ChimpersCage

   Flyers Ground Warriors in Physical 3A Battle CHAMPAIGN  — In a contest defined by grit and second-chance opportunities, the East St. Louis Flyers outlasted the Deerfield Warriors, 52-46, on the hallowed hardwood of the State Farm Center. It was a blue-collar performance for the Flyers, who used a relentless assault on the offensive glass to secure the victory in this IHSA 3A matchup. Photos by  Alan Look Photography The Flyers took control early, establishing a 17-13 lead by the end of the first period. While Deerfield found success with efficient shooting—hitting 50% of their field goals for the game—they simply could not keep the Flyers off the boards. East St. Louis hauled in 18 offensive rebounds, a staggering figure that translated into 19 second-chance points, nearly quadruple the production of their opponents in that category. Jamison White proved to be the engine for the East St. Louis offense, leading all scorers with 19 points and dominating the glass wi...

  Washington Lady Panthers Secure Historic 3A State Title Over Chatham Glenwood Photography by  Alan Look Photography  The journey to the top of Illinois high school basketball reached its pinnacle on Saturday at CEFCU Arena, as the  Washington Lady Panthers  captured the program’s first-ever state championship. Facing off against a resilient  Chatham Glenwood  squad in the IHSA Class 3A final, Washington utilized a balanced offensive attack and a clinical defensive performance to secure a 60-45 victory. The win marks a historic milestone for the Panthers, who improved upon their third-place finish from the previous season to claim the ultimate prize in Normal. Washington established control early, finishing the first quarter with a 14-10 lead and extending that margin to 34-22 by halftime. The Panthers’ shooting was particularly sharp in the second frame, where they hit 75% of their field goal attempts.  Avery Tibbs  anchored the Washington ...

   Resilience in the Paint: Dee-Mack’s Decisive Sectional Victory      Photos by  Alan Look Photography The beauty of March basketball isn't always found in the fluidity of a fast break or the perfection of a swish. Sometimes, it’s found in the grit of a defensive stance and the steady hand of a player who refuses to blink under the bright lights of CEFCU Arena. On Thursday afternoon, the Dee-Mack Chiefs embodied that resilience, securing a 48-35 victory over the Rockford Christian Royal Lions to claim the IHSA 2A Semi-Finals title. While the Royal Lions jumped to an early five-point lead in the opening minutes, the narrative of the game quickly shifted toward the Chiefs' interior dominance. The story of the afternoon belonged to Dalia DeJesus. In a performance defined by sheer willpower, DeJesus notched a double-double, accounting for 31 of Dee-Mack’s 48 points and cleaning the glass with 10 rebounds. Her presence was felt on both ends of the floor, as she...

   LeRoy Makes a Statement in Rivalry Win Over Heyworth       Photos by  Alan Look Photography Rivalry games rarely need extra fuel, but with the end of the regular season looming and postseason positioning very much in play, Friday night’s boys varsity showdown between  LeRoy and the Heyworth Hornets  had the feel of something bigger than a typical February game. The Hornet Nest was buzzing well before tip. A larger-than-normal crowd filled the gym, bolstered by families of young cheerleaders who packed the stands ahead of their halftime performance after a pregame cheer camp. The energy was real, the noise constant, and the stage set. The junior varsity contest did little to foreshadow what was coming. Heyworth controlled the JV game comfortably, opening the bench with more than two minutes remaining and rolling into “everyone plays” mode well before the final horn. Then the varsity teams took the floor—and everything changed. From the opening p...

    Normal Community Sweeps Bloomington in Friday Night Varsity Doubleheader Normal Community High School made full use of home court on Friday night, January 20, 2026, as the Ironmen claimed a varsity sweep over Bloomington High School in a girls and boys basketball doubleheader that showed control, patience, and late-game execution. The evening opened with a girls varsity contest that tested Normal Community’s resolve. The Ironmen struggled to find rhythm early and allowed the Bloomington Purple Raiders to build momentum, taking a brief lead early in the second half. Bloomington’s energy forced Normal to adjust, and by the end of the third quarter, those adjustments began to show on the scoreboard. Normal closed the third ahead 34–29, setting the tone for what followed. The fourth quarter belonged entirely to the Ironmen. Defensive pressure tightened, passing lanes disappeared, and Bloomington was limited to just four points over the final eight minutes. The Ironmen steadily...

   McLean County Tournament Opens With Execution and Authority Photos by Alan Look Photography The opening round of the 2026 McLean County Boys Basketball Tournament offered an early reminder that January basketball is less about promise and more about purpose. Two games, played in different gyms with different energies, underscored that truth as Fieldcrest dispatched Flanagan-Cornell and El Paso–Gridley asserted control over Heyworth. Fieldcrest Knights 66, Flanagan-Cornell Falcons 50 Watching Flanagan-Cornell during shootaround and pregame warmups, it was easy to believe points would come easily. Shots fell cleanly, the ball moved crisply, and confidence appeared abundant. Once the game began, however, the tone shifted. Under pressure, the Falcons struggled to convert opportunities, and the scoreboard quietly documented just how cold the offense became and how vulnerable the defense proved against a disciplined opponent. Fieldcrest, by contrast, played a game rooted in patie...