You’ve probably heard a lot of noise from the Peoria Notre Dame girls basketball team this past winter. They were one of the top teams in the area all season long and won the Class 2A state championship, their first such in program history. Now, some of the Irish’s players are looking to take the success that turned into hardware on the court and bring it to the soccer pitch this spring.

Central Illinois has a great basketball tradition. While this is evident in looking at IHSA super-sectional and state finalists every single year, it’s even more apparent when looking at the next level.  Peoria and Bloomington-Normal area high schools have helped develop over 60 college basketball players, spread across the country at every level. Many of them earned All-Conference honors and played on winning teams far and wide.  Want to check up to see how some of your favo

The small town of Glasford has seen its beloved Illini Bluffs Tigers have plenty of success across many different sports recently.  From the softball team appearing in the last three state championships – and winning two of them – to sending multiple wrestlers to this year’s IHSA boys wrestling state championship, to the girls basketball squad finishing as the state runner-up, he close-knit community continues to show fervent support for all athletics throughout their consist

Few coaches have left the impact legacy that Danny Grieves has.  After 13 seasons, five regional titles, two trips to state and a memorable championship, under the Metamora basketball head coach, there will be a new man leading the Redbirds.  In early January, Grieves announced that the 2023-24 season would be his last coaching. His final game came on Friday in a 61-55 loss to Richwoods in the Class 3A Pontiac Sectional title game.

Peoria Notre Dame’s run of destiny ended as it deserved to. With a state championship. The No. 1 Irish defeated No. 3 Nashville 48-46 in...

It’s been a goal since the summer months, now it’s a reality.  Peoria Notre Dame girls basketball has reached state with one of the most talented groups that Central Illinois has seen. When the final buzzer sounded in their 55-39 win over Rock Island Alleman at the Class 2A Bureau Valley Super-Sectional on Monday, a wave of all sorts of emotions came over them.  “Finally,” Mya Wardle said about what her first thought was. “I've been waiting for this for four years but I'm sup

Gus Rugaard adopted an attacking mindset in Wednesday’s regional title game against Washington.  It resulted in a career-high 28 points for the senior and sent the Morton Potters to Friday’s regional title game against high-powered Richwoods.  “Your senior year, there's just a little bit of a different mindset and he's also our closer, our go-to guy and we told him to have attack mode tonight and he showed attack mode tonight,” Morton head coach Abe Zeller said.   Rugaard and

There goes a famous saying, “It’s not about how you start but how you finish.” That saying, made famous by author Jim George, rang true for Peoria High point guard Rico Jackson Tuesday night.

Dominant.    It’s a fitting word to describe Normal Community’s girls basketball team.   After Thursday night’s regional championship win over Pekin, the Lady Iron have reached the 30-win mark in back-to-back seasons. The team has proven itself to be a legitimate state contender in Class 4A and looks to keep the ball rolling behind a lockdown defense.

Princeville may be off the beaten path for many Peorians, but the trip to see the fun, fast-paced, and pulse-pounding Princes boys basketball team is worth it.  The school of just over 200 plays home to what may be the best-kept secret in Central Illinois, as the Princes are within reach of a school record, and much more. Owning a record of 25-5, Princeville is hoping that it’s unselfish and high-powered brand of basketball will lead it to its first regional title since 2009.

Every postseason, a handful of schools and players enjoy a magical postseason run while others see successful high school careers come to a close. No matter what happens this postseason for East Peoria boys basketball, they can look back and reflect on not the end, but rather the beginning of something special.

The white and green walls of “The Dungeon” – Richwoods High School’s gym – reverberated the loud sounds of anxiety, encouragement and elation on Feb. 10.  The gym is accustomed to seeing many historic Knights basketball teams stampede across it, but on Feb. 10, the hardwood slept under the cover of thick mats that hosted some of the best wrestlers in the state.  That Saturday at The Dungeon was for the girls.

It has already been a season to remember for Peoria Heights girls basketball but the Patriots aren't done yet. After years of few wins and being an afterthought in Class 1A, the Patriots made a significant jump to finish 16-16 last season. This year, they've made another massive leap by setting a Peoria Heights basketball record – boys or girls – for most wins in a season with a record of 24-6.

In postseason high school basketball, there are no do-overs.  However, a non-conference girls basketball showdown between Class 2A contenders Bloomington Central Catholic and Eureka on Feb. 8 gave each team one last chance this season to compete without their seasons on the line.

Sophomore year is an exciting time for high schoolers because many of them are learning to drive for the first time.  It’s especially exciting for the Dunlap basketball team and sophomore Mack Sutter, as he’s helping the Eagles merge back onto the Mid-Illini Conference highway after returning from injury and driving toward a bright future on the football field as well.

The Peoria Notre Dame girls basketball team has done a lot of winning this year. One thing the Irish had never done though was win a Big 12 Conference title outright. That all changed on Thursday night as the Irish beat Manual 87-45 to finish off a perfect 10-0 conference record and head into the playoffs at 27-4.

Records are meant to be broken, but that doesn’t mean they will be. It’s unlikely that anyone in the MLB will ever reach Cal Ripken Jr.'s 2,632 consecutive games played, or Jerry Rice’s 22,895 receiving yards in the NFL.  Other records are meant to be broken, but nobody knows when.

You couldn’t have scripted much of a more important game.  As the end of the girls basketball regular season loomed, the two best teams in the Mid-Illini clashed in the Potterdome for the de facto conference championship on Tuesday night.

Morton girls basketball didn’t need much extra motivation before the season, but they got some. “If you read the paper, you’re not seeing our kids mentioned, that’s fine,” Morton coach Bob Becker said in late November. “Hopefully some of our kids will play with a chip on their shoulder. The hype at the beginning doesn't really matter.”

When Peoria Christian traveled to Peoria Heights on Jan. 26, it was must-see basketball. In a game that came down to the wire, the host Patriots led the Chargers 58-57 with less than 10 seconds remaining. That’s when Peoria Christian’s Gavin Walder hit a right wing 3-pointer to give the Chargers the 60-58 lead, and ultimately the game.