IESA Headlines

2015 Eighth Grade Boys Basketball State Finals Tip-Off Saturday

For the ninth time in Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA) boys' basketball history, four 8th grade champions will be crowned and it all begins this Saturday (Feb. 14) at four sites. Competition in the Class 1A, 2A, 3A and 4A State Final Tournaments begins Saturday and concludes Thursday (Feb. 19). This is the 86th year IESA has conducted a state basketball series.

Class 1A will be played at Bartonville (Limestone) High School while Class 2A is set to tip-off at Downs (Tri-Valley) High School. Tolono (Unity) High School will play host in Class 3A and Class 4A will be at Urbana Middle School.

The time schedule for all four tournaments will be the same. Quarterfinals will be played Saturday with the first of four games beginning at 10:00 a.m. at each site. The four quarterfinal winners will meet in semifinal games Saturday evening with the first of two games set to begin at 5:00 p.m. Third place and championship games will be played Thursday (Feb. 19) with the third place game set for 6:00 p.m. and the championship game scheduled for 7:30.

Any changes in the playing status of each of the four tournaments will be posted on the IESA Website at www.iesa.org as each tournament progresses. In addition, scores will be updated throughout the day indicating which teams will advance in the tournament.

The price of admission Saturday is $7.00 for high school students and adults and $3.00 for students (K-8) and sr. citizens (62+) and is good for all games Saturday. Children younger than kindergarten are admitted free. Fans attending the games Saturday will receive a wristband that is to be worn all day and will be used for entry into that respective state final site only throughout the day. It will not be honored at any other 7th grade state final site. The price of admission for the third place and championship game session Thursday will be $5.00 for high school students and adults and $2.00 for students (K-8) and sr. citizens.

IESA boys basketball began in 1930. From 1930 to 1972 there were two classes: Class A (heavyweight) and Class B (lightweight). Class C (7th grade) was added in 1973. From 1977-1984, the heavyweight class was divided into two classes based on enrollment. From 1985-2006, there were Class A and Class AA state series for both seventh grade and eighth grade. Beginning in 2007, the seventh grade and eighth grade series have four classes each.

Complete pairings for each state final, plus the FanZone, can be found at www.iesa.org. Click on the Boys Basketball link at the top of the IESA home page.

Here is a look at the most up-to-date schedule for each of the 8th Grade State Final Tournaments:

For more information, please contact IESA Associate Executive Director and Basketball Administrator Nicole Schaefbauer at nicole@iesa.org.