The Dukes lost to Loyola in the state title game last year and in the semifinals the two years before that. But coach Don Gelsomino has a reasonable take on the private/public school debate.

Gorgeous gym here in Plano. It was redone this summer. This is the 61st year of the holiday tournament.

Here’s Ahmad Lee’s shot. Game was tied at 70 with seconds left and this gave Lincoln Park the lead for good.

Day 2 of staring at this list, walking away, staring at it some more. Thinking about the games I saw, walking away.

Picking an All-Area QB this season is rough business. Time is running out.

Two prominent high school football coaches stepped down today.

Robbie Gould left Rolling Meadows after one year. Mike Hennessey retired from Notre Dame after 38 years.

chicago.suntimes.com/high-school-...

There was a great moment in the Montini press conference after the Class 3A title game yesterday. The Broncos switched up starting QBs earlier this season.

As things were wrapping up, sophomore QB Israel Abrams said he had something he wanted to tell everyone about senior QB Gaetano Carbonara.

A day of blowouts, but still some fun stories.

-Chicago Christian and DePaul Prep came out of nowhere to win titles.
-Montini's Israel Abrams provided a touching moment that reminded us what high school sports are about.

Read it all here:

chicago.suntimes.com/high-school-...

Here's the schedule for next weekend at Illinois State.

Loyola pounded it down the field. Mostly Ryan Fitzgerald and then Drew MacPherson caps it off with a 15-yard TD run.

Ramblers lead Lincoln-Way East 27-16 with 2:57 left.

Griffins haven’t completed a pass in the 2nd half.

Loyola has its first lead.

Ryan Fitzgerald to Gavin Vradenburg for a 4-yard TD.

Ramblers 20, Lincoln-Way East 16 with 5:05 left in the 3Q.

Long, effective, calm drive for Loyola.

Pretty catch by Talan White. Jonas Williams with his second TD pass and Lincoln-Way East leads Loyola 13-3 with 1:56 left in the 1Q.

DePaul Prep beats Coal City 21-14.

The Rams will play for the Class 4A state title on Friday at ISU.

Great catch and run by DePaul Prep’s Nick Martinez looks like a TD and winds up turning into Coal City’s ball.

No score in the 2Q.

Great to be in Coal City. The Coalers had one of the best high school football websites in the state way back 25 years ago.

Brand new field and scoreboard. Coalers host DePaul Prep in a 4A semifinal.

The preseason No. 1 team will be revealed later today.
Here's a look back at all the No. 1's since I started selecting them in 2003. Teams in bold won a state title.

My first time experiencing a football game in Wilmington. What a pregame.