IHSA Class 4A State Finals preview
The IHSA Class 4A State Finals returns the defending champions, Belleville West, and features reigning Mr. Basketball EJ Liddell. The Ohio State recruit is worth a ticket alone, but is joined by quality players. Evanston also returns for a second…
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Continue ReadingThe IHSA Class 4A State Finals returns the defending champions, Belleville West, and features reigning Mr. Basketball EJ Liddell. The Ohio State recruit is worth a ticket alone, but is joined by quality players.
Evanston also returns for a second straight year, placing third last year. Rockford East is making its first appearance since 1984 while Curie returns for the second time in five years.
Schedule and Information
At Carver Areana, Peoria, Ill.
Friday’s semifinals
Evanston vs. Rockford East, 5:30 p.m.
3-point shootout
Belleville West vs. Chicago Curie, 7:15 p.m.
Championship Saturday
Third-place game, 5:30 p.m.
Championship game, (approximately) 7:00 p.m.
Tickets: $10 general admission
TV: NBC Sports Chicago
Stream: NFHS Newtwork
Broadcast team: Dave Bernhard (Play by Play), Mark Lindo (Analyst) and Kate Constable (Sideline reporter)
Teams
Evanston (31-4)
Projected starters
0 Jaylin Gibson (2021, G, 6-3) – 8 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.2 apg, shooting 53.0/39.3/73.8
1 Jaheim Holden (2019, G, 6-0) – 11.9 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 3.4 apg, shooting 44.8/31.7/81.2
5 Lance Jones (2019, G, 6-2) – 15.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 3 apg, shooting 47.3/25.9/66.4
15 Blake Peters (2021, G, 6-1) – `12.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 0.9 apg, shooting 49.3/47.1/82.6
24 Ryan Bost (2019, G, 5-11) – 9.9 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 1.5 apg, shooting 40.1/34.1/76.3
Mike Ellis is making his fourth state finals appearance. He is 355-134 in his 16th season (199-79 in his ninth season at Evanston). He led Peoria Richwoods to second place finishes in 2006 and 2010. Lance Jones is athletic and can get to the rim, which will open up the floor for elite 3-point shooter Blake Peters, who is 107-for-227 from 3-point range.
Rockford East (34-2)
Projected starters
3 Chris Burnell (2019, G, 6-3) – 14.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 5.3 apg, shooting 51.3/34.3/74.2
4 Andreas Thompson (2019, G, 6-4) – 8 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 1.5 apg, shooting 50.0/43.2/64.3
12 Sha’Den Clanton (2019, G, 6-6) – 13.4 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 2.1 apg, shooting 50.3/26.7/58.0
13 Damarian Dickens (2019, G, 5-8) – 3.9 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.9 apg, shooting 39.3/34.4/66.7
21 Sincere Parker (2020, G, 6-3) – 19 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.1 apg, shooting 47.2/39.5/71.6
Roy Sackmaster is 189-225 in his 14th season as the E-Rabs coach. The E-Rabs have a win over 3A finalist East St. Louis, and their losses were to Springfield Southeast and Dubuque, IA. Sincere Parker and Chris Burnell make this team move.
Belleville West (32-4)
Projected starters
3 Lawrence Brazil III (2019, G, 5-11) – 13 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 4.1 apg, shooting 47.4/36.7/73.4
12 Will Shumpert (2019, F, 6-6) – 9.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.4 apg, shooting 46.5/29.6/67.9
22 Keith Randolph Jr. (2019, F, 6-5) – 9.1 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 1.2 apg, shooting 57.4/0-3/56.5
30 Jaylin Mosby (2019, G, 6-2) – 8.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.3 apg, shooting 44.0/35.8/59.5
32 EJ Liddell (2019, F, 6-7) – 20.3 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 3.1 apg, shooting 61.4/28.0/72.0
Joe Muniz is 242-177 in his 15th season at Belleville West. The Maroons have the tournament’s biggest attraction with Liddell, but any player can hurt you. They have size and strength with Illinois football recruit Keith Randolph and quick guards that can shoot it in Lawrence Brazil III and Jaylin Mosby.
Curie (33-1)
Projected Starters
2 Damari Nixon (2019, G, 6-2) – 10.1 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 1.9 apg, shooting 45.4/38.7/76.9
3 DaJuan Gordon (2019, G, 6-3) – 17.6 ppg, 8 rpg, 2 apg, shooting 54.8/35.9/70.6
5 Trevon Hamilton (2019, G, 5-9) – 6.7 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 7.4 apg, shooting 51.6/46.2/76.5
23 Ramean Hinton (2020, F, 6-4) – 11.5 ppg, 6 rpg, 1.1 apg, shooting 45.3/35.2/65.9
24 Justin Harmon (2019, F, 6-3) – 14.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.1 apg, shooting 57.6/23.7/72.9
Michael Oliver is 521-132 in his 17th season at Curie but the Condors are making just their second state finals apperance. Curie hasn’t lost to an Illinois team all season, dropping a 63-57 decision to Richmond Salesian (CA) for its lone loss. DaJuan Gordon is as good of a player as one can get to lead a team.
Predictions
Evanston vs. Rockford East
Lance Jones will have to get downhill and make early buckets to free up Blake Peters and other Evanston shooters. Mike Ellis is as good of a coach as any and will impact the game with in-game adjustments. Rockford East has a size advantage and is very athletic. The E-Rabs should try to exploit that.
Prediction: Evanston 77, Rockford East 69
Belleville West vs. Curie
In what looks to be the best game of the weekend, EJ Liddell will be the tallest player on the court, and being able to play inside and out makes him tough to guard. Curie will have to find an answer defensively. Tommie Williams and Will Shumpert will have their hands in this game defending DaJuan Gordon.
Prediction: Belleville West 88, Curie 84