Illinois (IHSA) boys basketball state championships live updates: Day 3 updates, results, stories (3/9/2024)

The IHSA will crown four Illinois state champions on Saturday

CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS – We are back at State Farm Center for the final day of the 2024 Illinois boys basketball seasons – championship Saturday for all four classes.

We have had updates from all three days of the IHSA boys basketball state finals and today four state champions will be crowned.

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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

Saturday, March 9

1A championship: West Central 62, Mounds Meridian 43

2A championship: Phillips Academy 54, Benton 47

3A championship: DePaul Prep 49, Mount Carmel 41

4A championship: Homewood-Flossmoor 60, Normal Community 48

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ILLINOIS CLASS 1A BOYS BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

West Central 62, Mounds Meridian 43

Zack Evans had 27 points, 13 rebounds and four assists to lead West Central to the Illinois Class 1A championship

The Cougars (35-3) got 19 points and eight rebounds from Chance Little and 13 points from Mason Berry.

Antonio Flenoid Jr. led Meridian (26-9) with 13 points.

West Central controlled the first half with Evans (12 points, nine rebounds), Berry (10 points) and Little (nine points) leading the way. 

Meridian had a tough shooting performance in the first half, making just seven of 26 field goal attempts (26.9 percent) and just two of 12 3-point tries (16.7). 

West Central and Mounds Meridian were both seeking their first state championships in program history. 

West Central finished second in 1A in 2011. Meridian finished second in Class A in 1972 and second in 1A in 2015.

Zack Evans leads West Central past Mounds Meridian to win Illinois Class 1A boys basketball title

ILLINOIS CLASS 2A BOYS BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

Phillips Academy 54, Benton 47 

Phillips Academy took control of a back-and-forth game in the fourth quarter to win the second state championship in school history and first since 1975.

Junior guards EJ Horton (13 points, seven rebounds, four assists, three steals), Phoenix Childs (13 points, seven rebounds) and Amari Edwards (12 points) accounted for 38 points for Phillips Academy (25-9), which won the. 

Benton (32-4), which was seeking its first state championship after two third-place finishes (1933, 1992), got 19 points from Isaac Billington and 11 from Evan Munoz.

ILLINOIS CLASS 3A BOYS BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

DePaul Prep 49, Mount Carmel 41 

DePaul Prep got off to a hot start, scoring the first nine points of the game, and Makai Kvamme scored eight of his team's first 15 points. 

The Rams led 15-7 after one quarter and then 24-12 at halftime with Kvamme and Rob Walls scoring eight points apiece in the first two quarters. 

Northwestern signee Angelo Ciaravino led Mount Carmel with eight points in the first half and scored seven in the third quarter to keep the Caravan close. With 15 points and two assists, Ciaravino contributed to 19 of his team's 23 points through three quarters.

Ciaravino knocked down his fourth 3-pointer of the night early in the fourth to cut the deficit to five, 31-26. He knocked down his fifth 3-pointer a few minutes later. 

Noah Mister's 3-pointer with 1:46 remaining cut DePaul Prep's lead to 37-34, but the Caravan wouldn't be able to get any closer than three points. 

Kvamme led DePaul Prep with 18 points. Ciaravino finished with 24 points and six 3-pointers. 

DePaul College Prep (35-2) was seeking its second consecutive championship after winning the 2A title a year ago. 

Mount Carmel (32-6) was trying to win its second state championship. The Caravan won the AA title back in 1985.

DePaul Prep tops Mount Carmel to win Illinois Class 3A boys basketball title

ILLINOIS CLASS 4A BOYS BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

Homewood-Flossmoor 60, Normal Community 48

Both teams came out strong early. Homewood-Flossmoor knocked down four 3-pointers in the first quarter, including two from Jayden Tyler, to take a 21-16 lead. Tyler scored nine of his team's 21 points.

Standout junior guard Bryce Heard turned it on in the second quarter for H-F, including a runout dunk that fired up the crowd. He scored 10 points in the first half to lead the Vikings.

Braylon Roman led Normal with seven points in the first half. 

Tyler and Heard kept it going in the third quarter with six points apiece as the Vikings led 47-39. Heard had a team-high 16 points and seven rebounds through three quarters, while Tyler was right behind with 15 points.

Roman scored seven points in the quarter, giving him 14 through three.  

Heard finished with 21 points, 10 rebounds and three assists, while Tyler added 15 points and Carson Brownfield scored 12. 

Roman led Normal with 18 points, while Noah Cleveland had 13 points and 11 rebounds. 

Normal Community (32-6) was trying to win its first state championship. The Ironmen finished second in 2015 and fourth in 2011.

Homewood-Flossmoor (33-4) was also seeking its first state title. The Vikings finished second in AA in 2004 and third in 1985.

DePaul Prep defeated Mount Carmel to win the 2024 Illinois Class 3A boys basketball championship / Photo by Nate Latsch, SBLive Sports

ILLINOIS BOYS BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS COVERAGE

Bryce Heard, Gianni Cobb fuel Homewood-Flossmoor comeback to beat New Trier in Illinois Class 4A boys basketball semifinals

Jaheem Webber leads Normal past Palatine in Illinois Class 4A boys basketball semifinals

DePaul Prep tops Richwoods in Illinois Class 3A boys basketball semifinals

Mount Carmel uses second-half surge to beat Mt. Zion in Illinois Class 3A boys basketball semifinal

Illinois (IHSA) boys basketball state championships live updates: Day 2 scores, results, stories (3/8/2024)

Benton tops Byron in Illinois Class 2A boys basketball semifinals

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

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

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

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