Illinois (IHSA) girls high school basketball championships: updates, top players, how to watch (3/2/2024)
The IHSA Illinois girls basketball state championships are back at Illinois State's CEFCU Arena in Bloomington and four state champions will be crowned today.
ILLINOIS GIRLS BASKETBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
ILLINOIS CLASS 1A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
11 AM CT
Okawville (24-11) vs. Illini Bluffs (32-4)
Okawville, the reigning Class 1A champion, is back in the title game after beating Ste. Bede 44-30 in the semifinals and is seeking its fourth title in school history.
Alayna Kraus, a 5-foot-8 senior guard, leads the Rockets at 21.5 points per game. She had 25 points and 10 rebounds in the semifinal win against St. Bede.
Illinis Bluffs, which defeated Altamont 60-48 in the semifinals, is led by 5-10 senior forward Lily Luczkowiak. She had 27 points and 11 rebounds in the semifinal victory and averages 19.5 points per game.
The Tigers are seeking their first championship.
ILLINOIS CLASS 2A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
1 PM CT
Peoria Notre Dame (33-4) vs. Nashville (33-3)
Notre Dame defeated Regina Dominican 71-25 in the semifinals behind 18 points from Lexi Baer and 17 from Julia Mingus. Baer, a 6-1 sophomore guard, averages 11.9 points per game. Mingus, a 5-6 junior guard, averages 11.3.
The Irish, who are seeking their first state title, have four players averaging in double figures, led by Mya Wardle, a 5-7 senior guard who averages a team-high 13.5.
Nashville, seeking its second state title and first since 2013, defeated Robinson 52-36 in the semifinals. Makayla Gajewski, a 5-9 freshman forward, scored a game-high 16 points. Emma Behrmann, a 5-10 sophomore, had 15 points, seven rebounds and five assists.
Behrmann leads the Hornets averaging 13.4 points per game. Summer Brinkmann, a 5-11 freshman, averages 11.4.
ILLINOIS CLASS 3A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
5:30 PM CT
Lincoln (37-0) vs. Chatham Glenwood (28-7)
Undefeated Lincoln, seeking its first state title, is back in the 3A championship game after losing to Nazareth Academy in the title game a year ago.
The Railsplitters are now 73-1 since the start of last season.
Lincoln defeated Montini Catholic 58-41 in the semifinals behind 27 points, nine rebounds and five steals from senior guard Kloe Froebe.
A Colorado State signee, Froebe is averaging 28.6 points per game. Becca Heitzig, a 5-8 senior guard, is averaging 10.7 points per contest.
Chatham Glenwood, making its first appearance in the semifinals, defeated Hinsdale South 46-33 to advance to the title game. Rowann Law, a 5-7 junior guard, scored 10 points. Makenna Yeager, a 5-9 senior guard, had eight points, nine assists, six rebounds and three steals. Alexis Neumann, a 6-foot freshman, grabbed 10 rebounds and scored seven points.
ILLINOIS CLASS 4A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
7:30 PM CT
Nazareth Academy (32-3) vs. Loyola Academy (37-0)
Nazareth Academy is seeking its second state championship after winning the 3A title a year ago.
The Roadrunners defeated Waubonsie Valley 69-44 in the semifinals behind 22 points from Amalia Dray, 16 points and eight rebounds from Olivia Austin and 15 points and three blocked shots from Stella Sakalas.
Dray, a 5-9 senior guard who will play soccer at Boston College, averages a team-high 12.5 points per game. Austin, a 6-foot senior forward who is headed to Dartmouth, averages 11.7. Sakalas, a 6-1 sophomore, averages 11.4.
Loyola Academy is seeking its third state championship but first since 1998.
The Ramblers, who are led by 5-6 junior guard Aubrey Galvan (16.5 points per game) and 5-8 senior guard Paige Engels (14.3), defeated Fremd 43-40 in the semifinals.
Engels had 17 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and five steals – all game-highs – while Galvan added 13 points, including three 3-pointers.
Nazareth Academy won the 2023 Illinois Class 3A girls basketball championship
Photo by Nate Latsch, SBLive Sports
How to watch Illinois high school girls basketball championships
You can watch the action from the Illinois high school basketball games live on the NFHS Network:
SBLIVE ILLINOIS GIRLS BASKETBALL PAGE
ILLINOIS GIRLS BASKETBALL PLAYOFF BRACKETS
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- Nate Latsch | latsch@scorebooklive.com | @SBLiveIL
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