IHSA girls basketball state finals 2024: Predicting the Illinois state champions
The IHSA girls basketball state finals return Thursday through Saturday at CEFCU Arena in Normal.
Six of the 16 state finalists ended the season unranked statewide in their class, so there are plenty of unlikely programs making rare finals appearances. Yet three top-ranked teams remain alive, so there is elite talent: 2A Notre Dame, 3A Lincoln and 4A Wilmette Loyola.
Below is what you need to know about each semifinal, top players, history — plus predictions from Gannett sports reporters across Illinois.
Local playoff scores: Peoria | Springfield | Rockford How to watch: Channel and stream info here
CLASS 1A
Illini Bluffs vs. Altamont, 9:30 a.m. Thursday
No. 6 Glasford Illini Bluffs (31-4)
Who to know: 5-10 sr. Lily Luczkowiak (19.5 ppg, 5.9 rpg), 5-6 sr. Annabelle Fortin (9.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 3.2 apg) and fourth-year coach Jim Belville (78-35).
What to know: Second state finals appearance and first since 2012, under coach Jim Robertson. Belleville was an assistant on that team. ... Has won 10 in a row and 15 of 16, the only loss in that stretch to Class 4A Pekin. ... Since 2018-19, the school's girls team sports have four state trophies in softball and one in volleyball.
No. 9 Altamont (27-6)
Who to know: 5-10 sr. Grace Nelson (29.9 ppg, 6.7 rpg), 5-8 sr. Peyton Osteen (7.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg), 6-0 so. Kaylee Lurkins (6.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg) and first-year coach Craig Carr.
What to know: First trip to the state finals since 1981. This will be the program's first trophy. ... Won 19 in a row before losing four of five games before the postseason began. ... Nelson is committed to Illinois State.
St. Bede vs. Okawville, 11:15 a.m. Thursday
Peru St. Bede (29-7)
Who to know: 6-0 sr. Ali Bosnich (16.4 ppg, 7.2 rpg), 6-0 jr. Ashlyn Ehm (8.8 ppg, 7.2 rpg), 5-7 sr. Ella Hermes (9.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.1 apg) and second-year coach Stephanie Mickley.
What to know: St. Bede's first state finals appearance. ... Has won 18 in a row and is unbeaten in the 2024 calendar year. ... St. Bede won nine games last season. ... The school's softball team is the defending Class 1A state champion.
No. 5 Okawville (23-11)
Who to know: 5-8 sr. Alayna Kraus (21.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg), 5-6 sr. Madisyn Wienstroer (8.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg), 5-8 so. Caroline Tepe (4.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg) and second-year coach Haylee Bowers (55-15 at Okawville and 100-55 overall including three seasons at Red Bud).
What to know: Okawville is the defending Class 1A champion. ... Kraus has alopecia, an autoimmune disorder that causes hair loss. ... Lost six of nine games heading into the postseason, mostly against state-ranked competition. ... Won every playoff game by 12 or more points.
THIRD: 6:30 p.m. Thursday | TITLE: 11 a.m. Saturday
Adam Duvall's title pick: Illini Bluffs 38, Okawville 36
Wes Huett's title pick: Illini Bluffs 38, Okawville 35
Matt Trowbridge’s title pick: Illini Bluffs 47, Okawville 43
Jay Taft's title pick: Altamont 60, Okawville 51
Bill Welt's title pick: Illini Bluffs 40, Okawville 30
Ryan Mahan's title pick: Okawville 35, Illini Bluffs 31
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CLASS 2A
Regina Dominican vs. Peoria Notre Dame, 2:30 p.m. Thursday
Wilmette Regina Dominican (25-9)
Who to know: 5-7 so. Jillian DeFranza (10.4 ppg, 3.3 rpg), 5-6 so. Natalia Cerrado (7.5 ppg, 3.9 rpg), 5-9 so. Olivia Fraterrigo (7.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg) and eighth-year coach Bob Newton.
What to know: Third state finals appearance, all nearly two decades apart (1984, 2003). ... Newton has won 270 games in an 18-year career. This is his first 20-win season ... Like finals opponent Notre Dame, played a largely Class 3A and 4A schedule.
No. 1 Notre Dame (32-4)
Who to know: 5-8 sr. Mya Wardle (13.5 ppg, 6.9 apg), 6-1 so. Lexi Baer (11.9 ppg, 4.8 rpg), 5-6 jr. Julia Mingus (11.3 ppg), 5-11 jr. Kaitlin Cassidy (10.3 ppg, 6.0 rpg), 5-9 fr. Emy Wardle (8.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 4.4 apg) and seventh-year coach Layne Langholf.
What to know: Program's first state finals appearance since a quarterfinal loss to Chicago Marshall in 1994, under Cindy Clark. ... Won the Big 12 Conference, made up of mostly Class 3A and 4A programs ... Has won 16 of 17 games, the only loss in that stretch to 3A favorite Lincoln.
PATH TO TITLE: Can No. 1 Peoria Notre Dame win a girls basketball state title? Let's look at the path
Nashville vs. Robinson, 4:15 p.m. Thursday
No. 3 Nashville (32-3)
Who to know: 5-10 so. Emma Behrmann (13.4 ppg, 6.3 rpg), 5-11 fr. Summer Brinkmann (11.4 ppg), 5-11 fr. Samanthan Brinkmann (9.2 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 3.4 apg) and first-year coach Dempsey Witte.
What to know: First state appearance since legendary coach Wayne Harre led program to eight appearances between 2001 and 2013. ... Starts three freshmen, a sophomore and a junior. ... Only losses came vs. two 4A schools and 2A No. 2 Breese Central.
Robinson (28-5)
Who to know: 5-6 sr. Marisa Zane (18.2 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 4.1 apg), 5-10 sr. Elizabeth Shea (12.1 ppg, 4.9 rpg), 5-9 sr. Katelyn Jones (110. ppg, 5.7 rpg) and third-year coach Scott Zane.
What to know: The first state finals appearance for Robinson. ... has won 15 of 16 since a loss to 1A finalist Altamont on Dec. 29. ... Nashville and Robinson both defeated Fairfield this season.
THIRD: 7:45 p.m. Thursday | TITLE: 1 p.m. Saturday
Adam Duvall's title pick: Notre Dame 57, Nashville 41
Wes Huett's title pick: Notre Dame 55, Nashville 44
Matt Trowbridge’s title pick: Notre Dame 56, Nashville 50
Jay Taft's title pick: Notre Dame 66, Nashville 60
Bill Welt's title pick: Notre Dame 45, Nashville 33
Ryan Mahan's title pick: Notre Dame 51, Nashville 37
CLASS 3A
Glenwood vs. Hinsdale South, 9:30 a.m. Friday
Chatham Glenwood (27-7)
Who to know: 6-0 fr. Alexis Neumann (11.8 ppg, 8.3 rpg), 5-9 sr. Makenna Yeager (8.6 ppg), 5-7 fr. Ava Bobb (5.4 ppg, 3.0 rpg) and first-year coach Alyssa Riley.
What to know: Program's first state finals appearance. ... One of two Central State 8 teams in the 3A semifinals along with top-ranked Lincoln ... Opened calendar year with three losses by an average of 28.3 points, including a 54-20 loss to Lincoln. ... Riley spent the previous six seasons at Warrensburg-Latham.
Darien Hinsdale South (26-10)
Who to know: 6-0 sr. Amerie "Mimi" Flowers (15.3 ppg, 12.4 rpg), 5-7 sr. Amelia Lavorato (12.2 ppg, 4.5 apg), 5-10 so. Maeve Savage (8.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg) and sixth-year coach Scott Tanaka.
What to know: Program's first appearance at state since 1977 and will be its first trophy. ... Lost six of its final 10 games before the postseason. ... Flowers is committed to NCAA Division III Benedictine University.
Montini vs. Lincoln, 11:15 a.m. Friday
No. 4 Lombard Montini (29-7)
Who to know: 5-8 sr. Victoria Matulevicius (16.1 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 4.3 apg), 5-8 jr. Nicolette Kerstein (14.9 ppg, 5.9 apg), 5-9 sr. Alyssa Epps (8.2 ppg), 5-8 jr. Shea Carver (7.4 ppg) and fourth-year coach Shannon Spanos.
What to know: First state appearance since 2020, which capped a 13-year stretch with 10 state trophies including four championships. ... All seven losses came to 4A teams. ... Opened the playoffs with an 85-0 regional semifinal win over Chicago Alcott.
No. 1 Lincoln (36-0)
Who to know: 5-9 sr. Kloe Froebe (28.6 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 4.8 apg), 5-8 sr. Becca Heitzig (10.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 4.4 apg) and 12-year coach Taylor Rohrer.
What to know: Would be the first unbeaten state champ since Des Plaines Maine West (2018, 4A). ... Back at state after a 36-1 runner-up finish last season. ... Froebe is a Colorado State commit. ... One of two CS8 teams in the 3A finals, along with Glenwood.
THIRD: 6:30 p.m. Friday | TITLE: 5:30 p.m. Saturday
Adam Duvall's title pick: Lincoln 63, Hinsdale Central 39
Wes Huett's title pick: Lincoln 64, Hinsdale South 42
Matt Trowbridge’s title pick: Lincoln 48, Glenwood 44
Jay Taft's title pick: Montini 71, Hinsdale South 52
Bill Welt's title pick: Lincoln 60, Glenwood 45
Ryan Mahan's title pick: Lincoln 73, Glenwood 45
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CLASS 4A
Waubonsie Valley vs. Nazareth, 2 p.m. Friday
Aurora Waubonsie Valley (32-3)
Who to know: 5-7 so. Danyella Mporokoso (19.6 ppg, 6.4 rpg), 6-0 sr. Hannah Laub (12.9 ppg), 5-4 so. Arianna Garcia (8.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 3.6 apg) and seventh-year coach Brett Love.
What to know: First state appearance since 1999. Will be its first trophy. ... Love previously coached 3A finalist Hinsdale South. ... Lost to Nazareth in the final game of the regular season, 59-35. Other losses were to 4A finalist Palatine Fremd and St. Charles East.
No. 5 LaGrange Park Nazareth (31-3)
Who to know: 5-9 sr. Amalia Dray (12.5 ppg), 6-0 sr. Olivia Austin (11.7 ppg, 6.4 rpg), 6-1 so. Stella Sakalas (11.4 ppg), 6-1 sr. Danielle Scully (6.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 3.5 apg) and eighth-year coach Eddie Stritzel.
What to know: Playing up in 4A after winning the 3A title last season. ... Combined 99-7 record over the last three seasons. ... Dray is committed to play soccer at Boston College. ... Austin is committed to play at Dartmouth.
Loyola Academy vs. Fremd, 3:45 p.m. Friday
No. 1 Wilmette Loyola Academy (36-0)
Who to know: 5-6 jr. Aubrey Galvan (16.5 ppg, 3.4 apg), 5-8 sr. Paige Engels (14.3 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 3.4 apg), 5-6 so. Clare Weasler (7.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg) and 16th-year coach Jeremy Schoenecker.
What to know: Trying to join Lincoln this season as an unbeaten state champ — the first since Des Plaines Maine West in 2018. ... Engels is a Cornell commit. ... Second state appearance (2012) since three straight from 1997-99, which includes two state titles. ... Defeated Fremd, 48-46, on Dec. 12.
No. 9 Palatine Fremd (29-6)
Who to know: 6-0 jr. Ella Todd (16.0 ppg), 6-2 sr. Brynn Eshoo (12.2 ppg, 5.4 rpg), 5-11 jr. Coco Urlacher (10.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg) and 18th-year coach Dave Yates.
What to know: Program's fifth trip to the state finals over the last decade. Won the title in 2020. ... Yates has won 424 games for Fremd. ... Todd is a Utah commit and Eshoo a Portland commit. ... Three of its six losses came to out-of-state opponents. Also lost to 2A No. 1 Peoria Notre Dame, 70-63, on Dec. 30.
THIRD: 8:45 p.m. Friday | TITLE: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Adam Duvall's title pick: Loyola 47, Nazareth 44
Wes Huett's title pick: Nazareth 62, Loyola 60
Matt Trowbridge’s title pick: Loyola 58, Nazareth 53
Jay Taft's title pick: Nazareth 58, Loyola 56
Bill Welt's title pick: Nazareth 56, Loyola 50
Ryan Mahan's title pick: Nazareth 62, Loyola 58
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Expert predictions and outlook for 2024 IHSA girls basketball state finals