The Sentinel: 03/09/24

State Basketball |
Something to cheer about, Homewood-Flossmoor wins 4A state basketball title

CHAMPAIGN - Homewood-Flossmoor student fans cheer for their basketball team during the awards ceremony for their newly crowned state champion team. The Vikings won this year's Class 4A championship after defeating Normal Community 60-48 at the IHSA Boys' Basketball State Finals on Saturday. The victory is the first state title for the Southwest Suburban Conference school that has made eight previous state tournament appearances.

Sentinel/Clark Brooks

State Basketball |
Taking it home, DePaul wins second-consecutive state basketball title

CHAMPAIGNWith Rob Walls, Jaylan McElroy, and Rashaun Porter around him, DePaul Prep's PJ Chambers' carries the team's newest piece of state hardware to the locker room at State Farm Center on Saturday. The Rams beat Mt. Carmel 49-41 in the Class 3A championship game. Walls (left) finished with 10 points, Chambers and McElroy had eight each, and Porter contributed five points in the title win.

Sentinel/Clark Brooks

State Basketball |
Caravan state title dream stalled, Mt. Carmel falls 49-41

CHAMPAIGN - Mt. Carmel's Noah Mister looks for a shot in the paint after slashing his way past a DePaul College Prep player during fourth quarter action of their Class 3A championship basketball game. The Caravan (34-3) could not erase a first-quarter slump in the remaining three, losing 49-41 to the Rams at the IHSA Boys' Basketball State Finals on Saturday.

Sentinel/Clark Brooks

State Basketball |
Phillips wins 2A state basketball title

CHAMPAIGN - Wendell Phillips Academy's Derrick Brooks is hoisted up with the team's IHSA Class 2A championship trophy on Saturday at the State Farm Center. The Wildcats defeated the Benton Ranger 54-47 to win this year's state title.

Sentinel/Clark Brooks

State Basketball |
West-Central finishes 2nd at State

CHAMPAIGN - Meridian's Antonio Flenoid hides his anguish before the final buzzer in his team's Class 1A championship basketball game at State Farm Center. The Bobcats (26-9) fell 62-43 to the West-Central Cougars to earn the program's third runner-up trophy. Flenoid, a freshman finished the game with 13 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 steals.

Sentinel/Clark Brooks

More Sentinel Stories

Viewpoint |

Nearly half of older Americans can’t even afford basic needs

I worked hard my whole career and retired feeling secure. Then I lost every last dime in a scam. I was left with $1,300 a month in Social Security benefits to live on in an area where monthly expenses run about $3,700.

I’m a smart woman, but scams against older Americans are increasing in number and sophistication. Whether through scams, strained savings, or costs of living going up, half of older Americans — that’s 27 million households — can’t afford their basic needs.