When the corn isn't growing in Illinois

When the corn isn't growing in Illinois there is always basketball.  At the holiday break near the end of the year, there is always a holiday tournament somewhere in the state... in fact quite a few of them.  Many have existed for years.  Some have just a few schools.  Some are the granddaddy of them all.  The State Farm Holiday Classic is one if not the granddaddy.  The Classic (as it is known by it's shorter name to many) has been around long before State Farm was it's title sponsor.  It has grown over time but has hosted 64 teams for a good long time.  It is Co-ed wit 32 girls teams and 32 boys teams.  Most teams come from Illinois, but the past has seen other parts of the United State represented as well.

The Classic just concluded.  There will be coverage by Alan Look Photography - Bloomington - Normal's Best Look in Sports Action Photography in the Normalite Newspapers and in the February issue of Best Look Magazine.  Until then, you can enjoy this gallery of images.

2015 State Farm Holiday Classic - Chimperscage - Images by Alan Look
 - Chimper

2015 November Issue of Best Look Magazine

Best Look Magazine, Volume 4 Issue 4, November 2015

By Alan Look in Best Look Magazine

32 pages, published 11/10/2015

Best Look Magazine, Volume 4 Issue 4, November 2015

The 2015 November Issue of Best Look Magazine has arrived. The front cover features a High Dynamic Range image of the Normal Theater in Normal taken during the Sugar Creek Arts Festival in July.  The rear cover is a shot of the memorial at Illinois State University that remembers the 7-
Aaron Leech, Torrey Ward, Scott Bittner, Jason Jones, Andrew Butler, Terry Stralow and Thomas Hileman who lost their lives in a plane crash on their way home from the NCAA basketball tournament in April.  Other features in this issue - a wrap up of the Normal CornBelters winning season, McLean County Antique Automobile Associations annual car show, Sugar Creek Arts Festival, a preview of the State Farm Holiday Classic basketball tournament, Ron Knisley Memorial Shootout, some highlights from the very wet Friday Night football games, the blood red moon and eclipse, volleyball and football from both Illinois State and Illinois Wesleyan and It's Official makes a return.

Be sure to look up our sponsors.  They probably offer something you want or need.  Buy local where most of the money from your purchase returns to our local economy.

State Farm Holiday Classic Photos

Alan Look Photography, the Best Look in Sports Action Photography in Bloomington - Normal covered several games at the 2014 State Farm Holiday Classic.  Images are available in the form of prints and electronic files to family and fans.  Alan Look Photography is also offering 15% off any $20 or greater order until the end of  January 2015 on the images.  Use coupon code 15off when you check out!

Click for images.

Teams playing games he covered were:

Girls - University High Pioneers, Morton Potters, Bloomington Raiders, Peoria Notre Dame Irish, Champaign Centennial Chargers, Richwoods Knights, North Chicago Warhawks

Boys - Normal Community Ironmen, Rock Island Rocks, Plainfield South Cougars, Edwardsville Tigers, University High Pioneers

The first two Soar sessions at the Championship Halftime were also captured.

State Farm Holiday Classic Coed Basketball Tournament

Wow, the holiday tournaments are here and as I write - almost over! There are several good tournaments in central Illinois. Pontiac, Pekin, Monticello and the State Farm Holiday Classic in Bloomington Normal to name a few. I've never covered any of them except the Classic, so let me talk about it.

The Classic is billed as the largest holiday basketball tournament in the country and the best basketball this side of March. It schedules 4 days of games for 32 boys and 32 girls team divided into 2 divisions. The divisions are split 1a/2a and 3a/4a along the lines the Illinois State High School Association draws for those schools. The Classic also follows the rules of basketball as stipulated by the IHSA. More on that later.

Last night, I did indeed seem some of the best basketball this side of March. The Richwoods ladies were playing the Normal West ladies. What a game. they went toe to toe, shot for shot in a see-sawing battle for the first 32 minutes. A 3 point buzzer shot evened the score at the end of the fourth quarter starting OT. One went by the score still even. On to double OT. This time the Richwoods team got the better of the Wildcats as the steam was running out for both teams. It was a really great game to watch.

I've been to some others at the tournament too. Photos from all are available and look for coverage in the Normalite and online at the Normalite.com as well. A sample gallery is below, but be sure to go to my site for complete coverage of the games I was able to cover.

Now for the rules.

2 rules need to be changed in the IHSA rule book.

1. A couple of years ago, there was a mercy clock. a 30 point lead in the 4th quarter sent the clock ticking till the end of the game. It was a good thing. If there is a 30 point difference in a game that normally only gets 60-70 points no one will be enjoying that game. Right now that rule only exists in tournament situations. It needs to be reapplied to seasonal play as well.

2. I don't know when they implemented the jersey lettering rule, but someone must have owned stock shares in a uniform company to come up with this one. The rule requires a minimum distance between any lettering on the jersey and the number. Also, the arc of the letters can't have the bottom of the letter lower than the top of the numbers. Ok, we probably don't want circular text on the jersey, but assessing a technical foul on the bench for this is just ridiculous. IHSA - get a better rule. Our schools have more important things to spend money on than replacing every sporting jersey they own.

Hope everyone enjoyed the holiday.


2009 State Farm Holiday Classic - Images by Alan Look