State Farm Center will continue to host boys basketball state tourney, format still under discussion

State Farm Center on the University of Illinois campus in Champaign-Urbana will play host to the IHSA boys basketball state tournament for the next five seasons. | Photo courtesy University of Illinois

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — The site won’t change. Will the format? Thursday, the Illinois High School Association Board of Directors announced a five-year contract extension to keep the boys basketball state tournament at State Farm Center on the University of Illinois campus in Champaign-Urbana. The contract runs through the 2028-29 season. The success of the tournament…

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Reason to celebrate: Eagles’ state title game effort is lauded, applauded by fans creating sea of red

Liberty's Logan Robbins hold the Class 1A second-place trophy after the Eagles lost 54-41 to Yorkville Christian on Saturday at State Farm Center in Champaign, Ill. Photo courtesy Clark Brooks/PhotoNews Media

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The arena entrance was breath-taking, and the postgame exit was humbling. Yet, the welcome the Liberty boys basketball team received in its own gym from a community that raced home from the University of Illinois’ State Farm Center following Saturday’s Class 1A state championship game made the experience complete. “I wasn’t expecting…

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Illinois state wrestling: Three area grapplers will have to fight way through wrestlebacks

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — To reach the podium at the Illinois High School Association state wrestling championships, three area grapplers are going to have to fight their way through the Class 1A wrestlebacks. Quincy Notre Dame senior Curtis Steinkamp, Illini West senior Lance Belshaw and Pittsfield senior Mason Davis each suffered an opening-round loss Thursday at…

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