IHSA State Basketball |
York falls in third-place game to DePaul

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

CHAMPAIGN - While DePaul's Ben Cuervo looks on, York's Joseph Lubbe falls while trying to grab a looseball during their Class 4A third-place game on Friday at the IHSA Boys Basketball State Finals. Dukes fell behind on the scoreboard after the Rams took a nine-point lead in the second quarter. Unable to recover, York fell 56-46 to bring home a fourth-place state trophy. Lubbe finished the game with seven points while going 3-for-3 from the free throw line.

PHOTO GALLERY

York's Joseph Lubbe goes up for a shot while DePaul's AJ Chambers defends the basket. York's Jackson Rennick and DePaul Prep's Zion Lee react to a loose ball on the court at the IHSA state basketball tournament. York's Joseph Lubbe dribbles the ball to the basket at the State Farm Center in Champaign. DePaul's Rashaun Porter tried to block Dukes' Will O'Leary's shot in the second half of their state basketball game. With DePaul's Zion Lee defending, Jackson Rennick attacks the basket down the baseline. York's Hunter Stepanich tried to find a teammate to pass the ball while under the basket. York's Joseph Lubbe falls under the basket with the ball after tripping while going up for a shot. With teammate Jackson Rennick looking on, Nathan Poku goes up for a shot in the fourth quarter for York. Poku finished the game with seven points, two rebounds and four assists. Stopped near the top of the key, Dukes' Nathan Poku looks to pass the ball to a teammate. Dukes' Hunter Stepanich for an open teammate while playing the third place game at state. Costa Kampas gives a fist bump to the IHSA mascot after receiving his state basketball medal. The York Dukes celebrate with their fourth-place trophy at the state basketball tournament.

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TAGS: York Dukes finish 4th at state basketball tournament, Ryan Woo top scorer in DePaul state basketball game, DePaul beats York for third-place by 10, Hunter Stepanich leads York's rebounding with seven, IHSA state basketball coverage

Unity, St. Joseph-Ogden headline IPC All-Conference basketball selections

Area standouts from Unity, St. Joseph-Ogden, St. Thomas More, and Rantoul earn recognition on IPC all-conference basketball teams.

Unity's Brayden Henry takes a shot at state tournament.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Unity's Brayden Henry goes up for a shot during the Rockets' state third-place game on March 12. Henry was one of nine area players who earn all-conference recognition.

URBANA - The Illini Prairie Conference released its boys basketball All-Conference teams last week, recognizing nine area athletes for their performance during the 2025-26 season.

Unity, which finished third in Class 2A this winter, led all conference programs with five selections, all seniors. Brayden Henry and Coleton Langendorf earned First Team honors after anchoring the Rockets’ postseason run, while Dane Eisenmenger was named to the Second Team. Tyler Henry and Tre Hoggard also received recognition from league coaches, both landing on the Honorable Mention list.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

LEFT: Central Catholic's Keshaun Manney goes up for a rebound during the Saints' road game at St. Joseph-Ogden. He was is one of two BCC players who earned all-conference recognition this season. RIGHT: SJO's Parker Fitch goes up for a shot in the Spartans' home conference game. Fitch was the Spartans' only first-teamer this season.

St. Joseph-Ogden placed two players on the all-conference roster. Senior Parker Fitch secured a spot on the First Team, and junior Nolan Franzen was named to the Second Team following a strong campaign for the Spartans.

Rounding out the area honorees were St. Thomas More senior Owen Yeager and Rantoul junior Iysean Autman, who each received Honorable Mention recognition.

The annual selections reflect the vote of conference coaches and highlight the depth of talent across the Illini Prairie Conference this season.

2025-26 Illini Prairie All-Conference Basketball Team

1st Team

Keshaun Manney, Jr, Central Catholic
Grady Read, Sr, IVC
Amazin King, Jr, Pontiac
Parker Fitch, Sr, St. Joseph-Ogden
Coleton Langendorf, Sr, Unity
Brayden Henry, Sr, Unity

2nd Team

Crayton Schnierle, Jr, Central Catholic
Brady Ward, Sr, IVC
Tyler Cole, Sr, PBL
Cayden Masching, Sr, Pontiac
Nolan Franzen, Jr, St. Joseph-Ogden
Dane Eisenmenger, Sr, Unity

Honorable Mention

Nolan Buehnerkemper, Sr, Monticello
Matthias Rudolph, Jr, Monticello
Evan Wolf, Jr, Pontiac
Bryson Gadberry, Sr, Prairie Central
Easton Friedman, Sr, Prairie Central
Iysean Autman, Jr, Rantoul
Owen Yeager, Sr, St. Thomas More
Tre Hoggard, Sr, Unity
Tyler Henry, Sr, Unity

TAGS: Illini Prairie Conference all conference basketball 2026, Unity Rockets basketball all conference players, St Joseph Ogden basketball all conference selections, Illinois high school basketball conference honors IPC, area high school basketball players all conference Illinois

Manual 60 - QND 55 |
Determination and destiny fulfilled

All photos: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Top left: Manual's Joshua Humbles guards Quincy Notre Dame's Jace Allensworth as he attacks the basket during first half action in their Class 2A championship game on Saturday. Allensworth, a senior, led the Raiders with 21 points, four steals, and two blocks. Humbles, the Rams' second leading scorer, finished with 14 points, three steals and four boards. See more photos of Allensworth or Humbles.

Top middle: Rams' Reginald Postlewaite passes the ball during the second half.

Bottom left: QND's Robbie Reed and teammates celebrate a big play in the fourth quarter as the Raiders close the scoring gap late in the game. Reed scored seven points in his 28 minutes, providing his team with three of their 21 rebounds and two of nine steals in the 60-55 loss.

Right: Raiders' TJ Togarepi reaches around Manual's Postlewaite who takes the ball to basket for two points with less than five minutes left in the game. Postlewaite scored on the play extending the Ram's lead by seven, 46-39.

All photos: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

(Left to right) Reginald Postlewaite, Dyerekiss Shumate, Johnny Ray Sims-Rickmon, and Jaemel Shipp celebrate with fans before the Rams received their championship medals and the first IHSA state title trophy since 1997.

All photos: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Left: Raiders' Beau Eftink fires a shot in the first half. The senior finished the game with seven points and went 3-for-3 from the free throw line.

Top right: QND's Jace Allensworth tries to block a shot from Manual's Tahj Tolliver in the second half. Tolliver chipped in eight points and distributed eight assists in the Rams' title victory. Allensworth delivered 21 points before fouling out in the fourth quarter.

Middle: Jaemel Shipp and Ladon Carter celebrate their team's win. Carter, a junior, didn't see any playing time in the title game, while Shipp went 2-for-2 from the field and nabbed to two steals in his 20 minutes on Lou Henson Court. Want to see more photos from this game? Click here.

Bottom right: Sharing the moment, Manual student fans cheer for their team after the trophy presentation.

TAGS: Manual High School wins state basketball title, Rams are state champions, Manual defeats QND at state, QND falls to relentless offense from the Rams

Jaquan Brown leads Manual Rams to their first state title since 1997

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

CHAMPAIGN - Manual's Jaquan Brown poses for a selfie with his auntie Ebony White after the Rams' won their Class 2A championship basketball game against Quincy Notre Dame. Rams defeated the Raiders 60-55 behind Brown's game-high 23 points. The title win was the first for the storied program since 1997 under former Bradley University standout turned head coach Wayne McClain.

TAGS: Manual High School wins state basketball title, Rams are state champions, Manual defeats QND at state, QND falls to relentless offense from the Rams

State Basketball |
Manual wins Class 2A title

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

CHAMPAIGN - Manual's Reginald Postlewaite, Joshua Humbles, and Jaquan Brown celebrate their Class 2A state title game victory on Lou Henson Court at the State Farm Center. The trio scored 44 points combined in their 60-55 win over Quincy Notre Dame. The Rams, who finished fourth in last year's state tournament, finish the season with 23 wins and nine losses. Recap and more photos from this game coming soon.

Box Score

FINAL: Manual 60 - Quincy Notre Dame 55

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Manual	15	21	16	18	60
Quincy Notre Dame	15	8	6	26	55

TAGS: Manual High School wins state basketball title, Rams are state champions, Manual defeats QND at state, QND falls to relentless offense from the Rams

State Basketball |
York finishes fourth at state

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

CHAMPAIGN - York's Nathan Poku attempts to thrash his way to the rim between DePaul's Blake Choice and Pat Lovell during their class 4A third-place game late Friday evening at the IHSA Boys Basketball State Finals. Unable to sustain a strong run after the first quarter, the Dukes fell by ten, 56-46 to the Rams, taking fourth. Check back on Monday for a game recap and more photos.

Box Score

FINAL: DePaul 56 - York 46

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
DePaul	17	20	9	10	56
York	15	11	7	12	46

TAGS: DePaul basketball team beats York in third-place game, Nathan Poku drives to the basket, York finish 4th at state basketball, DePaul Rams take third in 4A basketball

State Basketball |
Unity wins state third-place game, 86-61

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

CHAMPAIGN - Unity's Brayden Henry strips the ball from Farragut's Delonte Cook as goes up for a first half shot during their Class 2A third-place game at the IHSA Boys Basketball State Finals. Cook finished the game with four points, eight rebounds and six steals on Lou Henson Court at the State Farm Center. Henry, who finished with 15 points, helped the Rockets win 86-61 to earn the best finish in program history. Game recap and more photos coming soon.

Box Score

FINAL: Unity 86 - Farragut 61

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Unity	9	25	24	28	86
Farragut	11	16	12	22	61

TAGS:

State Basketball |
QND knocks off Farragut Admirals

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

CHAMPAIGN - Farragut's Delonte Cook blocks a shot by Quincy Notre Dame's Gavin Doellman in their Class 2A state semifinal game. One of four blocks for the team, Cook and the Admirals fell victim to the Raiders' athleticism, losing 64-45. QND advanced to Saturday's Class 2A title game, while Farragut was back on Lou Henson Court playing for third against the Unity Rockets later Thursday evening.

Box Score

FINAL: Quincy Notre Dame 64 - Farragut 45

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Quincy Notre Dame	15	12	20	17	64
Farragut	10	15	9	11	45

TAGS: Quincy Notre Dame glides into 2A championship basketball game, Jace Allensworth leads QND with 16 points, Farragut Admirals fall in first state appeareance, QND poised to take the state title

State Basketball |
Last quarter surge pushes Rams past Rockets

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

CHAMPAIGN - Unity's Dane Eisenmenger drives to the basket, trying to get around Manual's Rico Booker. Eisenmenger finished with a team-high 14 points but it wasn't enough to help hold off the Rams in their Class 2A semifinal game on Thursday. The Rockets fell in a heartbreaker 62-47. More from this game coming soon.

Box Score

FINAL: Manual 62 - Unity 57

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Unity	15	13	16	13	57
Manual	14	12	14	22	62

TAGS: Unity basketball plays for championship spot, Peoria Manual defeats tough Unity program, best Class 2A teams play at state, Rockets fall to Manual at IHSA state basketball tournament

State Basketball |
Lawrenceville drops opener to Goreville at state

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

CHAMPAIGN - Lawrenceville's Zander Cessna charges forward to the paint during his team's state semifinal game against Goreville at the IHSA Boys Basketball State Finals on Thursday. The Indians fell 55-47 to the Black Cats, moving into the third-place game later Thursday evening. Cessna finished the opening game with nine points and two rebounds. More from this game coming soon.

Box Score

FINAL: Goreville 55 - Lawrenceville 47

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Lawrenceville	7	12	5	23	47
Goreville	15	9	12	19	55

TAGS: Lawrenceville Indians play at state, Goreville wins semifinal and advances to championship game, Zander Cessna gives all at state for Indians, Southern Illinois schools play for state title

Another season, another trophy, Rockets take third at state!

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

CHAMPAIGN - Members of the Unity Rockets basketball team hoist their third-place trophy after defeating Farragut in the consolation game 86-61. After losing their semifinal to Manual High School hours earlier, Unity, who was the Class 3A runner-up on football, exhausted the remainder of their tanks to add another boys state trophy to their collection. The Rockets finished the season with an impressive 34-3 record.

Unity survives supersectional thriller 77-70, Rockets set sights on state title

Unity defeated Bishop McNamara 77-70 Monday night at the Pontiac Supersectional to advance to the IHSA Class 2A state semifinals for the first time since 2002. The Rockets' victory sends them to face a storied opponent in Peoria Manual, a five-time state champion entering the semifinal on a nine-game winning streak.

Photo: Sandy Gorman for the Sentinel

Tyler Henry erupts after the Rockets secure their Class 2A berth for the 2026 IHSA Boys Basketball State Finals at the Pontiac Supersectional on Monday. The Unity basketball program is just two wins away from a state title.

PONTIAC- If you haven't heard the news, Unity is heading back to the state tournament for the first time in more than two decades after surviving a high-scoring supersectional battle Monday night.

The Rockets defeated Bishop McNamara 77-70 to win the Pontiac Supersectional and secure a berth in the IHSA Class 2A boys basketball semifinals at State Farm Center. Unity, now 33-2 on the season, will face Peoria Manual at 2:30 p.m. Thursday.

Unity trailed early in the contest and worked its way back into the game after falling behind 16-10 at the end of the first quarter. The Rockets trimmed the deficit and went into halftime down just one point at 31-30.

The momentum shifted after the break. Unity surged ahead in the third quarter, building a 55-47 lead with a balanced scoring effort from several seniors who were also part of the program’s Class 3A football state title appearance in November. Dane Eisenmenger and Colton Langendorf combined for 12 points during the stretch, while Mason O’Neill added five and Tre Hoggard chipped in four as the Rockets gained control.

Bishop McNamara tried to close the gap in the fourth quarter, outscoring Unity 23-22, but the Rockets’ nine-point advantage created in the third period proved enough to hold off the late push.

Photo: Lori Garrret for the Sentinel

Unity's Dane Eisenmenger and teammates celebrate near center court after knocking Bishop McNamara out of the postseason, extending the team's 24-game win streak.

Hoggard led all scorers with 22 points in one of his strongest performances of the season. The senior converted 6 of 8 free throws and went 5-for-6 at the line in the fourth quarter alone while scoring nine points in the final period. Hoggard entered the postseason averaging eight points per game but has elevated his production during the playoff run.

Tyler Henry added 16 points for the Rockets, including seven in the fourth quarter, while Eisenmenger finished with 14 to give Unity three players in double figures.

Bishop McNamara also placed three players in double-digit scoring. Coen Demark led the Fightin’ Irish with 20 points, while Karter Krutsinger added 18 and Richie Darr contributed 14.

The victory sends Unity to the state finals for the first time since 2002, when the Rockets finished fourth after losses to Herrin and Bureau Valley.

Standing in Unity’s way Thursday is Peoria Manual, a program with a deep history in Illinois high school basketball. The Rams, who enter the semifinal at 23-9, finished fourth in last year’s state tournament after falling to Dyett 54-50 in the semifinal and losing to Christ of the King 55-44 in the third-place game.

Manual owns five state championships and has collected 12 additional state trophies since its first appearance at the state tournament in 1913. Competing against larger enrollment schools during the regular season, the Rams are members of the Big Twelve Conference and with student enrollment of just over 650 students.

Manual enters Thursday’s semifinal on a nine-game winning streak. The Rams’ closest postseason game came in a 46-43 regional semifinal win over Tri-Valley. Each of their other eight victories during the streak has come by at least 16 points.

Unity will have a short trip to the state stage, traveling roughly eight miles from campus to State Farm Center in Champaign.

In the other Class 2A semifinal, Quincy Notre Dame will face Farragut. The losers of the two semifinal games will meet Friday at 8:45 p.m. for the third-place trophy, while the winners will advance to Saturday’s state championship game scheduled for noon.

Unity Rockets state basketball 2026 semifinals, IHSA Class 2A boys basketball State Farm Center, Tre Hoggard 22 points supersectional, Unity vs Peoria Manual state semifinals Thursday

IHSA State Basketball |
York falls in third-place game to DePaul

PHOTO GALLERY

Unity, St. Joseph-Ogden headline IPC All-Conference basketball selections