IESA Headlines

2023 Eighth Grade IESA Boys Basketball State Finals Tip-Off Saturday

For the 93rd consecutive year, the Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA) will crown state basketball champions when the 8th grade boys tip-off their tournaments at four different sites this Saturday, February 11. Competition in the Class 1A, 2A, 3A, and 4A State Final Tournaments begins Saturday and concludes Thursday, February 16. This is the 16th year of the four-class system.

Class 1A will be played at Central A&M Middle School in Assumption. The Class 2A is set to tip-off at Kankakee Bishop McNamara High School. Tolono (Unity) High School will play host in Class 3A and Class 4A will be at Taylorville High 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, February 16 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 due to weather 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.

Tickets may be purchased through GoFan. Digital ticket prices for each day will be $8.00 for adults and high school students and $4.00 for students (K-8) and senior citizens (62 and over). 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 8th grade state final site. Fans can access the IESA GoFan page at the following link: https://www.iesa.org/gofan/ For those fans unable to use GoFan, cash tickets will be available on-site for $10.00 for adults and high school students and $5.00 for students (K-8) and senior citizens (62 and over). Children younger than kindergarten are admitted free throughout the tournament.

IESA boys basketball began in 1930. From 1930 to 1972 there were two classes: Class A (heavyweight) and Class B (lightweight). The lightweight and heavyweight classes were initially based on a student’s age, weight, and height. A 7th grade only tournament (called Class C) was added in 1973. The lightweight and heavyweight classes continued until 1984 but from 1977-1984, the heavyweight class was divided into two classes based on school enrollment. Beginning in 1985, the lightweight, heavyweight, and Class C tournaments were all replaced with classes based on school size and grade level. From 1985-2006, the state series was classified as Class A and Class AA based on a school’s 7-8 enrollment as championships were conducted for both the 7th and 8th grade. Classification was changed once again as beginning in 2007, the seventh grade and eighth grade series were split into the present classes of 1A, 2A, 3A, and 4A all based on a school’s 7th and 8th grade enrollment.

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.

The 8-3A tournament will showcase the Marshall Junior High Pep Band under the direction of Heather Setzer. The Cubs auditioned for a performance opportunity and were selected to entertain the capacity crowds attending the tournament at Tolono Unity on Saturday.

Here is a look at the schedule for each of the 8th Grade State Final Tournaments:

For more information, please contact IESA Assistant Executive Director and Basketball Administrator, Chris Frasco, chris@iesa.org, 309-829-0114.