The final weekend of the Illinois high school basketball season is upon us, as the Class 3A and Class 4A state final contests take center stage at Carver Arena inside the Peoria Civic Center. The state semifinals will unfold on Friday, March 15 with the third-place and state championship games to follow on Saturday, March 16.

The March Madness Experience, an interactive basketball-fueled family fun fest located in the Peoria Civic Center exhibit halls adjacent to the arena, reopens on Thursday, March 14 and closes on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. The Country Financial Three-Point Showdown also continues Thursday at Carver Arena, as prelims will whittle competitors down to four shooters from Class 3A and Class 4A. The final four shooters from each class will shoot for their class titles between semifinal games on Friday. On Saturday, the champions from all four classes will return for the chance at becoming the all-class champion King of the Hill, which will take place after the Class 3A Third-Place game.

The Class 3A field is chock-full of talent, as three of the top four teams in the Associated Press poll have made their way to Peoria for the state tournament. Top-ranked Morgan Park, who has held the No. 1 spot from pillar to post this season, is joined by fellow CPS squad and No. 2 Orr, who will meet No. 4 Cahokia at 2:00 p.m. on Friday. Limestone, who will face Morgan Park at noon in the first semifinal, is the fourth qualifier and knocked off third-ranked Washington in the Regional final to help pave its path to Peoria. Morgan Park features a dynamic backcourt, while Orr owns a win over Class 4A’s then top-ranked team Whitney Young earlier this season. Limestone will be making its first-ever state final appearance and sitting just seven miles from the arena, will have the hometown crowd behind it. Cahokia returns to the state tourney for the first time since 1985 after reaching at least the Sectional round the past three seasons.

The Class 4A field features a bevy of storylines, none greater than three-time defending champ Simeon trying to make history by matching Manual’s streak of four straight state titles (1994-1997) in the school’s own backyard. Simeon will first have to get by Proviso East in Friday’s 6:30 p.m. semifinal, which is a rematch of the 2012 title game. That contest, which was a No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown, saw Simeon prevail in a 50-48 thriller. The second semifinal features Stevenson and Edwardsville squaring off at 8:15 p.m. Edwardsville has been ranked sixth or better all season long, while the Patriots are led by three underclassmen, two of which have pro sport bloodlines from their fathers.


 

SITE
Carver Arena at the Peoria Civic Center (Peoria)
Directions


SCHEDULE
Friday, March 15
Session 1
Class 3A Semifinals
Noon - Morgan Park vs. Limestone

2:00 p.m. - Cahokia vs. Orr

Session 2
Class 4A Semifinals
6:30 p.m. - Simeon vs. Proviso East

8:15 p.m. - Stevenson vs. Edwardsville

Saturday, March 16
Session 3
Class 3A Finals
Third-Place - Noon
Championship - 2:00 p.m.

Session 4
Class 4A Finals
Third-Place - 6:30 p.m.
Championship - 8:15 p.m.


INTERACT
Follow @IHSAState on Twitter (tag your tweets with #IHSA)

Photos

Video

Chat


WATCH
Television
Games available on IHSA TV Network. Click here for carriers and channels or check local listings.

Internet
www.IHSA.tv


LISTEN
Stations carrying all games:
WEAI 107.1 FM (Jacksonville)
 
WFMB 104.5 FM (Springfield)
Online Broadcast

WJOL 1340 AM (Joliet)
Online Broadcast

WRHL 1060 AM (Rochelle)
Online Broadcast

SportsTownChicago.com (Chicagoland) - Internet only
Online Broadcast

Stations carrying school-specific  games:
WLRL 98.3 FM (Round Lake)
Stevenson games
Internet Broadcast


RESULTS & BOX SCORES
IHSA Boys Basketball Page


COUNTRY THREE POINT SHOWDOWN
Thursday, March 14
5:00 p.m. - 3A/4A Prelims

Friday, March 15
1:45 p.m. - 3A Finals
8:00 p.m. - 4A Finals

KING OF THE HILL
Saturday, March 16
1:45 p.m. - 1A, 2A, 3A & 4A champions compete


MARCH MADNESS
EXPERIENCE
Thursday, March 14
6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Friday, March 15
10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 16
10:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.


GAME TICKETS
$6.50 per session
$8.50 per session
$10.50 per session
(MME admission is $2 or free with game ticket)


HISTORY & RECORDS
Record Book & Past Champions