See the 2023 Chicago State Champions and Finalists

CHICAGO – Chicago was well represented again this weekend at the IHSA state basketball championships in Champaign.

Six teams from the area advanced to the final four in their class, with one of those teams coming home with a state title and the other two winning titles.

Title for DePaul Prep

A year after reaching the state finals and finishing third, DePaul Prep finished the job this time through two strong games at the State Farm Center.

In Class 2A, the Rams defeated Teutapolis 45-17 in the semifinals on Thursday and then defeated Bloomington Central Catholic 65-41 in the championship on Friday to become the state champions for the first time.

Four members of the Rams scored in double figures in that championship contest, with Maurice Thomas leading the way with 21.

DePaul Prep North School welcomed home a state title celebration on Monday.

Robert Smith’s Finale in Simeon

It was the end of an era in Class 3A for Chicago power Simeon High School as head coach Robert Smith coached his last games at the school after 20 years.

The Wolverines beat St. Ignatius College Prep of Chicago in Friday’s semifinals 62-40, but lost to Metamora 46-42 in overtime in Saturday’s championship game.

Simeon finished the season with a 31-4 record as Smith ended his impressive run at the school, which saw him win six state championships.

St. Ignatius College Prep would lose the third-place game to East St. Louis to end its season at 24-13.

Bennett gets 2nd, New Trier 3rd, Downers Grove North 4th

In 2023, Class 4A was heavily represented in Chicago, with three of the four teams coming from the area.

That included Bennett Academy, which reached the state finals in Champaign with just one loss on the season. They defeated New Trier 64-49 in Friday’s semifinals to advance to the championship, but will lose to Moline in that contest Saturday 59-42.

The Redwings finished the season 35-2, finishing second in the state for the third time in program history.

New Trier beat Downers Grove North 53-34 in the third-place game for its highest state tournament total since 1973. The Trevians finished the season 32-5.

As for the Trojans, who entered the tournament riding a 19-game winning streak, they finished the season with a 32-5 record and a fourth-place finish.