Tatelines | State tournament has lost its luster | Sports

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The state’s high school basketball tournament came and went here earlier this month and, despite strong supportive efforts locally, it resembled more of a whisper than a roar.

A time used to exist when this event took Champaign-Urbana and downstate Illinois by storm. Some of us remember the charm of Huff Gym’s map of Illinois with the 16 lights blinking … until only one remained.

The state’s top players turned the IHSA event into a recruiting mecca for college coaches.

East St. Louis Lincoln captured four titles in the 1980s and Peoria became a favorite Illini hunting ground for talent with Manual beginning its four-year title run in Champaign and finishing it in the 1997, the second year of the move to the Civic Center in downtown Peoria.

Private interests

For all the enthusiasm that accompanied the return here from Peoria five years ago — it had lost support and grown stale after 24 years there — we now realize that, for all the wondrous tradition and history associated with Huff and the Assembly Hall, “she ain’t what she used to be.”

Ticket revenue has been dropping for years going on decades. The state’s great players, who attracted fans and a stream of college coaches, are leaving early for prep schools elsewhere.

And the four-class system, expanding from two in 2008, doesn’t help.

Whereas the 1A class (300 students or less) was implemented as an opportunity for small public schools, we find private schools dominating to a sometimes embarrassing level.

What’s gone wrong?

Chicago Hope Academy defeated Lanark Eastland 71-38 in the 1A final this year. In the other finals, Chicago Dyett defeated Belleville Althoff in 2A, DePaul College Prep defeated Brother Rice in 3A, and Benet Academy defeated Gurnee Warren in 4A.

Five of eight finalists were private, and five from Chicago or nearby. That’s not good for attendance. And…

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Publish date : 2025-03-31 14:48:00

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