Illinois high school basketball returns to previous state finals schedule

The governing body for Illinois high school basketball approved changes to the state finals schedule starting in the 2025-26 season. According to the Illinois High School Association’s website, the schedule will revert to what was used from 2022 to 2024 after a vote by during the latest IHSA Board of Directors meeting.

IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson said, “We tried a different variation last year and the immediate feedback from nearly everyone involved was that the schedule we utilized from 2022-2024 was far superior. As a result, we are making some slight changes to that original schedule for 2026.”

Therefore, Illinois high school basketball’s schedule will revert to a three-day schedule. Day 1 starts on Thursday, 10 a.m. local time, with the first Class 1A state semifinal pairing. Then, 20 minutes after that game ends, the other 1A semifinal matchup will take place. At 2:30 p.m. on the same day, Class 2A semifinals commence. By 7 p.m., the Class 1A third-place game will take place. Twenty minutes later, the Class 2A third-place game happens.

On Day 2, the Class 3A semifinals will start on Friday, 10 a.m. local time. The other semifinal takes place 20 minutes after that game ends. By 2:30 p.m., the Class 4A semifinals start. At 7 p.m., the Class 3A third-place game takes place. Twenty minutes after that game, the Class 4A third-place game happens.

Finally, Saturday will be about the state championship games. The Illinois high school basketball Class 1A state championship will be at 10 a.m. with the awarding ceremony following immediately. Twenty-five minutes after the ceremony, The Class 2A state championship game happens.

The Class 3A state championship will be at 4 p.m. and the Class 4A state title game will take place 25 minutes after the 3A awarding ceremony.

The defending Illinois high school basketball state champions are Chicago Hope Academy (1A), Dyett (2A), DePaul College Prep (3A), Benet Academy (4A).