Nazareth Academy rolls past Belleville East 54-36 in state semifinal

The Roadrunners dominated the paint, outscoring the Lancers 38-20 in Friday's Class 4A semifinal at the IHSA Girls Basketball State Finals.

Stella Sakalas takes a shot for Nazareth Academy at state

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

NORMAL - Nazareth Academy's Stella Sakalas fires a shot during first-quarter action of the Roadrunners' semifinal game against Belleville East. Sakalas led all scorers with 30 points, five rebounds, and six steals to advance her team into Saturday's championship game against Loyola Academy.

BELOW: Sakalas tries to hold the ball after quick scramble to keep it away from Belleville East's Vanessa Stacy. Nazareth Academy took an early lead and maintained their momentum to beat Belleville East, 54-36. The Lancers would regroup quickly after the loss with the third-place game hours later to beat Rolling Meadows, 43-30.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

TAGS:

IHSA Class 4A state basketball results, Nazareth Academy basketball player Stella Salakas, Belleville East's Denaya Bartelheim and Vanessa Stacy foundation for success for Lancers, IHSA Class 4A girls basketball playoff coverage, girls' high school state basketball

Brayden Henry lifts Rockets past Teutopolis 59-58

Unity overcame early-season losses to Teutopolis, winning the sectional final 59-58 on a buzzer-beater. Unity moves one step from a state tournament berth, facing Kankakee McNamara on Monday.

Photo: Lori Garrret for the Sentinel

Brayden Henry holds up the net while celebrating with teamates and fans after the Rockets' epic victory over Teutopolis on Friday.

MONTICELLO - Unity had already seen Teutopolis twice this season, and both times the Wooden Shoes walked away with the win. Friday night in the Monticello Class 2A sectional championship, the Rockets finally got their revenge and it couldn't have come at a better time.

Brayden Henry drove to the basket and delivered a layup at the buzzer, lifting Unity to a dramatic 59-58 victory and sending the Rockets to the Pontiac Supersectional.

The win sends Unity (32-2) one step from the state tournament, marking the program’s deepest postseason run since 2002. The Rockets will face Kankakee McNamara on Monday in Pontiac with a trip to the IHSA state finals on the line.

Friday’s matchup carried the intensity of a rivalry built over the course of the season. Teutopolis had claimed the first two meetings, defeating Unity 56-50 in the season opener and edging the Rockets again 37-36 on Dec. 31. With a sectional title at stake in the third meeting, the Rockets delivered when it mattered most.

Unity started quickly, building a 16-11 lead in the opening quarter behind seven combined points from the Henry twins and four points from senior Tre Hoggard. Teutopolis rallied in the second quarter and carried a 25-23 lead into halftime.

The Rockets reclaimed the momentum in the third quarter and opened the fourth with a 41-36 advantage, setting the stage for a tense finish.

Teutopolis mounted a late charge behind Isaac McWhorter, who finished with a game-high 23 points. McWhorter sparked the Wooden Shoes in the fourth quarter with three 3-pointers and two field goals, while also converting both of his free-throw attempts. Gavin Addis added 13 points, including two field goals and a perfect 3-for-3 performance from the free-throw line in the final quarter. Layndyn Thoele contributed nine points, all in the first half.

Unity answered with balanced scoring. Henry led the Rockets with 20 points, scoring in every quarter before delivering the game-winning basket. Dane Eisenmenger and Tyler Henry each finished with 10 points, while Mason O’Neill added two free throws. Eisenmenger was perfect from the line at 3-for-3, and O’Neill went 2-for-2.

The victory extends Unity’s winning streak to 23 games and moves the Rockets within one win of the state tournament.

Kankakee McNamara (25-5) awaits Monday in the Pontiac Supersectional after defeating Yorkville Christian 69-56 in overtime at the Seneca Sectional. The Fightin’ Irish enter the matchup averaging 61 points per game while allowing opponents about 45 points per contest.

TAGS: Unity Rockets Teutopolis Class 2A sectional recap, Brayden Henry buzzer-beater Unity vs Teutopolis, Monticello Class 2A basketball sectional results, Unity Rockets supersectional 2026 preview, IHSA Class 2A boys basketball playoff coverage

Sweet success! Washington secure historic 3A state title over Glenwood

Photo: Alan Look Photography

Washington senior Avery Tibbs starts an attack at the basket. Tibbs finished her final high school contest with a game-high 24 points.

by Alan Look
Best Look Magazine

NORMAL - The journey to the top of Illinois high school basketball reached its pinnacle Saturday at CEFCU Arena as the Washington girls basketball team captured the program’s first state championship.

Facing a resilient Glenwood squad in the IHSA Class 3A final, Washington used a balanced offensive attack and a disciplined defensive performance to secure a 60-45 victory. The win marks a historic milestone for the Panthers, who improved on last season’s third-place finish to claim the title in Normal.

Washington established control early, finishing the first quarter with a 14-10 lead and extending the margin to 34-22 by halftime. The Panthers’ shooting was particularly sharp in the second quarter, when they hit 75% of their field-goal attempts.

Avery Tibbs anchored the Washington offense, delivering a game-high 24 points. Her performance was bolstered by double-digit contributions from Rebecca McDougall, who added 10 points, and a nine-point effort from Danielle Guedet. Washington’s efficiency from the floor — finishing at 56.4% for the game — proved too much for the Titans to overcome.

Photo: Alan Look Photography

Lady Panther Rebecca McDougall attempts a shot between Glenwood's Layne Matthew and Stella Lopp. McDougall led her team with five assists and four rebounds in addition to her ten-point finish.

Glenwood refused to go quietly, mounting a challenge in the third quarter. Led by Alexis Neumann, who finished with 16 points and six rebounds, and Ava Bobb, who added 13 points, the Titans cut the deficit to six points late in the period. Washington responded in the fourth quarter. Timely 3-pointers and a disciplined transition game allowed the Panthers to pull away, outscoring Glenwood 18-9 in the final eight minutes.

The statistics underscored Washington’s championship performance. The Panthers dominated the paint, outscoring Glenwood 30-24, and capitalized on turnovers for 16 points.

While the Titans controlled the boards with 28 rebounds to Washington’s 18, the Panthers’ ability to protect the ball and find open shooters in transition proved decisive. As the final buzzer sounded, the celebration began for a Washington team that has now cemented its place in Central Illinois high school basketball history.

Photo: Alan Look Photography

Danielle Guedet takes a shot in front of Glenwood's leading scorer Alexis Neumann. Nuemann, who had 16 points, also pulled down a team-high six boards.

Alan Look is a Central Illinois photographer with more than two and a half decades of experience documenting sports, agriculture, automotive subjects, editorial assignments, and commercial projects across the Midwest. His work blends high‑impact action photography with long‑form documentary coverage, creating a visual record of regional sports history, rural life, and the people and industries that define Central Illinois.

To view the complete visual story from the DeeMak-Rockford Christian game, visit the game gallery from Alan Look Photography.

Photo of the Day |
Taking her shot

Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

NORMAL - St. Viator's Kalin McCrea cuts into the lane for a shot between Washington's Kate McDougall and Danielle Guedet. McCrea, a starting guard who led the team with assists heading into the program's first state final appearance, finished the game with two points, 2 assists and solo rebound against the eventual state champions. The Lions lost the state final opener 55-34 on Friday at ISU's CEFCU Arena at the IHSA Girls Basketball State Finals.

TAGS: Sentinel Photo of the Day, IHSA wrestling, POTD, Sports, Girls state basketball finals, St. Viator Lions, Washington Panthers

Offensive firepower stalled, St. Viators advances to third-place game after loss

Lions' Ava Garcia hops into paint for a shot

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

NORMAL - St. Viator's Ava Garcia drive to the basket between two Washington players in their Class 3A semifinal game on Friday at the IHSA Girls Basketball State Finals. The Lions dropped their tournament opener 55-34 to the Panthers in the program's first appearance at state. Garcia led her team, scoring 14 points and snagging nine rebounds in the loss. BELOW: Washington's Mazzy O'Brien attacks the paint. The senior finished with nine rebounds and two steals with her seven-point contribution in the semifinal win.

Mazzy O'Brien dribbles the ball to the paint at state

Titans defeat Trinity, set up state finals matchup with Washington

Glenwood defeated Trinity 46-35 Friday in the IHSA Class 3A girls basketball semifinal at CEFCU Arena. Alexis Neumann led the Titans with 20 points and 11 rebounds.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Ava Bobb makes a pass after diving for a loose ball in Glenwood's semifinal game against Trinity. Bobb, who finished the game with two points, a rebound, and three assists, contributed to the Titans' defensive pressure that held the Blazers to just 11 points in the first half.

NORMAL - A fast start and steady interior play carried the Glenwood Titans into the IHSA Class 3A state championship game Friday afternoon.

Glenwood built a commanding early lead and never looked back, defeating the Trinity Blazers 46-35 in the Class 3A semifinal at CEFCU Arena on the campus of Illinois State University. The Titans will face the Washington Panthers in Saturday’s championship game.

The Titans seized control early, outscoring Trinity 28-11 in the first half and setting the tone for the remainder of the contest. Junior Alexis Neumann led all scorers with 20 points and added 11 rebounds in a dominant performance. Neumann was flawless in the opening half, hitting all seven of her field-goal attempts, and finished the afternoon 10-for-13 from the floor. She also contributed five steals to help fuel Glenwood’s defensive effort.

Jemma Lamb added 16 points for the Titans, knocking down the team’s lone 3-pointer and converting 7 of 9 attempts from the free-throw line. Five additional Glenwood players chipped in points, while Stella Lopp provided work on the glass with six rebounds.

Glenwood led from the start after Neumann scored the game’s first basket just 25 seconds into the contest. The Titans’ advantage continued to grow throughout the game, reaching its peak at 23 points in the fourth quarter following a Neumann layup midway through the period.

Trinity struggled to find its offensive rhythm early, shooting just 22% from the field in the first half. Keyera Gamble paced the Blazers with 10 points and nine rebounds while also recording three blocks. Zaria Goins added eight points and two steals, and Destiny Sacluti finished with six points.

The Blazers, now 25-10, move into the third-place game where they will face St. Viator Lions, which fell to Washington 55-34 in the other semifinal.

Two years ago, Glenwood finished second after falling 60-44 to the Lincoln Railsplitters. With Friday's victory, Glenwood advances to Saturday’s Class 3A championship game today with a chance to complete its state tournament run with the program's first state title.

Photo Gallery

FINAL: Glenwood 46 - Trinity 35

TAG: Glenwood Trinity Class 3A semifinal recap, IHSA Class 3A girls basketball state tournament Glenwood win, Alexis Neumann Glenwood state semifinal performance, Glenwood Titans girls basketball state finals matchup Washington, CEFCU Arena Class 3A state semifinal game recap

Boys' sectional championship basketball scores from March 6

The Unity Rockets defeat Teutopolis, advancing to the Pontiac supersectional on Monday. Here are the results from Friday's high school sectional championships from around the state.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Unity's Brayden Henry blocks a pass attempt by Warrensburg-Latham's Alex Hardin during the Christie Clinic Shootout game in January. Henry saved the day in the Rockets' sectional title game, taking the ball down the court for a successful layup as time expired for a 59-58 win over Teutopolis and the sectional title at Monticello earlier this evening.

Local team results

Tolono Unity 59, Teutopolis 58

1A Scores from around the state

Indian Creek 46, Ottawa Marquette 44
Goreville 47, Waltonville 44
LeRoy 62, Decatur Unity 58
Lawrenceville 59, Altamont 45
Chicago Marshall 55, Fenger 48
Tremont 47, Deer Creek-Mackinaw 45
Routt 49, Brown County 45
Eastland 48, Pecatonica 41

2A Scores from around the state

Crane Medical 57, Hope Academy 55
Farragut 64, IIT Math & Science 53
Manual 57, Warsaw 41
Johnsburg 68, Rockford Lutheran 50
Tolono Unity 59, Teutopolis 58
Benton 58, Carterville 43
Quincy Notre Dame 72, Rochester 64
McNamara 69, Yorkville Christian 56

3A Scores from around the state

Hyde Park 43, De La Salle 40
Leo 72, Hillcrest 64
St Francis 69, Wheaton Academy 62
Deerfield 46, Lake Forest 35
MacArthur 66, Normal University 42
Morton 61, Kankakee 48
East St Louis 69, Centralia 51
Kaneland 51, Crystal Lake South 41

4A Scores from around the state

York 37, Glenbard East 36
Benet 51, Bolingbrook 44
St Ignatius 71, Curie 65
Marist 76, Homewood-Flossmoor 64
Hersey 73, Fremd 66
Richwoods 59, Edwardsville 58
Rockford Auburn 74, Guilford 68
DePaul 55, Evanston 42

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Nazareth Academy rolls past Belleville East 54-36 in state semifinal

Brayden Henry lifts Rockets past Teutopolis 59-58

Sweet success! Washington secure historic 3A state title over Glenwood

Photo of the Day |
Taking her shot

Offensive firepower stalled, St. Viators advances to third-place game after loss