The IHSA’s Boys Basketball State Tournament kicked off across the state February 21st, with hundreds of teams across the state embarking on the road to the State Title game at Champaign’s State Farm Center on March 9th. Champaign Central (13-18) was assigned to the #4 seed at Danville’s 3A regional, where they defeated #7 Urbana (10-16) in the first round 68-55 to win their first playoff game since 2020, before ultimately falling in the regional championship to #1 Mt. Zion (32-1) by a score of 72-39. The Maroons finished their season with 13 total wins, their best full season since 2019-20, and their first under new head coach PJ Keaton.

CHAMPAIGN CENTRAL VS URBANA

Class 3A’s super sixteen bracket as displayed on IHSA’s Official bracket. Mt. Zion would go on to lose in the class 3A third place game to Big Twelve school Peoria Richwoods, and Champaign Central finishes the season with their first playoff win since before the pandemic.