IHSA Boys Basketball Finals to remain in Champaign thru 2029
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Even as a native Peorian and with my dad's fond memories of attending a few of the state tournaments there in the 1990s and Peoria probably "needing" it more than Champaign ... I must say this is just simply good for the state and our program. It should always be there.
Great news. Unfortunately the trend is away from top Illinois talent staying in Illinois.
MustangWally
- Mayfield
One of my best sports memories is attending the state tournament in the Assembly Hall in 1968. Still a single class tournament and the place was packed. Evanston won the championship. We played Evanston next season as our opening game. Lost a close one on their floor. I think their championship starting lineup all graduated, though.
I feel the same way. In HS, being bused to the Assembly Hall (yeah, that's what it was named then) as a junior with coaches trying to get adolescent dopes such as myself to understand what we were competing for ... it made a difference.
They won't change the 3 day schedule of games but they are reviewing the daily game and time schedules with a finalized schedule expected to be announced at the June board of directors meeting.
We, LaSalle Peru had Dekalb down 16 at half in 1968 quarterfinals. 4 starters fouled out. Got beat.
Maybe I’m old school but I wish they would get rid of the current system and go back to the A and AA tournament. Seemed like true State champions then and meant something.
Couldn't agree more, two of the best weekends in March then the NCAA. Really a special time, watch parties with friends, snacks, chili, beer, ball boards and basketball non-stop.
chiefini
- Rockford, Illinois
I was a freshman at York when my Dukes beat Harlem on a last second shot (where I almost fell off the top row at the end of the bleachers as we celebrated) to go Downstate in 1967. Chris Schweer (sp?) our 6’7” center (who died suddenly while at Vanderbilt) was our center. My first time in the Assembly Hall, I sat in the last row as I watched the Pekin Chinks (who went on to win the State Championship) blow us out. I had already made the trek on a school bus earlier that year in the fall for my first of four trips, with two 3rds, one 2nd, and a First place in 1968-to watch my Dukes race in the State Cross Country Championships. In 1966, we had eight student buses go, including a band bus. “Newton is the greatest” and “Follow the long green line.” Ahhhhh, some of the best memories of my life…
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bdutts
- Houston, Texas
Go Cavs!
I dare anyone who has followed IHSA athletics for the past 50 years, to argue in favor of the current 4 class setup for the boys/girls state basketball tournaments. It's honestly become so watered down that it's rather ridiculous.
I remember growing up in the 80s and 90s (and even paying close attention into the 2000s) and watching both Class A & AA tournaments with such wide-eyed excitement and interest. I bet if I tried hard I could rattle off the winners of almost every state tournament going back to the last 70s all the way up to the year the IHSA expanded to 4 classes.
After that, I couldn't name you but a couple of the 3A or 4A winners. Name you a small class 2A or 1A state winner? No way on earth I could think of any, simply because its just become too watered down.
Such a shame. I bet I enjoyed watching the Class A state tourney as much (if not MORE) as the Class AA back in the days. Now, it's just not that entertaining anymore. Glad the tourney has moved back to CU. That's a good start I suppose in revitalizing interest. Even shrinking it down to 3 classes would help some.
MustangWally
- Mayfield
ETHS Celebrates 50th Anniversary Of State Basketball Championship
The 1968 Wildkit team will be recognized during a halftime ceremony Saturday in Evanston.
patch.com
You won’t get any kind of rebuttal from me.
I agree wholeheartedly.
As far as today’s kids are concerned a state championship is a state championship. I mean, I get it. That is definitely still an accomplishment. But if you know ANYTHING about the history of the Original March Madness or can perform basic mathematics you realize it pales in comparison. There were a number of times coaching hoops or even track…I found myself biting my tongue about that…and not always successfully. Lol.
Every once in a while, the old simpleton fuddy-duddy knows what he or she is talking about.
I mean it’s not the kids fault. They just don’t know any better. Lol. But yes…you’re a 100 percent correct.
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Some of the most vivid memories of my life were attending the three state tournaments in Assembly Hall in 63-65. I was there for the first and will never forget the Anthony Smedley miracle. Having lost to Centralia in the sectional finals in a game I played very little, we could not imagine there could be a team that could beat the Orphans when all was on the line.
IIRC, there were 812 teams who entered the tournament in 1965. Being the state champ really was a dream for maybe 35000 or more Illinois high school basketball players...and it certainly was one of mine. All-State teams included 16-30 chosen by the Chicago Daily News, Tribune, Sun Times, and the Rockford Star....and it meant something special to each player honored.
Every seat at The Assembly Hall was filled and the fans for the 8 finalists were loud and rabid. Even for the final game, with only two left, everyone was pulling for someone. All the title games I witnessed were close and well played. It was an experience for which the IHSA should strive every year. And I could not agree more that the fading interest is due mostly to the effort to give every player a state title trophy. That is simply a view for the uneducated and those who never were good enough to win or even participate at a higher level. You cannot legislate excellence, and winning a state title against 812 other teams is unquestionable excellence. Two-class titles was watered down in my eyes, but it was still exciting . Unfortunately, a return to excellence is likely not to be.
IIRC, there were 812 teams who entered the tournament in 1965. Being the state champ really was a dream for maybe 35000 or more Illinois high school basketball players...and it certainly was one of mine. All-State teams included 16-30 chosen by the Chicago Daily News, Tribune, Sun Times, and the Rockford Star....and it meant something special to each player honored.
Every seat at The Assembly Hall was filled and the fans for the 8 finalists were loud and rabid. Even for the final game, with only two left, everyone was pulling for someone. All the title games I witnessed were close and well played. It was an experience for which the IHSA should strive every year. And I could not agree more that the fading interest is due mostly to the effort to give every player a state title trophy. That is simply a view for the uneducated and those who never were good enough to win or even participate at a higher level. You cannot legislate excellence, and winning a state title against 812 other teams is unquestionable excellence. Two-class titles was watered down in my eyes, but it was still exciting . Unfortunately, a return to excellence is likely not to be.
GrayGhost77
- Centennial, CO
Fellow Dukie here, but 25 years later. We were never really good at basketball when I was there, but XC was still the best. Won state all 4 years I was there, and my now brother-in-law was Top 15 at state his senior year (one year behind me). Those bus trips down to Peoria were amazing. Great memories.
IlliniSaluki
- IL metro east burbs of St. Louis
Everyone reminiscing on how great it was when it was just 2 classes sounds like my dad when I was growing up. When he would always reminisce on how great it was when it was just 1 class for the whole state. He'd always bring up the Cobden Appleknockers and how you couldn't get that anymore. lol You've all officially got into "get off my lawn" territory now. 
I have loved this IHSA Tournament since I could get my then-tiny arms around a great big round basketball. And my love this tournament has not ebbed one bit.
This remains the purest manifestation of sport that still exists on any level in our World of multi-millionaire players and billionaire sports franchise owners and Major Professional Leagues that have been politicized and fully monetized. The beauty of Sport twisted into just another way for many dollars to float out of our pockets and into the pockets of... Theirs.
There is no sport nor time of year that celebrates the Prairie State better than the IHSA tournament. And it needs to be played in the hallowed grounds of Our Illini Beloved where National dreams spark our imagination and energize our spirits.
You can have your Super Bowl... your ‘World’ (?) Series... your NBA Finals... your Stanley Cups... your World Futbol. Yes, They have a place in our entertainment Calendar. But for pure sport that celebrates talent and community and tradition and a Great State in the Middle of America... there’s only one Tournament and one place to celebrate that kind of blessed competition.
As a lifelong roundballer, my roundball season never ends. But for a few glorious weeks in February and March... we get a little special slice of Heaven on Earth.
Overstatement? Not if you love... real Basketball.
From Centralia and East St. Louis to Rock Island and Maywood to Quinn ‘As-In-Win’ Buckner’s Thornridge to Ayo’s Westinghouse and Morgan Park and next to all the young guys now still in Grade School... you have the privilege of being in the greatest sport and in the best place on the Earth to play it.
The purity of Sport in a World of compromise.
This remains the purest manifestation of sport that still exists on any level in our World of multi-millionaire players and billionaire sports franchise owners and Major Professional Leagues that have been politicized and fully monetized. The beauty of Sport twisted into just another way for many dollars to float out of our pockets and into the pockets of... Theirs.
There is no sport nor time of year that celebrates the Prairie State better than the IHSA tournament. And it needs to be played in the hallowed grounds of Our Illini Beloved where National dreams spark our imagination and energize our spirits.
You can have your Super Bowl... your ‘World’ (?) Series... your NBA Finals... your Stanley Cups... your World Futbol. Yes, They have a place in our entertainment Calendar. But for pure sport that celebrates talent and community and tradition and a Great State in the Middle of America... there’s only one Tournament and one place to celebrate that kind of blessed competition.
As a lifelong roundballer, my roundball season never ends. But for a few glorious weeks in February and March... we get a little special slice of Heaven on Earth.
Overstatement? Not if you love... real Basketball.
From Centralia and East St. Louis to Rock Island and Maywood to Quinn ‘As-In-Win’ Buckner’s Thornridge to Ayo’s Westinghouse and Morgan Park and next to all the young guys now still in Grade School... you have the privilege of being in the greatest sport and in the best place on the Earth to play it.
The purity of Sport in a World of compromise.
Prep schools and the ESPN machines “national tournament “ have hurt this event. A lot of the best talent isn’t there anymore. It’s too bad.
No, and honestly it's for the best. I've gone to every state tournament, except for one, since 1997. I couldn't tell you how many times over the years there were parents that would just let their kids run around in there while the parents were in Carver Arena watching the games. Having what amounted to unsupervised kids in an area like that was nothing short of foolish. I actually don't know where they would have something like that in Chambana nowadays.
MustangWally
- Mayfield
1968 AP Final Regular-Season Poll
No School W-L
1 Effingham (H.S.) 23-0
2 Lockport (Central) 23-1
3 Harvey (Thornton) 20-2
4 Collinsville 22-2
5 Galesburg (H.S.) 19-2
6 Evanston (Twp.) 21-1
7 Pekin 23-2
8 Danville (Schlarman) 25-0
9 Chicago (Carver) 24-1
10 Niles (Notre Dame) 23-1
11 Edwardsville (H.S.) 18-5
12 Park Ridge (Maine South) 19-1
13 Joliet (Catholic Academy) 21-2
14 LaSalle (L.-Peru) 20-4
15 Springfield (Lanphier) 18-6
16 Elmhurst (York) 19-3
Some great traditional Illinois basketball schools in this list.