| 2026 Eighth Grade IESA Boys Basketball State Finals Tip-Off Saturday
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The Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA) is thrilled to announce the commencement of the 8th Grade Boys State Basketball Championships, set to take place this Saturday, February 7, at four different sites across the state. This marks the 96th consecutive year that IESA will crown state basketball champions, continuing the tradition of excellence in junior high athletics.
The tournaments will be held in four classifications: Class 1A, 2A, 3A, and 4A, with competition commencing on Saturday and concluding with championship games on Thursday, February 12. This year marks the 19th anniversary of the four-class system, enhancing competitive opportunities for teams statewide.
Tournament Locations:
Class 1A: Warrensburg-Lathem High School
Class 2A: Kankakee Bishop McNamara High School
Class 3A: Tolono (Unity) High School
Class 4A: Taylorville High School
All tournaments will follow the same schedule. Quarterfinal games will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, followed by semifinal matchups at 5:00 p.m. The third-place and championship games will take place on Thursday, with the third-place game at 6:00 p.m. and the championship game at 7:30 p.m.
For real-time updates on any changes to the tournament schedule due to weather, please visit the IESA website at www.iesa.org. Scores will be posted throughout the day to keep fans informed about which teams are advancing.
Tickets and Admission:
Digital tickets can be purchased for $8.00 per attendee per day through GoFan. Fans attending on Saturday will receive a wristband for entry, which is valid only at the designated site. For those unable to utilize the GoFan platform, cash tickets will be available on-site for $10.00. Admission is free for children younger than kindergarten age.
IESA boys basketball has a rich history, having started in 1930. The tournament structure has evolved significantly over the years, with the introduction of various classes to accommodate a wider range of participants.
For complete pairings for each state final, and to access the FanZone, please visit www.iesa.org and click on the Boys Basketball link at the top of the IESA home page.
Join us in celebrating the dedication and hard work of all participating athletes! We look forward to a thrilling tournament and encourage fans to come out and support their teams.
Here are the matchups for this weekend:
Class 1A @ Warrensburg-Latham HS
Saturday, February 7
Game 1 10:00 a.m. Mattoon St. John’s (18-0) vs Chicago St. John (20-0)
Game 2 11:30 a.m. St. Anne (18-5) vs Kewanee Visitation (17-2)
Game 3 1:00 p.m. Carrollton St. John (16-7) vs Lincoln West Lincoln-Broadwell (26-1)
Game 4 2:30 p.m. Peoria Limestone Walters (21-5) vs Hartsburg-Emden (16-7)
Game 5 5:00 p.m. Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2
Game 6 6:30 p.m. Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4
Thursday, February 12 Class 1A
Game 7 6:00 p.m. Loser Game 5 vs. Loser Game 6 (Third Place)
Game 8 7:30 p.m. Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6 (Championship)
**Returning from the 2025 8th Grade State Finals: St. Anne, Lincoln West Lincoln-Broadwell (Runner-Up).
Class 2A @ Kankakee Bishop McNamara High School
Saturday, February 7
Game 1 10:00 a.m. McNabb Putnam County (22-3) vs Carthage (22-5)
Game 2 11:30 a.m. East St. Louis Younge (18-5) vs Stewardson-Strasburg (26-0)
Game 3 1:00 p.m. Normal Metcalf (22-1) vs Decatur Robertson (21-0)
Game 4 2:30 p.m. Morton Grove MCC (12-0) vs Green Valley Midwest Central (22-4)
Game 5 5:00 p.m. Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2
Game 6 6:30 p.m. Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4
Thursday, February 12
Game 7 6:00 p.m. Loser Game 5 vs. Loser Game 6 (Third Place)
Game 8 7:30 p.m. Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6 (Championship)
**Returning from the 2025 8th Grade State Finals: Green Valley Midwest Central.
Coach Jeff Thompson from Green Valley Midwest Central shared his thoughts on his team's performance: "Every game is a blessing. We've faced challenges that pushed us to our limits, yet we fought back to secure victories. It's truly a team effort when we see the next player step up when others are struggling."
Class 3A @ Tolono (Unity) HS
Saturday, February 7
Game 1 10:00 a.m. Williamsville (24-2) vs Monticello (26-1)
Game 2 11:30 a.m. Eureka (24-2) vs Chillicothe (16-8)
Game 3 1:00 p.m. Bismarck-Henning (22-1) vs East St. Louis Lincoln (17-5)
Game 4 2:30 p.m. La Grange Highlands (21-1) vs Lansing Heritage (17-5)
Game 5 5:00 p.m. Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2
Game 6 6:30 p.m. Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4
Thursday, February 12
Game 7 6:00 p.m. Loser Game 5 vs. Loser Game 6 (Third Place)
Game 8 7:30 p.m. Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6 (Championship)
**Returning from the 2025 8th Grade State Finals: Williamsville, La Grange Highlands, East St. Louis Lincoln (Champion).
Class 4A @ Taylorville HS
Saturday, February 7
Game 1 10:00 a.m. Pekin Broadmoor (19-4) vs O’Fallon Carriel (25-1)
Game 2 11:30 a.m. Park Forest Michelle Obama (20-3) vs Matteson Colin Powell (27-0)
Game 3 1:00 p.m. Rockford Eisenhower (23-3) vs Quincy (18-5)
Game 4 2:30 p.m. Bolingbrook Brooks (20-2) vs Minooka (22-6)
Game 5 5:00 p.m. Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2
Game 6 6:30 p.m. Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4
Thursday, February 12
Game 7 6:00 p.m. Loser Game 5 vs. Loser Game 6 (Third Place)
Game 8 7:30 p.m. Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6 (Championship)
**Returning from the 2025 8th Grade State Finals: O’Fallon Carriel, Minooka (4th Place), Rockford Eisenhower (3rd Place), Quincy (Runner-Up), Park Forest Michelle Obama (Champion)
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