Today begins the IHSA final four state tournament in girls basketball at the Illinois State University’s Redbird Arena. The day begins with the Class 1A when Brimfield faces Neoga and then the Serena Lady Huskers will take on Galena. In the Class 2A, Pana will face Quincy Notre Dame and then The Fieldcrest Lady Knights take on Winnebago. The Championship games will be played on Saturday March 5th.
Last night at the Class 1A Woodland Sectional semifinal in boys basketball, Putnam County defeated Fenger 56-46 to advance to the Sectional championship to face Yorkville Christian on Friday.
The Shepherd Lady Rams won their regional championship last night against Minooka in junior high volleyball. Leading the way for the Rams were Ashlynn Ganiere with 11 points and Adalynn Russell adding 6 more. Shepherd will face Bolingbrook in the sectionals on Monday.
In college basketball
The 17th-ranked Fighting Illini host Penn State tonight in Champaign. Illinois will then entertain Iowa on Sunday to wrap up the regular-season. The Illini sit at 20-and-8 on the season and 13-and-5 in Big Ten play.
The Missouri Valley Conference Tournament starts tonight in St. Louis with Illinois State taking on Indiana State, followed by Evansville taking on Valparaiso.
Notre Dame lost 74-70 at Florida State, while DePaul beat Marquette 91-80 for its third straight win.
The Chicago Bulls wrap up their brief two-game road swing tonight in Atlanta against the Hawks. The Bulls currently sit one-and-a-half games behind the Heat for the best record in the East.
Yesterday in the NBA
Charlotte Hornets 119, Cleveland Cavaliers 98
Indiana Pacers 122, Orlando Magic 114 (OT)
Philadelphia 76ers 123, New York Knicks 108
Utah Jazz 132, Houston Rockets 127 (OT)
Milwaukee Bucks 120, Miami Heat 119
New Orleans Pelicans 125, Sacramento Kings 95
Oklahoma City Thunder 119, Denver Nuggets 107
Phoenix Suns 120, Portland Trail Blazers 90
The Blackhawks are back on their home ice tonight to skate against the Edmonton Oilers. The Hawks look to close out their six-game homestand with a win, going just 1-3-and-1 so far. The Blackhawks sit second to last in the Central Division.
Last night in the NHL
Buffalo Sabres 5, Toronto Maple Leafs 1
New York Rangers 5, St. Louis Blues 3
Dallas Stars 4, Los Angeles Kings 3
Seattle Kraken 4, Nashville Predators 3
Over in the PGA, round one of the Arnold Palmer Invitational is today at Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club and Lounge in Orlando Florida.