CHAMPAIGN – The Fighting Illini women's basketball program is gearing up for a dynamic boost with the addition of Aaliyah Guyton, announced head coach Shauna Green. Guyton, a 5-foot-7-inch guard hailing from Peoria, Illinois, joins Illinois as a rising sophomore transfer from Iowa, marking a significant recruitment coup for the Big Ten squad.
Guyton, who played her prep ball at Peoria High School, brings a robust basketball pedigree to Champaign. Her career trajectory includes a notable stint with the Iowa Hawkeyes, where she made 29 appearances and averaged 4.7 points per game during her freshman campaign. Iowa, a formidable force in NCAA competition, secured a No. 6 seed in the tournament and advanced to the Round of 32 last season.
"I chose Illinois because of the strong sense of community, the incredible growth opportunities, and the chance to be part of something meaningful alongside an amazing team and staff," said Guyton, expressing her enthusiasm for the upcoming season. "I'm truly grateful to Coach Green for recruiting me again; it really speaks to the belief she has in me. I'm excited to get started and be a part of the FamILLy!"
Recognized as the No. 57 prospect nationwide by ESPN HoopGurlz and the top player in Illinois by PrepGirlsHoops.com in the Class of 2024, Guyton's accolades extend beyond her collegiate debut. As a high school standout, she earned consensus all-state honors, averaging 21.6 points per game during her junior season before an injury-shortened senior year.
Coach Green expressed her excitement about Guyton's addition, highlighting her versatility and leadership potential. "I am absolutely thrilled to have Aaliyah join our family," said Green. "She brings Big Ten experience and the ability to lead our team at the point guard position. Aaliyah's scoring ability and elite defensive skills will be invaluable to our system. I cannot wait to get Aaliyah to campus!"
With Guyton set to don the orange and blue for the 2025-26 season, Illinois fans can look forward to her having a positive impact on and off the court. With the next season months away, the Fighting Illini look poised to capitalize on Guyton's talents as they pursue new heights in Big Ten competition.
URBANA - The Illini Prairie Conference presented its boys' basketball all-conference team this week. Teams members are selected by coaches from each of the member teams. St. Joseph-Ogden center Tanner Siems and Coleton Langendorf from the conference champion Unity Rockets received votes to earn First-Team status.
See the complete list below of this year's all-conference players.
Illini Prairie Conference Final Standings
1. Tolono Unity 8-1 / Overall: 23-9
2. Bloomington Central Catholic 8-1 / Overall: 22-12
3. St. Joseph-Ogden 7-2 / Overall: 21-9
4. Monticello 5-4 / Overall: 18-14
5. Pontiac 5-4 / Overall: 11-18
6. Illinois Valley Central 4-5 / Overall: 13-19
7. Rantoul 4-5 / Overall: 13-19
8. Paxton-Buckley-Loda 3-6 / Overall: 14-15
9. Prairie Central 1-8 / Overall: 8-24
10. St. Thomas More 0-9 / Overall: 11-20
First Team
Kayshaun Manney, Central Catholic, So
Ike Young, Monticello, Sr
DJ Davis, Rantoul, Sr
Tanner Siems, St. Joseph Ogden, Sr
Coleton Langendorf, Unity, Jr
Tyler Cole, PBL, Jr
Second Team
Trey Eller, Central Catholic, Sr
Coy Taylor, St. Joseph Ogden, Sr
Brady Ward, IVC, Jr
Cayden Masching, Pontiac, Jr
Dane Eisenmenger, Unity, Jr
Brayden Henry, Unity, Jr
Honorable Mention
Will Vogel, Central Catholic, Sr
Cole Yates, IVC, Sr
Simon Zimmerman, Prairie Central, Sr
Jayden Rice, Rantoul, Sr
Parker Fitch, St. Joseph Ogden, Jr
Owen Yeager, St. Thomas More, Jr
Johnson, Pontiac, Sr
A-Town's Talia Norman holds up the team's third-place state trophy after defeating Loyola Academy, 54-44. The Alton Redbirds celebrated taking home the program's first state trophy last week. NORMAL - The Alton girls' basketball team etched its name in school history by defeating defending champions Loyola Academy 54-44 in the Class 4A third-place game at the IHSA Girls Basketball State Finals. Led by seniors Kiyoko Proctor, Jarius Powers, and Talia Norman, the Redbirds secured their first state trophy on Saturday, March 8, on the ISU Redbirds' home court.
"We've been chasing this moment for a long time," said Alton head coach Deserea Howard, surrounded by her team during the postgame conference. "Our biggest battle initially was just getting in the gym. This morning, we decided we would end on a win, and that's exactly what we did."
Howard emphasized that this season's team had prepared by adapting to various styles of play, stating, "You never know what to expect in a state championship (game)."
Since 2019, Alton's girls' basketball program has transformed from a four-win season to consistently achieving 30-plus wins the past three season under Howard. Despite being located in southern Illinois among a handful of Class 4A schools, Howard has molded the Redbirds into a formidable force.
Alton vs Loyola Photo Gallery
Reflecting on their journey, Howard noted the team's determination to finish on a high note after a hard-fought 61-65 loss to Kenwood in the semifinals.
"Yesterday, we discussed the pace and physicality of the game, which is our style. We knew it would be tough, but today we came out and played Alton basketball," Howard said.
Loyola struggled from the start against Alton's speed and size, managing just four points in the first quarter while shooting a dismal 14% from the field. Despite a fourth-quarter resurgence led by Emily Naraky, whose scoring sparked a shooting percentage increase to 63%, it wasn't enough to overturn Alton's strategic lead.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Loyola's Ellie Thompson pleads with an official to reverse a call during second half action against Alton in the Class 3A third-place game.
The moment was not lost on Howard and team members.
"It means a lot because I know how hard we've worked all these years," said Powers, who led the game with 16 points, eight rebounds, and two steals. "We definitely deserve this. I'm proud of how we executed."
Joining Powers in double figures were Proctor with 11 points, and Ja'Kayla Steen and Norman each contributing 10 points. Alton wrapped up the season with an impressive 34-3 record. For Loyola (34-4), seniors Aubrey Galvan and junior Marycait Mackie both scored 11 points, with Naraky adding 10 in their final game of the season.
SJO's Addison Brooks earned a spot on the IPC Second Team her junior year.URBANA - The Illini Prairie Conference presented its girls' basketball all-conference team this week. Teams members are selected by coaches from each of the ten teams. This year's IPC First Team is comprised of two outstanding freshman players. Two players from Central Catholic and two from IVC were named to the top team this season.
Bloomington Central Catholic won the league title, finishing with a perfect 9-0 record.
See the complete list below of this year's all-conference players.
Illini Prairie Conference Final Standings
1. Bloomington Central Catholic 9-0 / Overall: 24-9
2. Illinois Valley Central 8-1 / Overall: 20-11
3. Pontiac 6-3 / Overall: 15-17
4. Monticello 6-3 / Overall: 20-11
5. St. Joseph-Ogden 5-4 / Overall: 12-17
6. Tolono Unity 5-4 / Overall: 14-17
7. Prairie Central 3-6 / Overall: 12-21
8. Paxton-Buckley-Loda 2-7 / Overall: 4-27
9. Rantoul 1-8 / Overall: 4-26
10. St. Thomas More 0-9 / Overall: 5-24
First Team
Karissa Cook, Central Catholic, 9
Emme Hurie, Central Catholic, 11
Anna Foster, IVC, 10
Alayah Nelton, IVC, 9
Megan Allen, Monticello, 12
Trinity Miller, Pontiac, 11
NORMAL - Last March, in a heartbreaking buzzer-beater, Emy Wardle of Peoria Notre Dame scored a layup with one second left to clinch the Class 2A title, 48-46.
The sting of defeat lingered throughout the season until Saturday night at CEFCU Arena, where The Hornettes exacted revenge in a state title rematch against Peoria Notre Dame. This time, Nashville left no doubt about the superior team, handing the Irish a decisive 55-29 loss.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Nashville's Avery Reeder, is all smiles while carrying the team's newest piece of state hardware. Saturday's trophy is the second one for Hornette program, who won their first state title in 2013.
Only two other teams held PND to fewer than 30 points all season: Alton, who secured a 41-27 victory in the state Class 4A third-place game on Friday, and Missouri's Incarnate Word Academy, who limited the Irish to their lowest output of the season at 26 points, scoring 69 themselves.
After a competitive first quarter, PND struggled over the next three, managing just 18 points total. Nashville surged with an impressive 18-point fourth quarter, sealing the championship and heading home with the hardware south of Interstate 70.
The victory was especially poignant for Nashville's lone senior, Avery Reeder.
"It means so much to me. It's everything I've ever wanted," Reeder said. "Honestly, I always wanted to end my last game with a win. On Thursday, I said I wanted to dominate them, and that's exactly what we did."
Emma Behrmann led Nashville's offense with 14 points, supported by the Brinkman twins, Summer and Samantha, who contributed 13 and 12 points, respectively. Summer also shone defensively with seven rebounds and five steals, while Samantha grabbed six boards and three steals.
Julia Mingus led Notre Dame with 11 points, while Lexi Baer and Cora Heinz added six points each.
Kenwood's Ariella Henigan and Icesis Thomas try to take the ball from Alton's Jarius Powers during second-half action of their Class 4A state semifinal game at CEFCU Arena. NORMAL - Kenwood High School punched its ticket to the Class 4A championship game, holding off Alton High School 61-55 in a physical semifinal battle Friday at CEFCU Arena in Normal during the IHSA Girls Basketball State Finals.
The Redbirds arrived in Normal with a nearly spotless record, dropping just two games all season—both to out-of-state opponents. They had dominated every Illinois team they faced until Friday's showdown with Kenwood on the home floor of their name-sake Illinois State University Redbirds.
Kenwood wasted no time seizing control. Henigan opened the scoring with a jumper to give the Broncos a 2-0 lead, and they never looked back. Despite an early push from Powers and Proctor, who combined for 14 first-quarter points, the Broncos held the lead for the entire contest.
Kenwood head coach Andre Lewis wasn't surprised Alton made it a fight.
"I knew they were coming back," he explained. "We had a run. They had a run. We had a run ... you just have to withstand it and in the most critical moments, execute."
Fueled by a suffocating full-court press, Kenwood jumped ahead by as many as 14 points in the first quarter and took a 35-30 advantage into halftime. But Alton refused to fade quietly.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Alton's Justice Haynes is tripped up while going for a loose ball with Kenwood's Icesis Thomas. Haynes finished the game with just two points, two assists and a steal. Thomas, who had five points, four steals and two rebounds, will play for Broncos' first state title Saturday evening.
The Redbirds clawed their way back with better rebounding before the break. Powers hauled in four boards and chipped in three points, while Norman scored four, including a crucial three-pointer from Madeleine Ducey. Twice in the third quarter, Alton trimmed the deficit to just one point but couldn't wrestle the lead away from the Broncos.
Senior Ariella Henigan led the way for the Broncos with 18 points, shooting 5-for-6 from the free-throw line. She stuffed the stat sheet, adding three rebounds, five steals, and four assists while logging 31 minutes on the floor. Junior Danielle Brooks chipped in 17 points, going a perfect 5-for-5 from the line, while senior London Walker-George also reached double figures with 12 points.
Alton senior Jarius Powers delivered a double-double with a game-high 19 points and 10 rebounds. Powers entered the semifinal as the Redbirds' second-leading scorer this season with 457 points, trailing only Talia Norman, who added 12 points, five rebounds, and the team's lone block. Kiyoko Proctor also scored 12 points, led the team with four assists, and was perfect from the line at 2-for-2.
Lewis summed up the game in simple terms.
"The game was nothing short of a dogfight," he said. "The action was physical, it was extremely competitive, and it was contentious on both ends. Both teams didn't want to lose."
Alton head coach Deserea Howard echoed that sentiment.
"It was a fast-paced game. A physical game," she said. "We were definitely expecting that. We battled. We battled hard. Obviously, you want to battle harder when you get to this moment."
Howard acknowledged her team's defensive identity but felt they strayed from their usual intensity.
"We didn't really focus hard enough on that," she recounted. "We dug ourselves into a deep hole, and the battle back was intense."
ABOVE: Kenwood's London Walker-George and Icesis Thomas help teammate Danielle Brooks up after a foul play in the first half. BELOW: Alton student fans (left to right) Scarlett Eades, Emily Phillips, Dillan Cowan and David Reese celebrate a three-point shot by the Redbirds in the second half.
Photos: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Despite trailing throughout the game, Howard believed her team had a shot to pull off the comeback, relying on the lessons they had learned during regular season play.
"The battle back made me feel like we had a chance. We had a shot," she said. "You know, when you get to this stage, you can't let yourself get down that far."
Alton will have little time to regroup, returning to action against Loyola Academy in the third-place game Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m. The Lady Ramblers fell to Fremd in a double-overtime heartbreaker, 80-74, setting the stage for what promises to be another intense battle.
Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Redbirds' Madeleine Ducey and Talia Norman cutoff Broncos' London Walker-Georgia from attacking the paint near the baseline during first-half action.
Lewis, meanwhile, tipped his cap to Alton's effort.
"The way they play, how they go about their business, and they didn't want to lose," he said, praising the Redbirds' tenacity, determination and the fact they had not lost to an Illinois team all season. "There were two teams that didn't want to lose."
Kenwood prepares to face Fremd on Saturday night for the 4A title. If the Broncos bring the same energy to Doug Collins Court, they might take home the program's first state basketball championship trophy.
PONTIAC - People everywhere are conquering their cabin fever and are enjoying the great outdoors after a long, bitter winter. But before you head out for that hike, health care experts remind you to take precautions to avoid tick bites. Read more . . .
CHICAGO - An Illinois law professor is weighing in on what she called a "very public and open test of due process" for immigrants being deported from the United States without court hearings. Read more . . .
CHAMPAIGN - In a show of solidarity against President Donald Trump's trade and immigration policies, which critics say are harming families and retirement savings, more than a thousand protesters gathered Saturday at West Park near downtown Champaign for the Hands-Off! Mobilization rally. Read more . . .
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