State Championship Saturday Notebook

All four classes of state championships were play on Saturday in Champaign at the University of Illinois. First time this has ever happened. New location, new format, same Original March Madness! We breakdown all four games in State Championship Saturday Notebook!   Yorkville Christian Wins 1A Playing Different Way All season it was about the high scoring of [player_tooltip player_id="863582" first="Jaden" last="Schutt"] and their long range shooting as a team. In the championship game they had to find a different formula and they did to win the state title 54-41. Liberty held Duke commit [player_tooltip player_id="863582" first="Jaden" last="Schutt"] to 12 points including only one three. Had a couple of dunks on a back cut and in transition. As a team they shot 6-26 from three for 23%. When they started attacking the basket in the second half that opened everything up for them. Unsigned senior [player_tooltip player_id="1210394" first="KJ" last="Vasser"] was big with 15 points getting downhill on drives. Another unheralded senior [player_tooltip player_id="1257899" first="Tyler" last="Burrows"] was huge in the title game as he stuffed the stat sheet for 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 dimes. Unheralded 2023 shooting guard [player_tooltip player_id="1194341" first="David" last="Douglas"] displayed his versatility by hitting a couple of threes and got on the glass for 11 points and 5 rebounds. Liberty played tough defense and that kept them in the game. Face up four man Devin Klauser is a crafty power forward that did his damage on the block netting 13 points. Cannen Wolf stepped up in this one hitting an array of threes with his sweet lefty stoke for 12 points.   Nashville Closes Strong to Win 2A Championship Nashville coach Patrick Weathers said before state at the media day they win and they win ugly. Both accomplished! In another low scoring game Nashville made the key plays down the stretch to win the 2A state title. Their star [player_tooltip player_id="1106938" first="Saxton" last="Hoepker"] only had four points, but he made the two biggest plays of the game on a baseline take to give his team the ultimate 32-31 lead and a swat at the buzzer to capture the crown. Kolton Gajewski stepped up in a major way as the Hornets big man had 14 points on pure toughness inside along with getting to the foul line for points. [player_tooltip player_id="1106949" first="Isaac" last="Turner"] averaged well below his average for the season, but in the title game he made several key plays on the defensive end getting stops and had a couple of tough takes for 6 points. Monticello got a solid showing from their backcourt. Dylan Ginalick is a crafty combo guard that can hit a pull up three and gets in the lane for nifty finishes as he had 11 points. Slow start for star Ben Cresap but he started getting his jumper flowing with a pair of mid-range shots and a three for 8 points.   Sacred Heart Griffin Wins 3A Title in OT Classic vs Metamora on Three at Buzzer What. A. Game. These two central Illinois squads battled to the very end and left it all on the floor. Sacred Heart Griffin had a little magic at the end of the second OT as Keshon Singleton fumbled the ball and going away from the basket at the top of the key hit the game winning turnaround three pointer for a state title 53-50. Singleton stole the show at the end while finishing with 9 points, but they got there behind [player_tooltip player_id="1113521" first="Zack" last="Hawkinson"]. What a performance he put on in the title game. He had 27 points and 13 rebounds. Played physical inside on scores and when his team needed buckets they went to him down low including sending the game to OT. Junior shooting guard [player_tooltip player_id="989267" first="Jake" last="Hamilton"] is such a unique player with his ability to maneuver his body on drives and scoop shots. Made floaters and scored at the rim for 9 points. [player_tooltip player_id="1371068" first="Tyson" last="Swanson"] elevated his stock all season with his play and that continued into the last game. There was a stretch where the 6’2” guard put his team on his back and carried them hitting mid-range pull ups and threes over and over again as he had 17 points. Senior [player_tooltip player_id="1049101" first="Zack" last="Schroeder"] fouled out, but before he did the senior scored in the paint in his scrappy manner for 12 points. Junior star [player_tooltip player_id="939065" first="Ethan" last="Kizer"] hit a three to open the game and then was held scoreless for the rest of the game. He was a major impactful player on the defensive end and swatting shots. Went for 3 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 blocks.   Glenbard West Finishes Deal with Blowout Win over Whitney Young for 4A Title The story of the 2021-2022 season has been Glenbard West from last June when they were dominant at Ridgewood and Riverside Brookfield. They did not lose a game in-state all regular season. The Hilltoppers finished it off on Saturday night with a blowout against Whitney Young to capture the 4A state title 56-34. PHI Player of the Year [player_tooltip player_id="925183" first="Braden" last="Huff"] played like it. He scored or assisted on the first handful of points on dimes finding teammates for open shots while also hitting threes and converting put backs. Did whatever he wanted in a 19 point performance. Army commit [player_tooltip player_id="1106936" first="Ryan" last="Renfro"] was excellent inside on the glass getting rebounds and junk points for 10 points. [player_tooltip player_id="996070" first="Paxton" last="Warden"] was the perfect glue guy for this team. Did the small things to help his team win and in this one he hit an array of threes spotting up along with using his athleticism to finish for 19 points. Princeton commit [player_tooltip player_id="996060" first="Caden" last="Pierce"] was more than happy setting everyone up. The two guard became a distributor for this team as the season went along and that is exactly what he did in this one. To show you how balanced this starting five is [player_tooltip player_id="863598" first="Bobby" last="Durkin"] who set a state finals record for threes last game was held to four points in this one and it didn’t matter one bit. What a team. 37-1. Whitney Young got the biggest contribution from [player_tooltip player_id="863585" first="Xavier" last="Amos"]. The Northern Illinois commit has been their most consistent producer throughout the year. He kept his team within striking distance for a while in the first half with his play. Quickness on the interior that scores with his combination of skill and athleticism. Went for 14 points. Junior standout point guard [player_tooltip player_id="939057" first="Dalen" last="Davis"] showed flashes with his burst and pushing in the open floor. He had 6 points and 3 assist.