Illinois (IHSA) boys basketball state championships live updates: Day 1 scores, results, stories (3/7/2024)

Illinois boys basketball state championships updates

CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS – We are back at State Farm Center for the 2024 Illinois boys basketball championships. 

We will have updates from the three days of the IHSA boys basketball state finals that culminate with four state champions being crowned on Saturday. 

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How to watch Illinois high school basketball championships

You can watch the action from the Illinois high school basketball championships live on the NFHS Network: WATCH LIVE ON NFHS NETWORK

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ILLINOIS BOYS BASKETBALL FINALS SCHEDULE

Thursday, March 7

1A semifinal: Meridian (Mounds) 68, Hope Academy 60

1A semifinal: West Central 70, Aurora Christian 65 (two OTs)

2A semifinal: Phillips Academy 60, Williamsville 56

2A semifinal: Benton 50, Byron 42

1A third-place game: Hope Academy vs. Aurora Christian, 7 PM CT

2A third-place game: Williamsville vs. Byron, 8:30 PM CT

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Class 2A semifinals

Benton 50, Byron 42

Senior guard Isaac Billington scored a game-high 18 points and junior forward Docker Tedeschi added 14 points, 10 rebounds, six blocked shots and four assists as Benton (32-3) secured a spot in Saturday's Class 2A title game.

Senior guard Carson Buser led Byron (30-3) with 16 points, while senior guard Ryan Tucker added 10 points and senior forward Jack Hiveley grabbed 10 rebounds.

Benton tops Byron in Illinois Class 2A boys basketball semifinals

Phillips 60, Williamsville 56

Junior guard Phoenix Childs scored 21 points and junior guard Lawrence Horton had 13 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists as Chicago Phillips (24-9) earned its spot in the Class 2A championship game with a win over Williamsville on Thursday.

Claude Mpouma, a 6-foot-6 sophomore forward, added 12 points in the victory. 

Junior guard Brayden Saling led Williamsville (26-10) with 21 points on nine-of-20 shooting. Carson Kohler, a senior forward, had 15 points and a team-high eight rebounds, while Brecken Thomas, a senior guard, added 11 points.

ILLINOIS CLASS 2A BOYS BASKETBALL PLAYOFF BRACKET

Phillips holds off Williamsville to win Illinois Class 2A boys basketball semifinal

Class 1A semifinals

West Central 70, Aurora Christian 65 (two OTs)

West Central trailed for most of the game and by eight points midway through the fourth quarter but emerged with a double-overtime win in the Class 1A semifinals. 

Senior forward Chance Little led West Central (35-3) with 33 points, including hitting 15 of 20 free throw attempts. Senior guard Zack Evans scored 17 points and Mason Berry, also a senior guard, added 11 points and 10 rebounds. 

Sophomore guard Marshawn Cocroft led Aurora Christian (25-9) with 36 points on 15-of-27 shooting. He made four 3-pointers.

Jalen Carter scored 13 points in the loss, while Asa Johnson added 12.

West Central rallies to beat Aurora Christian in two overtimes in Illinois Class 1A boys basketball semifinal

Meridian 68, Hope Academy 60

Freshman center Antonio Flenoid Jr. had 24 points, 12 rebounds, three steals and two blocked shots to lead Meridian past Hope Academy in the first semifinal. 

Senior forward Jai'Deon Reed added 15 points and nine rebounds for Meridian (26-8), while senior forward Will Thurston added 11 points, six assists, six rebounds and three blocked shots. 

Sophomore point guard Tyjuan Hunter led Hope Academy (29-8) with 18 points, eight rebounds and five steals. Josh Dillon, a senior guard, scored 12 points. 

ILLINOIS CLASS 1A BOYS BASKETBALL PLAYOFF BRACKET

Meridian freshman Antonio Flenoid Jr. throws down a dunk in his team's Illinois Class 1A semifinal win over Hope Academy at State Farm Center on Thursday, March 7, 2024 / Photo by Nate Latsch, SBLive Sports

Vote: Which was Illinois Play of the Week in high school boys basketball? (3/6/2024)

ILLINOIS BOYS BASKETBALL SCOREBOARD

Vote: Who should be SBLive's Illinois High School Athlete of the Week (3/4/2024)?

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- Nate Latsch | latsch@scorebooklive.com | @SBLiveIL