2024 State Farm Intercity Basketball Tournament Champions - Normal Community High School Ironmen

Earlier this week the last 2 games of the 2024 inaugural State Farm Intercity Basketball Tournament at the Shirk Center in Bloomington IL wrapped up it's activities. The CEO and president of State Farm, Jon Farney was on hand to receive a complimentary ball in thanks for the company sponsoring the tournament. Jon had played in the tournaments predecessor as a student athlete at Normal Community High School when the tournament had no sponsor and was simply known as the Intercity Basketball Tournament. Both iterations of this tournament pit the high schools of Bloomington Normal against each other. Those teams being Bloomington High School Purple Raiders, Bloomington Central Catholic Saints, Normal Community Ironmen, Normal Community West Wildcats and the University High Pioneers. The tournament is coed and the addition of the State Farm sponsorship enabled the playing of both brackets to be played at the Shirk Center in the same week with as many as 4 games a day in some cases.

The NCHS Ironmen dominated this years tournament in both the boys and girls brackets adding a pair of trophies to the Normal Community trophy cases.

A good selection of world class sports images of many of the games played at this years tournament are available from Alan Look Photography online at his website. Be sure to check out the videos!

  The Normal Community Lady Ironmen basketball team took home the hardware last night for the State Farm Intercity Basketball Tournaments girls bracket after defeating the Saints of Bloomington Central Catholic.  The Lady Iron defeated the Normal West Lady Wildcats, University High School Lady Pioneers and the Bloomington Lady Purple Raiders on previous days play leaving them in sole possession of 1st place.

In other action on the late part of the bracket November 29th, 2024 were the Central Catholic Saints challenging the Normal Community Ironmen on the boys bracket.  Earlier play pitted the University High Pioneers against the Normal Community West Wildcats on both the girls and boys brackets.  

Play continues on Saturday November 30th.

Be sure to heck out all the photos and videos from the Intercity games that Alan Look Photography covered.

 Be sure to check out the photos from the State Farm Intercity Basketball Tournament from Alan Look Photography!  Here's a sample from the Wednesday night games between UHigh Pioneers and Normal Ironmen.  

Pioneers and Raiders top their opponents in Intercity play by a combined 7 points.

Boys Intercity always has a couple good rivalry games.  For years, the Central Catholic Saints and the University High Pioneers have had a pretty good one.  This years seems no different, maybe even a little moreso since they are now in different conferences.  The whole game was a back and forth affair that had the Saints trailing most of the night.  They closed the gap in the 4th quarter and nearly won it in the last minutes with a foul to get the ball back strategy.  In the end, the Pioneers remained on top by 4.

BHS and NCHS have had a rivalry for years, even before Normal West came to exist.  The game last night was between the West Wildcats and the Bloomington Raiders.  They also have a rivalry, but with 2 of the best players in the state - one on each team - the game took on a tone of its own.  The Shirk Center was 3 rows deep of standing room only during the 4th quarter of the earlier game.  At the start of this affair the SRO had dwindled to just one row.  Lots of fans stayed to watch this game.  The game didn't disappoint.  There were at least 4 dunks, 2 intentional fouls and one good discussion between an official and a coach.  It was maybe the best high school basketball game we have seen in 5 years.  In the end, the Raiders took it by 3 points.

Girls Intercity 2nd night posts wins by West and Community!

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.

Chili Bowl lives up to it's name

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

Normal West Wildcats defeat Danville Vikings in NCWHS homecoming game

Was it just  good offense on both sides of the line or a weak defense?  Who knows and it really doesn't matter as the West Wildcat offense put enough points on the board to take the game in the second half.

Look for editorial and photographic coverage in the Normalite and Best Look Magazine.  Photos captured and supplied by the best look in Bloomington Normal Sports Photography - Alan Look Photography.




20140926 Homecoming - Danville at West - Images by Alan Look

 - Chimper -

Bloomington Normal Sports Photos

This is Alan Look Photography's 14/15th year at being the Best Look in Bloomington Normal Sports Photos.  Alan begin this career shooting for the Normalite in December of 1999. Over the past years he has licensed many sports images to clients locally, nationally, and internationally.  He's also captured many memories from some great local high school events.  Check out what he has to offer and check back each week to see more of the best in sports action photography in McLean County.  Look him up on FaceBook and find out how to get a discount on your next order of $15 or more.

Find all the latest high school sports action here!

 - Chimper -

Normal West opens 2014 season with a win over Belleville West

Friday night, August 29th, The Normal West Wildcats opened their 2014 season against a new opponent - the Belleville West Maroons.  After storming the football field through a tunnel of band members and cheerleaders (resulting in one media casualty from a local television station) the Wildcats began their attack on the Maroons.  One down, 8 more to go for the Wildcats!

Bloomington - Normal's best look in Sports Action Photography.  Check out Best Look Magazine each quarter for more images and stories.



20140829 Belleville West Maroons at Normal West Wildcats football photos - Images by Alan Look

 - Chimper -

Normal West Wildcats take fizz out of Maroons of Champaign

The opening night of High School Friday Night Football turned up some pretty nice games.  In Normal, the Wildcats started the season with a sophomore as starting Quarterback. Mitch Fairfield didn't disappoint   With the help of the Wildcat defense getting the ball for him on a number of turnover, they moved to a 28-7 lead at half time and only gave up one touchdown and extra point in the second half while scoring more themselves.

Congrats to the Wildcats on starting the season off with the W.

Alan Look Photography was on the sidelines covering the game for the Normalite and Best Look Magazine.  Check out his Wildcats v Maroons photo gallery, but also be sure to pick up a copy of the Normalite and the November issue of Best Look Magazine to see who gets featured and talked about.

 - Chimper

Cody White, BHS at West, and El Paso-Gridley takes 3rd in 2a IHSA Girls

Another busy weekend finally settling down.  Don't think we are quite caught up, but all the images are worked, sent to the publisher and posted online.

Friday night at High Schools are always fun and work filled.  Adding a local celebrity appearance and the work just about doubles.  It's all good, I really enjoy seeing the local youth that I've photographed and followed make it above and beyond the high school level.  Cody White is one of those.  He was a multiple sport athlete at Normal Community West High School.  As a football Wildcat, he wore #5.  After graduation, he played for the Redbirds at Illinois State and for his senior year, he place the offensive line that allowed the fewest sacks ever in ISU history.  I believe it was 5 or 6 for the whole year.  Last year, he began the football season with the Houston Texans in the NFL.  THe first 4 games of the season he was on their practice squad.  After being approached by another team, the Texans promoted him to the regular roster.

It was also Senior night at West, so you can find images of both Cody and the senior night basketball game against BHS by clicking here - BHS Raiders at Normal West Wildcats, Cody White Night photos.

Saturday was dedicated to the IHSA Girls Basketball 2A 3rd place game between Walther Lutheran Lady Broncos and El Paso-Gridley Titans.  The first half was nip and tuck, but the Titans pulled away in the 3rd quarter to finish over the Lady Broncos at the final buzzer.  It wasn't the most physical game I've witnessed but the more than usual contact made the game exciting.  This was the Lady Titans first time to the Illinois High School Association State Finals.  Images are here:  IHSA 2A 3rd place game Walther Lutheran Lady Broncos v El Paso-Gridley Lady Titans basketball photos.

Looking is always free, but please consider supporting your local photographers.  Also be sure to look in the Normalite Newspapers for coverage and Best Look Magazine.

Others with photos from the IHSA 3rd place game are:
Jmax Photo and John Power Photography

-chimper-

Boys Intercity Title taken by Uhigh

Two great games at Shirk last night for the Boys intercity.  One always fun rivalry - West v Community, with a twist this year.  Three Seibrings played.  Two brothers for NCHS and  their cousin for West.

Then, it was the title game between Uhigh and Bloomington.  Very up tempo.  Bloomington charged out to the lead, but University came back in the 4th quarter to claim the W and the award.

Look for the stories in the Normalite and Best Look Magazine.
Images as always Alan Look Photography

Wildcats take 2012 Chili Bowl, NCHS @ West

The night didn't disappoint.  Everything that makes a Chili Bowl exciting.  Stormy weather, The Wildcats and the Ironmen, lots of fans and an oblong ball that takes funny bounces.  Yes, they were all there tonight.  The Wildcats took the Ironmen at home and will get to place the Chili Bowl in their trophy case till next year.  I don't have a lot of stats or side notes.  I haven't a clue how many yards Edwards ran for the Iron or what happened to Jefferson just before the half.  I do know the Cats returned to the field after the break and Alex didn't show up till later on the back of the squad cart under a blanket - padless.  It did appear to be an injury to his leg.  I'm sure there will be more known tomorrow.

Chili Bowl pictures will be available at Alan Look Photography later this weekend.

John Power covered the Central Catholic slaying of Pontiac tonight.  His photos will be available in a few days as well.

Be sure to check out Best Look Magazine.  You'll want one of your own.....

West survives to fight again

Normal Community Ironmen and the Normal Community West Wildcats duel in IHSA Regional

Lots of tense moments, lots of tough decisions, lots of teamwork, lots of friends, lots of foes, lots of sadness, lots of joy. In overtime, the Wildcats hold on to a 2 point lead that had 2 opportunities to be a lose. Not a lot one can add to the action that happened inside the black lines or inside the Shirk Center. The stories will be told for at least a generation. you had to be there, or you need to read the story by Steve Robinson in the upcoming Normalite Newspaper.


20120302 NCWHS v NCHS Regional - Images by Alan Look