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 America's Original March Madness rolls back into Peoria for the 24th straight year, as the COUNTRY Financial IHSA Class 1A and Class 2A Boys Basketball State Finals take center stage this weekend at the Peoria Civic Center’s Carver Arena. The state semifinals will unfold on Friday, March 8 with the third-place and state championship games to follow on Saturday, March 9.
The March Madness Experience, an interactive basketball-fueled family fun fest located in the Peoria Civic Center exhibit halls adjacent to the arena, opens on Thursday, March 7. The Country Financial Three-Point Showdown also continues Thursday at Carver Arena, as prelims will whittle competitors down to four shooters from each class. The final four shooters from Class 1A and Class 2A will shoot for their class titles between semifinal games on Friday, with the winners returning on Saturday, March 16 for a chance to be the all-class champion King of the Hill. In addition, the March Madness Experience will also play host to the IHSA’s 16th annual state wheelchair basketball tournament on Friday and Saturday.
Fans inside the March Madness Experience on Saturday, March 9 will also have a chance to meet and talk with renowned author Melissa Isaacson. Isaacson will be on hand to talk about her forthcoming book STATE: A Team, a Triumph, a Transformation, which chronicles the 1979 Niles West girls basketball teams' run to the IHSA State Title. Isaacson was a member of that championship team and went on to cover the Chicago Bulls title runs under Michael Jordan during her time at the Chicago Tribune and ESPN.
The games and three-point shooting will air live on NBC Sports Chicago, NBC Sports Chicago+ and IHSA TV Network affiliates (click for local listings). The games will also be carried live on the internet via NBC Sports Chicago and the NFHS Network at www.IHSA.tv, which will also stream the post-game press conferences. Country Financial is the presenting sponsor of the broadcasts.
Lee Hall and Camron Smith will bring viewers the 1A action, while Dave Bernhard and IBCA Hall of Famer Mark Lindo step in to call the 2A games. Piper Shaw and Kate Constable will handle the hosting and sideline duties.
No one covers the IHSA State Finals like the Peoria Journal Star. Check the Journal's Star state final preview, path to state, and so much more at the Peoria Journal Star website: http://www.pjstar.com/sports
CLASS 1A
CISSNA PARK TIMBERWOLVES (31-4)
vs.
CENTRAL A&M RAIDERS (32-3)
Cissna Park makes its first trip to the Final Four, while ending a 16-year state finals drought. The No. 5 Timberwolves come in on a six-game win streak including victories in their five postseason games by at least 22 points. It's also the first 30-win season under coach Kevin Long (457-270, 24 years). Look for senior centers and twins Christian Stadeli (17.1 ppg, 7.7 rpg) and Julian Stadeli (11.1 ppg, 6.4 rpg) along with sophomore guard Ian Rogers (9.5 ppg) to lead the way.
Third-ranked Moweaqua is another first-time Final Four participant, last making a super-sectional in 2007. Coach Rob Smith (159-128, 10 years) has guided the Raiders to a perfect 21-0 record in 2019. One of Central A & M losses was to Chicago Corliss, who is a first-time Class 2A Four Final finalist. Three Raider juniors average in double-figures - guard Connor Heaton (19.9 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 4.4 apg), forward Griffin Andricks (16.4 ppg, 8.3 rpg) and guard Jacob Paradee (14.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 4.8 apg).
PROVIDENCE-ST. MEL KNIGHTS (28-6)
vs.
TRIOPIA COOP TROJANS (33-3)
St. Mel is five years removed from a Class 2A third-place finish. The No. 1 Knights are averaging 82 points a game in the postseason. That extends their win streak against Illinois schools to 13. Coach Tim Ervin (219-155, 13 years) will help give St. Mel its fourth state trophy in program history. All five starters average at least 7.1 points a game led by senior guards Tyriel Nelson (15.1 ppg), Deion Jackson (14.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg) and Eric Jordan II (12.0 ppg).
Triopia makes it three first-time Final Four participants following a super-sectional win over 2018 state champion Okawville. Unranked Concord coops with Meredosia-Chambersburg and Virginia under coach Mike Lewis (126-100, eight years). Three of the Trojans' five postseason victories came by a combined six points. Senior forward Garrett Snow (15.2 ppg, 7.7 rpg), senior guard Shawn Bell (14.4 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 3.2 apg) and senior guard Zach Thompson (12.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg) are all double-figure scorers.
CLASS 2A
CORLISS TROJANS (20-8)
vs.
ORR SPARTANS (23-11)
Just two seasons after playing only eight games, Corliss makes its program's first-ever Final Four appearance. This comes on the heels of losing in last year's super-sectional to eventual runner-up Winnebago. The unranked Trojans lost their final regular season game - 78-61 to semifinal opponent Orr. Coach Harvey Jones (49-15, three years) will rely on senior guard Dhashon Dyson (19.3 ppg) and senior guard/forward Leondre Townsen (14.6 ppg).
Two-time reigning state champ and second-ranked Orr is making its fifth Final Four appearance in seven years. This is just the second time the Spartans have double-digit losses under coach Louis Adams (156-44, seven years). Three times this season Orr lost back-to-back games but played games against teams from six different states. Be on the lookout for senior combo guard Tujautae Williams (13.6 ppg, 7.4 rpg) and senior guard Greg Outlaw (13.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg).
NASHVILLE HORNETS (34-2)
vs.
GIBSON CITY-MELVIN-SIBLEY FALCONS (32-2)
Top-ranked Nashville is no stranger to the Final Four - making a runner-up finish in 2014. The Hornets haven't lost - a streak of 19 in a row - since back-to-back defeats on Dec. 29 and Jan. 4. Coach Wayne Harre (57-10, two years) is trying to become the first coach in IHSA history to win both a girls and boys state titles. Big contributors for the Hornets include a pair of guards in senior Bryson Bultman
(14.6 ppg, 6.4 rpg) and junior Carson Parker (14.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg).
This marks the first appearance in the Final Four for GCMS, becoming the sixth Heart of Illinois Conference team to do so. The No. 3 Falcons come to into their semifinal riding a 31-game win streak. No other GCMS team has had this many wins under coach Ryan Tompkins (253-238, 17 years). The trio of seniors in forward Ryland Holt (14.4 ppg, 9.5 rpg), guard/forward Bryce Barnes (14.1 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 3.9 apg) and guard Connor Birky (12.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg) will be big factors.
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TOURNAMENT HISTORY
112th year of State Series
24th year in Peoria
SITE
Carver Arena at the Peoria Civic Center
Directions
HOST
City of Peoria
Peoria CVB
SCHEDULE
Friday, March 8
Session 1
Class 1A Semifinals
11:00 AM - Cissna Park vs.
Central A&M
12:45 PM - Providence-St. Mel vs. Triopia Coop
Session 2
Class 2A Semifinals
5:30 PM - Corliss vs. Orr
7:15 PM - Nashville vs. GCMS
Saturday, March 9
Session 3
Class 1A Finals
Third-Place - 11:00 AM
Championship - 12:45 PM
Session 4
Class 2A Finals
Third-Place - 5:30 PM
Championship - 7:15 PM
TICKETS
Purchase online
$6.50 per session
$8.50 per session
$10.50 per session
(MME admission is $2 or free with game ticket)
WATCH
Television
NBC Sports Chicago
NBC Sports Chicago PLUS+
Internet
NBC Sports Chicago
NFHS Network: www.IHSA.tv
LISTEN
Stations carrying all games:
WNSV 104.7 FM (Nashville)
Internet Broadcast
WRHL 1060 AM (Rochelle)
Internet Broadcast
Stations carrying school-specific games:
WEAI 107.1 FM (Jacksonville)
Triopia games
Internet Broadcast
WEXG 98.3 FM (Farmer City)
GCMS games
Internet Broadcast
WGCY 106.3 FM (Gibson City)
GCMS games
Internet Broadcast
WGFA 94.1 FM (Watseka)
Cissna Park games
Internet Broadcast
WMKR 94.3 FM (Taylorville)
Central A&M games
Internet Broadcast
WPXN 104.9 FM (Paxton)
Cissna Park games
WSOY 1340 AM (Decatur)
Central A&M games
Internet Broadcast
WVIL 101.3 FM (Virginia)
Triopia games
Internet Broadcast
WXAN 103.9 FM (Ava)
Nashville games
Internet Broadcast
RESULTS & LIVE STATS
IHSA Boys Basketball Page
COUNTRY FINANCIAL 3-POINT SHOWDOWN
Thursday, March 7
5:00 PM - 1A/2A Prelims
Friday, March 8
12:35 PM - 1A Finals
7:00 PM - 2A Finals
MARCH MADNESS
EXPERIENCE
2019 MME Info
Thursday, March 7
5:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Friday, March 8
10:00 AM - 8:30 PM
Saturday, March 9
10:00 AM - 6:30 PM
WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL
Friday, March 8
10:15 AM - 2:45 PM
Saturday, March 9
10:15 AM - 12:15 PM
All games played in MME, awards follow final games,
Click here for game schedule
MME is located in the Peoria Civic Center Exhibit Halls
OFFICIAL STATE FINAL
Gear from Minerva
Photos from VIP
Balls from Wilson
Souvenir Program
SOCIAL MEDIA #IHSA
Twitter - @IHSAstate
Instagram - @IHSA_IL
Facebook.com/IHSA.IL
Classic IHSA YouTube Video
STATE SUPPORTERS
Country Financial
Wilson Sporting Goods
Biaggi's Ristorante Italiano
Busey
Gift of Hope
Northern Iowa University
Gatorade
MaxPreps
HISTORY & RECORDS
Road to State
Record Book & Past Champions
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