Christie Clinic Shootout returns in January: Unity, Monticello, SJO are back

The 2026 Christie Clinic Shootout tips off Jan. 10 at SJO, featuring six top varsity matchups and a full day of basketball excitement.

---

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Monticello's Ike Young tries to dribble past Seneca's Grant Siegal. The Sages return to the Christie Clinic Shootout without Young in January 2026.

---

by Clark Brooks

Sentinel Sports

ST. JOSEPH — The calendar may have just turned to a new year, but the competition is already heating up on the hardwood. Just ten days into 2026, the annual Christie Clinic Shootout at St. Joseph-Ogden High School will tip off, marking the unofficial midway point of the IHSA basketball season and for many programs, a perfect midyear measuring stick. The Shootout has grown into more than just a series of basketball games, it’s becoming a midseason tradition for teams gearing up for a deep postseason run.

The one-day showcase on Saturday, January 10, features six varsity matchups between some of central Illinois’ most competitive teams, beginning at noon in the main gym. A full JV slate will also take place in the practice gym starting at 10 a.m., giving fans a chance to settle in for a complete day of basketball.

St. Joseph-Ogden, Unity, and Monticello will once again represent the Illini Prairie Conference, and all three are looking to repeat the sweep they pulled off at last year’s event. The Spartans handled Warrensburg-Latham 59-49, Unity outpaced Fieldcrest 77-68, and Monticello edged Seneca 62-56 in a thriller.

---

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Collin Thomey snags a rebound for St. Joseph-Ogden in the 2025 Christie Clinic Shootout. SJO will play Tremont in the shootout finale on January 10.

---

Mt. Zion returns to the shootout after a narrow 65-60 loss to Moline in last year’s lineup, while Bismarck-Henning also comes back following a hard-fought 68-62 victory over Normal University earlier this season. Between these returning programs and the IPC contenders, fans can expect fast play, defensive grit, and more than a few highlight moments.

All JV and varsity games will feature eight-minute quarters, with roughly 12 minutes between contests for warmups.

Admission is $8 for adults and $5 for students with valid IDs. One ticket grants access to the entire day — a chance to see six competitive varsity games and an equally engaging lineup of JV contests.

2026 Christie Clinic Shootout Schedule

Varsity (SJO HS Main Gym)

12:00 PM: (SW Locker Room) Eureka vs. BHRA (NE Locker Room)
1:30 PM: (SE Locker Room) Metamora vs. Mahomet-Seymour (NW Locker Room)
3:00 PM: (SW Locker Room) Peoria vs. Mt. Zion (NE Locker Room)
4:30 PM: (SE Locker Room) El Paso-Gridley vs. Monticello (NW Locker Room)
6:00 PM: (SW Locker Room) Warrensburg-Latham vs. Unity (NE Locker Room)
7:30 PM: (SE Locker Room) Tremont vs. St. Joseph-Ogden (NW Locker Room)

Junior Varsity (SJO PRACTICE GYM)

10:00 AM: (SE Locker Room) Eureka vs. BHRA (NW Locker Room)
11:30 AM: (SW Locker Room) Metamora vs. Mahomet-Seymour (NE Locker Room)
1:00 PM: (B103) Peoria vs. Mt. Zion (B106)
2:30 PM: (B102) El Paso-Gridley vs. Monticello (B105)
4:00 PM: (B103) Warrensburg-Latham vs. Unity (B106)
5:30 PM: (B102) Tremont vs. St. Joseph-Ogden (B105)

---

More Christie Clinic headlines

Hot Shots: The Sentinel's best from the Christie Clinic Shootout
Five earn Player-of-the-Game recognition at Christie Clinic Shootout
Running down the Christie Clinic Shootout, our Sunday morning recap
Christie Clinic Shootout: A showcase of top downstate small school basketball teams

---

TAGS: Christie Clinic Shootout 2026, St. Joseph-Ogden basketball, Central Illinois high school sports, Illini Prairie Conference showcase, SJO athletics news