The Illinois 4A state championship game featured Marist taking on the defending state champions, Benet Academy. It was a game of runs throughout at the State Farm Center in Champaign to finish off the Illinois high school basketball season. In which, Marist was able to have a couple more runs and bigger ones to win it 44-28 in a dominant defense performance.

It was Benet early on as they scored the game’s first 5 points and had an early 9-4 lead. The second quarter was all Marist however as they pitched a shutdown to go 11-0 in the quarter and took a 23-13 lead into the half.

Benet made a quick push to start the second half with a 7-0 run cutting the lead down to 3 but would not get it any closer as Marist controlled the game from there to win the state title.

Charles Barnes – 2026 – SF – Marist

In a star season for Barnes, he had one more stellar game as he led all in the game with 13 points. This was especially the case in the fourth quarter where he scored 8 points as well to forcing a pair of turnovers to put the game away. The athletic and skilled 6’6” wing forward scored it on a couple of cuts to the basket and a mid-range jumper but was especially effective from the line where he went 7-7.  

Stephen Brown – 2026 – F – Marist

As well to having 8 points and 8 rebounds, Brown was especially key with his defensive game. Throughout the game, the athletic 6’7” forward played tough and aggressive defense shutting down the interior to drives. While only recorded for 1 block, he contested and altered plenty of shots all around the paint. Even up against Benet’s size, he showed his ability to rebound the ball at a high rate aggressively going to the glass including scoring on multiple put backs.

Colin Stack – 2026 – C – Benet

Stack was key early on in this game. In the first couple of minutes, he had a block inside and hit a three to get his team up 5-0 and then scored one posting up to put them up 9-4. He led Benet with 9 points shooting 4-5 from the field, only missing a three-point attempt. There are few sever footers that have Stack’s offensive game as not only can he score it so effectively inside posting up but also consistently shoot the three and also passes it well which was shown with an accurate over the top high low assist. With his size and length, Stack also showed his rim protection blocking a pair of shots and altering several others.

TJ Tate – 2026 – PG - Marist

Tate is such an elusive playmaking point guard who displayed his great burst and shiftiness in this game. He scored Marist first points quickly accelerating by his man to the basket. He finished the game with 7 points on 3-5 shooting adding in another drive with his quick spin move and a mid-range pullup jumper. This was in addition to having 4 assists making several great passes including a behind the back right on target inside and a cutting assist right through a couple of defenders.