A Girls Basketball State Finals at Redbird Arena on the campus of Illinois State University in Normal on Friday and Saturday, March 1-2.
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 3A and Class 4A will shoot for their class titles between semifinal games on Friday, with the winners returning on Saturday, March 3 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.
Nathan Baliva and Rachel Galligan will call the Class 3A action, while Dave Bernhard and Patricia Babcock-McGraw will bring viewers all the Class 4A action. Piper Shaw and Kate Consatable will share the hosting and sideline duties throughout weekend.
Fans at Redbird will also have a chance to meet renowned author Melissa Isaacson. Isaacson will be on hand Saturday, March 2 celebrating the 40th anniversary of her Niles West team winning the 1979 IHSA Girls Basketball State Championship. She will be chatting with fans on the concourse about her forthcoming book STATE: A Team, a Triumph, a Transformation which chronicles that title season, as well as her time covering the Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls and the Chicago Cubs for the Chicago Tribune and ESPN.
The Class 3A field features two returning teams with 2018 runner-up Nazareth and last year's third-place team Glenbard South both back in the field. Morton, who won state in 2015, 2016, and 2017, also returns after knocking off defending champ Richwoods in the Sectional. Meanwhile Sacred Heart-Griffin makes its first state final appearance in school history. Hononegah is first-time state final qualifier, while 1991 state champ Mother McAuley is back at state for the first time since 1997.
CLASS 3A
MORTON POTTERS (31-3)
vs.
NAZARETH ACADEMY ROADRUNNERS (31-3)
The No. 3 Potters are back in the Final Four for the fifth time in seven years with three successive state titles (2015-2017) on their resume. Coach Bob Becker (477-149, 20 years) has Morton riding an eight-game win streak. Big contributors for the Potters include senior guard and Butler University signee Tenley Dowell (15.4 ppg, 5.7 rpg), junior guard Lindsey Dullard (11.6 ppg,
5.2 rpg, 4.5 apg) along with freshman forward Katie Krupa (8.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg). The Morton seniors are 22-1 in their postseason careers.
Nazareth is back at Redbird Arena and hungry to improve on last season's runner-up finish. Coach Eddie Stritzel (76-20, three years) has seen the No. 4 Roadrunners put up an average postseason score of 64.6 points a game. Defensively, Nazareth has allowed only 22.8 points during its postseason run. Harvard bound senior guard Annie Stritzel (22.9 ppg, 6.4 rpg), junior guard Kaylen Evans (10.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg) and senior guard Jovanna Martinucci
(6.7 ppg, 3.8 ppg, 4.9 apg) lead the way.
SACRED HEART-GRIFFIN CYCLONES (29-6)
vs.
GLENBARD SOUTH RAIDERS (26-7)
Two single-digit postseason wins helped put Sacred Heart-Griffin into its first ever Final Four. The Cyclones, who received votes in the final AP poll of the season, have eight victories in a row behind coach Steve Klunick (121-45, six years). The Cyclones have a seven-win improvement from last season. Senior guard Payton Vorreyer (15.0 ppg, 6.6 rpg), sophomore guard Sophie Lowis (10.1 ppg, 5.0 apg) and senior center Victoria Ziegler (9.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg) are key to the Cyclones' success.
Unranked Glenbard South was the third-place finisher last season and looks to play in the season's final game. A 10-game win streak follows the Raiders into the Final Four. Coach Morgan Eufrasio (97-27, four years) relies heavily on defense, allowing 26.2 points a game in the postseason. Senior forward Maggie Bair (16.7 ppg, 13.8 rpg), a Drake University signee who won the Country Financial Three-Point Showdown Queen of the Hill in 2017, stars alongside sophomore guard Lauren Cohen (8.9 ppg, 4.0 rpg) and junior guard Rocky LaPonte (4.7 ppg, 3.1 rpg).
CLASS 4A
BENET ACADEMY REDWINGS (28-5)
vs.
MOTHER MCAULEY MIGHTY MACS (33-2)
Benet makes its return to the state finals after winning back-to-back 4A state titles in 2015 and 2016. Coach Joe Kilbride (151-20, five
years) leads the No. 6 Redwings, who lost three of their games to out-of-state teams. A balanced lineup is lead by junior guard Kendall Holmes (11.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg), future Wisconsin Badger Brooke Schramek (Jr., F, 9.9 ppg, 3.5 rebounds) and senior center Ashley Konkle (7.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg). Benet rides a nine-game winning streak that includes a 19.2 average margin of victory in five postseason games.
Mother McAuley finds itself back in the Final Four for the first time since a 1995 runner-up finish. Coach Ashley Luke Clanton (212-145, 12 years) has the No. 10 Mighty Macs on a 15-game win streak. McAuley does hold a 60-40 win over its semifinal opponent Benet from December 2. Watch for junior guard Jenna Badali (15.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg), senior guard/forward Grace Hynes (13.9 ppg, 7.0 rpg) and senior guard/forward Lauren Ramsey (9.3 ppg, 3.7 ppg).
MAINE WEST WARRIORS (33-0)
vs.
HONONEGAH INDIANS (32-4)
No. 1 Maine West is making a return trip to the state finals after last season's third-place finish. Coach Kim deMarigny (94-5, three
years) guides the Warriors, who last won a state title in 1988 and have six state trophies. Maine West's 33 wins in a row puts them at No. 18 all-time in state history. Look for senior forward Rachel Kent (14.2 ppg, 4.7 ppg), a St. Louis University commit, junior forward Angela Dugalic (13.2 ppg, 8.7 rpg) and junior guard Dylan Van Fleet (11.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 3.8 apg) to lead the way.
Hononegah is making its first-ever appearance at the state finals. Longtime coach Randy Weibel (496-151, 20 years) has the No. 7 Indians playing their basketball, having won 14 in a row. Plus, all five postseason victories for Hononegah have come by at least 14 points.
Marquette commit and senior guard Jordan King (21.2 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 2.7 apg) is the offensive catalyst for the Indians. She gets help from senior guard Hannah Malcomson (9.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg) and senior forward Cali Schmitz (8.3 ppg, 7.4 rpg). Senior forward Aeris Butler is the ultimate role player.
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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, March 1
Session 1
Class 3A Semifinals
11:00 a.m. - Morton vs.
Nazareth Academy
1:00 p.m. - Scared Heart-Griffin vs. Glenbard South
Session 2
Class 4A Semifinals
5:30 p.m. - Benet Academy vs. Mother McAuley
7:15 p.m. - Maine West vs.
Hononegah
Saturday, March 2
Session 3
Class 3A Finals
11:00 a.m. - Third-Place
1:00 p.m. - Championship
Session 4
Class 4A 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
Morton HS Broadcast
Morton games only
Internet Broadcast
WBEL 92.3/98.9 FM (South Beloit)
Hononegah games only
Internet Broadcast
WFMB 1450 AM (Springfield)
SHG games only
Internet Broadcast
WROK 1440 AM (Rockford)
Hononegah games only
Internet Broadcast
RESULTS & LIVE STATS
IHSA Girls Basketball Page
COUNTRY THREE POINT SHOWDOWN
Thursday, February 28
5:00 p.m. - 1A/2A Prelims
Friday, March 1
12:45 p.m. - 3A Finals
7:00 p.m. - 4A Finals
Saturday, March 2
Queen of the Hill
12:45 p.m. - All class champions
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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