Mike Clark

Evanston's Blake Peters looks to get past Belleville West's Tommie Williams during the second quarter of Saturday night's Class 4A state championship game. Belleville West won 71-59.

St. Louis area wins 2 state championships as Belleville West beats Evanston in 4A and East St. Louis tops Bogan in 3A

May 13, 2019 at 1:25 a.m.

As time wound down in the Class 4A state championship game Saturday night, the chants of “618! 618! 618!” filled Carver Arena. The area-code cheer was a rallying cry from...

Evanston's Blake Peters, right, drives to the basket against Rockford East in a Class 4A semifinal Friday night at Carver Arena in Peoria. Peters scored 27 points in the Wildkits' 94-82 victory.

Evanston advances to its first state final in 35 years with a Class 4A victory over Rockford East; Bogan will play for the 3A title

May 13, 2019 at 1:24 a.m.

All season, the hype has been building for Belleville West, the defending Class 4A champion, and Curie, the only team without an in-state loss. But another team is in the...

Illinois' Ayo Dosunmu drives to the basket against Northwestern in the Big Ten Tournament during a game on Wednesday, March 13, 2019.

Rising Illini: Ayo Dosunmu and Giorgi Bezhanishvili shine as Illinois tops Northwestern in OT

March 14, 2019 at 11:15 p.m.

Back in November, Illinois coach Brad Underwood stuck to two talking points at Big Ten media day: he was facing his toughest schedule with his least experienced team. Four months...

Curie's Trevon Hamilton (5) drives to the basket against Morgan Park on Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018.

Mike Clark’s boys basketball notebook for Tuesday, March 12

March 13, 2019 at 3:34 a.m.

The thing you notice about Curie’s players is how they never seem to get rattled. “That’s what these guys are all about,” Condors coach Mike Oliver said. “Every night someone...

Evanston's Jaheim Holden drives to the basket against Loyola in the Class 4A Niles North Sectional final on Friday, March 8, 2019.

Mike Clark’s Chicago-area boys basketball rankings, March 11

March 12, 2019 at 1:41 a.m.

Here are the Chicago-area boys basketball rankings with records through Monday, March 11 and previous rankings in parentheses (NR indicates not ranked). 1. Curie 33-1 (1) 2. Evanston 30-4 (3)...

IHSA board denies Farragut’s appeal of sectional championship double forfeit after game-ending brawl

May 31, 2019 at 9:40 p.m.

Farragut’s last-minute bid to continue its boys basketball season ended Monday, clearing the way for DePaul Prep to advance to the Class 3A state semifinals. The Illinois High School Association’s...

IHSA promises more sanctions for North Lawndale and Farragut after game-ending brawl and double forfeit

May 31, 2019 at 9:39 p.m.

The Illinois High School Association plans more sanctions for the boys basketball teams involved in a game-ending brawl that resulted in a rare double forfeit. Friday’s Class 3A North Lawndale...

Orr claims Class 2A 3-peat with 50-36 win over Nashville, giving the West Side a small-school sweep

May 31, 2019 at 9:38 p.m.

Sherif Kenney wasn’t around for Orr’s first two state titles, but he was a big reason for the Spartans’ three-peat. Kenney, a 6-foot-5 senior shooting guard with a linebacker’s build,...

Providence-St. Mel coasts past Cissna Park for 1A state championship, its first title since 1985

May 31, 2019 at 9:37 p.m.

Providence-St. Mel senior Jason Mason has heard the chirping about Chicago basketball from the rest of the state. “The thing with city (players) ... is that they’re undisciplined and scrappy...

Fight between Farragut and North Lawndale results in double forfeit of sectional final; DePaul Prep advances to state

May 31, 2019 at 9:34 p.m.

A fight involving players and fans ended a sectional championship boys basketball game between Farragut and North Lawndale on Friday night. The Illinois High School Association ruled the game between...

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