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  On this day in history: BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (March 3, 2004) — The Champaign Central Maroons pulled away late to defeat the Normal West Wildcats 70-61 in an IHSA Class AA regional game Wednesday night at Bloomington High School. #bloomingtonnormalsportsphotos   #bloomingtonnormalsportsphotographer   #Mcleancountysportsphotos   #centralillinoissportsphotos   @alanlookphotography

  Spent Senior Night at University High School Pioneers to see the boys basketball team in a thriller against the Cyclones of Sacred Heart Griffin.  The Pioneers got off to a real slow start but after picking up the pace, the game was pretty tight with a finish of a difference of 2 points with the walk off smiles going to the Pioneers. Post Season is up next! Find all the Bloomington Normal Sports Photos and Central Illinois Sports Photos at Alan Look Photography , the Best Look in sports action photography !

On September 15th, 2012 Jimmy Garoppolo visited Hancock Stadium at Illinois State University as the starting quarterback for the Eastern Illinois Panthers.  Who knew that 8 years later he would become one of 2 starting quarterbacks in the NFL's SuperBowl.  Jimmy of course is the 2nd starting Quarterback from Eastern to do well.  Ten Years before, another named Tony Romo completed his senior year at Eastern.  Tony went on to an NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys. Freelance photographer Alan Look was fortunate to have captured both players in action.  The image of Tony Romo was taken at Eastern during the Homecoming game in 2002 against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels.  The image has been used by national media and in several books.  The images of Jimmy Garoppolo were both used by Upper Deck as trading cards for his rookie season.

The local football season kicked off today with the Illinois State Redbird Red-White scrimmage.  A healthy combination of fans and students attended the event and the preliminary activities which included the annual student promo photo on the field in Hancock Stadium with the Big Red Marching Machine, cheerleaders, flag corp, and Redline Dancers forming ISU all wearing red shirts. High School football will follow in 13 days with the first Friday Lights games. Get out this fall, support your local teams and see some of the great talent that passes through our communities! Red-White game gallery

February 2, 2019 - Normal, IL:  The Illinois State Redbirds and the Ramblers of Loyola Chicago squared off for a Men's Missouri Valley Basketball game to see who would walk away in sole possession of 1st place in the conference at near the midpoint of the season.  Dick Ludtke, a long time broadcaster was on hand to do the radio play by play and was recognized before the battle for his 1000th Redbird Basketball broadcast. Just over 8100 fans nearly filled the 10,500 seat Redbird Arena and stayed in their seats to watch the entire game.  Although the point difference at the buzzer was 8 points in the Redbirds favor, the game was not really settled till inside the 1 minute mark.  The frenzied late play kept a crowd that oftens leaves with minutes left on the clock, in their seats till the end. Photo Gallery!

Wheaton Thunder rumbled into Bloomington Illinois on Saturday September 12th ranked at #12 in D3 football schools.  They never rumbled much the first half of the game, but came out in the 2nd half with a long kickoff return that left them just short of the goal and scored on the next play.  Illinois Wesleyan Titans got the ball back only to give it up on a fumble due to a pretty hard hit and the Thunder rumbled back into the end zone.  That was the last of the rumbles from the Thunder as the Titans muscled their way back up to their feet to push them out of Tucci Stadium.  Final score put the Titans on top.  The win was a good one for IWU and an even better one for Coach Norm Eash.  The win made Coach Eash the winningest football coach in the history of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW). Congrats to the Titans and Coach Eash. Game Photos by Alan Look Photography and Best Look Magazine!

Normal West was impressive last night with a 57-18 win over the University Pioneers.  They pulled out to an early 10 or 12 point lead and never relinquished it.  The Wildcats played what has probably been the quickest up and down game of the 4 games we've seen in the early season.  Speed is certainly one of the weapons they have in their arsenal. The Central Catholic v Normal Community game was all the Ironmen for the first quarter.  The Saints never felt out of it and pushed forward cutting the lead by halftime.  The final score at the buzzer was just a 2 point win 42-40 for the Iron.  Top scorers for each team were Saints Coffman and Iron Wong both with 12 each.

It's Here!  The February issue of Best Look Magazine is now available.  Click on the cover below... Best Look Magazine, Volume 5 Issue 1, February 2016 By Alan Look in Best Look Magazine 32 pages, published 2/15/2016 Best Look Magazine February 2016 Volume 5 Issue 1  - Chimper

Girls bracket - Champs - Tremont Turks Runner up - LeRoy Panthers 3rd Place - Flanagan Cornell Woodland Falcons 4th Place - Heyworth Hornets Boys bracket - Champs - Ridgeview Mustangs Runner up - LeRoy Panthers 3rd Place - Fieldcrest Knights 4th Place - Blue Ridge Knights Click for more images from Alan Look Photography and check out the articles and photos in Best Look Magazine and the Normalite family of local newspapers.  - chimper

Yes, this Saturday at Ridgeview Schools the 1st round begins. Get your brackets here: Brackets . Be sure to take a look at all the pictures from past MCT's here: Photos  - Chimper

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 ...

Yes, it was a chili night on Friday for the Chili Bowl between the Normal Community Ironmen and the Normal West Wildcats.  The temps were in the low 60's and there was a pretty good breeze blowing in from the north at Normal West High School's football field.  The effects were evidently felt more by the Wildcats than the Iron.  The Iron stormed ahead in the first half, but the Wildcats stayed in the game with a couple of pretty solid drives.  In the end, it wasn't enough for the hosts with the Iron taking the game and the Chili Bowl.  - Chimper 20150911 Chili Bowl - NCHS at NCWHS football photos - Images by Alan Look

The high temperatures and humidity across the mid section of the country spawned isolated storms on Friday night.  Although some rain fell in the area, the biggest problem locally for football games was the lightning.  Many area schools saw their games suspended because of the electric atmosphere.  Normal West playing in Collinsville, Normal Community and Bloomington both playing at home and Heyworth were all subject to the suspensions.  One report tells of more severe thunderstorms to the east affecting the Champaign - Urbana area, Danville and into west central Indiana. Play did get started at the Heyworth game.  Heyworth hosted the Falcons of Flanagan, Cornell, Woodland.  The Falcons started the game kicking to the Hornets and defending the north end zone. Brandon Day accepted the kickoff for the Hornets and made a good run up the field.  He followed it shortly after moving the ball much closer to the goal.  After a too high pass to Skyler ...

Friday night August 28th was the first night for IHSA football games.  Our usually list to pick from was a little smaller this year than others as the home game schedules only had 3 playing in McLean County.  The schedules are a bit tighter this year with Lexington joining the Ridgeview/Blue Ridge partnership.  We hear it was a numbers decision associated with potential players and not a financial situation.  What ever the reason, it is good to see that those who want to play and the administrators found a way to make it happen.  The Ridgeview/Blue Ridge/Lexington team we believe is still known as the Mustangs.  They played the Fisher Bunnies at Fisher on opening night.  We hope to cover them soon. Our pick placed us in LeRoy with the Panthers hosting the GCMS Falcons of Gibson City - Melvin - Sibley high school.  The Falcons seemed to have the edge early and I believe they won (we had to leave in the 3rd quarter for another commitment), but th...

Now available online - viewing and electronic downloads are free, but grab a copy of the printed edition.  It really pops! Best Look Magazine, Volume 4 Issue 3, August 2015 By Alan Look in Best Look Magazine 32 pages, published 8/15/2015 Best Look Magazine August 2014 Volume 4 Issue 3 - Number 13

Best Look Magazine, Volume 4 Issue 2, May 2015 By Alan Look in Best Look Magazine 32 pages, published 5/15/2015 May 2015 Issue of Best Look Magazine Need something to do on Memorial Day weekend?  Ever been to the Middle East Conflicts Memorial Wall in Marseilles Illinois?  It is a special place right along the Illinois River.  It is a first rate memorial and a solemn place to pay your respects to those who have made the freedom we experience possible.  Our cover and a story are dedicated to it.  Take a peek, this one is all funded by donations... Other items in this issue are the basketball wrap-ups for the Illinois State Redbird and Illinois Wesleyan Titans men and womens teams, the runs to state by the Central Catholic girls and the boys teams from Normal Community and Ridgeview.  It's Official is back and there...

It's been a very long and sad day for most everyone in Central Illinois today.  Waking up to the news that a small plane crashed a couple miles short of the airport in the dense fog and the suspense till the names of the 7 people killed in the crash was enough to wear one down very early.  Then hearing the names about lunch time, just seemed to take all the wind from the sail.  The dreary day just became gloom. I sit back of the baseline for most every Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball game.  I have been for 15 years.  Knowing that most don't really like a camera in their face, I normally just do my job while keeping my distance.  People see me, I see them, we probably even recognize each other away from the arena.  It was no different with Torrey and Aaron.  I don't remember even getting the chance to say hello to Torrey.  I probably did to Aaron as he would have moved around the arena more.  I don't really recall. With Torre...

Best Look Magazine's (a product of Alan Look Photography) latest publications are special issues that chronicle the Ridgeview Mustangs and the Normal Ironmen boys basketball teams play in Peoria at the IHSA State Finals.  The Mustangs qualified for their 1st ever appearance and the Ironmen for their third.  The Mustangs placed 3rd and the Ironmen placed 2nd.  Both had excellent records and a tremendous amount of fun this season!  Please take a look at our publications complete with front and back cover images, a short story and several high definition images.  Be sure to check out our advertisers.  They all really appreciate any business that comes their way.  I'm sure you will get personalized service from everyone of them. Click for Ridgeview Click for Normal Community Alan Look Photography

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.

Up by double digits or close in the first half, Illinois State men's basketball team gives up the lead in the second half to Indiana State Sycamores.  A late comeback falls short when the 'birds fail to answer a late 10 foot bucket by the Sycamores.  The Redbirds made it to the paint and were looking to get a game tying bucket to force overtime, but the ball was mishandled and lost as the shot was taking shape. See the Normalite Newspapers and Best Look Magazine for pictorial coverage by Alan Look Photography, the Best Look in Sports Action Photography in Bloomington Normal . 20141231 Indiana State at Illinois State basketball photos - Images by Alan Look - Chimper