Around the State: Sectional Final Recap
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There were so many unbelievable games around the state on Friday night with sectional finals in all four classes including 3 game winners at the buzzer! Some absolute classics were played in big time environments. We will have individual stories…
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Continue ReadingThere were so many unbelievable games around the state on Friday night with sectional finals in all four classes including 3 game winners at the buzzer! Some absolute classics were played in big time environments. We will have individual stories on quite a few of them as our scouts were all over. Here is a recap of the night’s other contests in Around the State: Sectional Final Recap!
Curie defeats Simeon 66-59
UIC commit Carlos Harris Carlos Harris 6'1" | SG Curie | 2024 State #283 Nation IL will get to play on his future home floor again in the super sectional on Monday. Harris had 25 points in their win against rival Simeon while fellow senior star Will Gonzalez Will Gonzalez 6'5" | SF Curie | 2024 State IL had 16 points. Best team in state rolls along!
Mt. Zion defeats Decatur MacArthur 61-48
The Braves move to 34-1 on the season with another central Illinois victory. Brayden Trimble Brayden Trimble 6'2" | SG Mt. Zion | 2025 State IL led them in scoring with 18 points while Lyncoln Koester Lyncoln Koester 6'3" | SG Mt. Zion | 2025 State IL had 13 points.
Beecher defeats Fieldcrest 60-43
Two of the best 2A squads in the state clashed with only one being able to move on. Adyn McGinley Adyn McGinley 5'11" | CG Beecher | 2024 IL scored 16 points while Ethan Rydberg (14 points) and Jack Hayhurst (11 points) also came up big in the win.
DePaul Prep defeats Lake Forest 38-21
The Rams with another defensive effort holding their opponent to 21 points. Their leading scorer was junior Robert Walls Robert Walls 6'2" | PG DePaul Prep | 2025 State IL with 11 points while Makai Kvamme Makai Kvamme 6'0" | PG DePaul Prep | 2025 State IL along with senior post Jaylan McElroy Jaylan McElroy 6'7" | PF DePaul Prep | 2024 State #262 Nation IL each scored 9 points.
Normal Community defeats Quincy 44-43
What an epic game! Normal got a steal and Jaheem Webber Jaheem Webber 6'9" | C Normal Community | 2024 State #300 Nation IL dunk at the buzzer to win it. Braylon Roman Braylon Roman 6'3" | SG Normal Community | 2024 State IL was their top scorer with 16 points while Niko Newsome Niko Newsome 6'6" | SG Normal Community | 2024 State IL had 11 points. Quincy 2025 duo of Bradley Longcor Bradley Longcor 6'3" | PG Quincy | 2025 State #337 Nation IL (13 points and 4 dimes) and Keshaun Thomas Keshaun Thomas 6'5" | PF Quincy | 2025 State IL (12 points and 6 rebounds) scored over half their points.
Thornton defeats Brother Rice 61-54
Morez Johnson Morez Johnson 6'9" | PF Thornton | 2024 State #33 Nation IL and Chase Abraham Chase Abraham 6'0" | SG Thornton | 2024 State IL each had 17 points in the victory. Brother Rice got 17 points in the loss from Marcos Gonzales Marcos Gonzales 6'3" | SG Brother Rice | 2025 State IL .
Glenbard North defeats York 44-43
What a heroic finish! Kyle Schager drained the game winner at the buzzer in a win/lose situation. As Mike Breen would say “BANG” as he hit the shot! Josh Abushanab Josh Abushanab 6'5" | SF Glenbard North | 2026 State IL is a sophomore that showed versatility on both ends notching 13 points. York got a big game from Penn commit AJ Levine AJ Levine 6'0" | PG York | 2024 State IL with 21 points and a two way effort from Kyle Waltz Kyle Waltz 6'7" | SG York | 2024 State IL with 10 points.
Palatine defeats Stevenson 46-38
Wash U commit Connor May Connor May 6'5" | SF Palatine | 2024 State IL just goes about his business torching the competition with 21 points. Carter Monroe Carter Monroe 5'10" | PG Palatine | 2025 IL had 8 points while Kasey May dropped 7 points.
Illini Bluffs defeats Camp Point Central 47-35
Lehigh commit Hank Alvey Hank Alvey 6'9" | C Illini Bluffs | 2024 State IL with another big game of 24 points while Toby Cooper finished with 11 points.
Benton defeats Breese Central 34-32
Docker Tedeschi Docker Tedeschi 6'8" | PF Benton | 2025 State IL was the top scorer for Benton with 12 points while Zane Schrage had 12 points on the other side for Breese Central.
Homewood Flossmoor defeats Bloom 61-50
Standout junior Bryce Heard Bryce Heard 6'6" | SG Homewood Flossmoor | 2025 State #86 Nation IL with 19 points to continue his big post season. Carson Brownfield Carson Brownfield 6'5" | SF Homewood Flosmoor | 2024 State IL was close behind for HF with 17 points. Bloom’s Elijah Lovemore Elijah Lovemore 6'2" | PG Bloom | 2025 State #344 Nation IL was fantastic with 24 points.
Crystal Lake South defeats Kaneland 69-38
Another massive game for junior AJ Demirov with 25 points. Christopher Regillo and James Carlson each had 9 points. For Kaneland Troyer Carlson had 10 points.
Phillips defeats Hansberry 90-71
Two of the best small schools in Chicago go at it with a lot of prospects. Amari Edwards Amari Edwards 5'8" | PG Phillips | 2025 State IL had 32 points while fellow junior EJ Horton EJ Horton 6'2" | PG Phillips | 2025 State IL dropped 26 points for Phillips. Al Brooks Al Brooks 6'6" | SF Hansberry | 2025 State #239 Nation IL Jr finished his junior year off with 34 points.
Byron defeats Princeton 59-43
Ryan Tucker Ryan Tucker 6'2" | SG Byron | 2024 State IL continues to be a force for Byron with 26 points while Noah LaPore had 13 points for Princeton.
New Trier defeats Glenbrook North 46-43
Christopher Kirkpatrick Christopher Kirkpatrick 6'3" | PG New Trier | 2026 State IL hit the biggest shot of his career with a buzzer beater to win this one. The highly ranked sophomore guard had 16 points in the contest while Logan Feller notched 10 points for New Trier. Glenbrook North big man Pat Schaller Pat Schaller 6'6" | SF Glenbrook North | 2024 State IL had 15 points
Mt. Carmel defeats De La Salle 73-54
Northwestern commit Angelo Ciaravino Angelo Ciaravino 6'6" | SF Mt. Carmel | 2024 State #160 Nation IL had a first team all-state performance going for 34 points and 8 boards carrying his team in the win. Caravan also got 23 points from Cameron Thomas Cameron Thomas 6'3" | PG Mount Carmel | 2025 State IL who is a junior primed to make a big jump this summer!
St. Patrick defeats Payton 56-38
Senior guard AJ Thomas AJ Thomas 6'3" | SG St. Patrick | 2024 State IL had a big game with 18 points while junior standouts EJ Breland EJ Breland 6'0" | PG St. Patrick | 2025 State IL (14 points) and Nevaeh Hawkins Nevaeh Hawkins 6'7" St. Patrick | 2025 State IL (11 points) came up with excellent outings for St. Pat’s!
Christ Our Rock Lutheran over Arcola 49-39
Parker Boehne was the top scorer in this one with 15 points with Omari King chipping in 13 points in the victory. Jayden Bazille had 11 points and Christian Nollman contributed 7 points.
Warren defeats McHenry 70-38
This wasn’t close at all as Warren dominated from start to finish. All world freshman Jaxson Davis Jaxson Davis 6'1" | PG Warren | 2027 IL had 18 points in the victory. Senior forward Alex Daniels Alex Daniels 6'5" | SF Warren | 2024 State IL went for 13 points. McHenry’s top scorer in this game was Caleb Jett who finished his season with 14 points.
Macomb defeats Rockridge 54-38
The second upset of the week for Macomb as they took out Rockridge behind Drew Watson’s 16 points and Malachi Conley’s 11 points.