Incarnate Word Academy put the finishing touches on a brilliant year of basketball by winning the Missouri Class 5 girls state championship last weekend Columbia. The Red Knights defeated Blue Springs 52-43 to win the school’s third state championship. IWA trailed 22-20 at halftime, but took control of the game in the second half behind its trademark defensive pressure and balanced scoring.

The Billikids used a hot-shooting start and their normal stingy defense to defeat Indiana State 63-54 in the first round of the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) Tournament on Tuesday night at the Chaifetz Arena.

There are several St. Louis area basketball players who will participating in this week’s NCAA Tournament. Sophomore Jared Swopshire (pictured, Fort Zumwalt West) is a starting forward for the University of Louisville, which is the No. 9 seed in the South Regional. Junior forward Alex Tyus (Hazelwood Central) is a starting forward for the University of Florida, which is the No. 10 seed in the West Regional. Tyus is among the Gators’ leading scorers and rebounders this season.

The Washington University women are headed back to a familiar place in March, which the Final Four of the NCAA Division III Tournament in Bloomington, Ill. The Bears (27-2) defeated George Fox University 59-52 on Saturday night to win the Sectional championship at the Washington U. Field House. George Fox U. defeated Washington U. for the national championship last year.

Former Incarnate Word Academy standout Felicia Chester is enjoying an excellent junior season as a starting forward at DePaul University. The 6’3” Chester has been a key player for the Blue Demons, who are 17-10 entering this week’s action. Chester is averaging 9.9 points a game, which is third on the team, and 6.9 rebounds, which is second.

Lincoln Middle School of East St. Louis won the Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA) Seventh Grade Class 4A state championship last week in Riverton, Ill. Lincoln defeated Champaign Jefferson 40-36 in the championship game to finish with a record of 24-1. Lincoln Middle became the first school from East St. Louis ever to win an IESA state title.

Junior forward Lauren Woods scored a career-high 27 points to lead the SLU women’s team to a 71-62 victory at Fordham in Atlantic 10 action in New York on Tuesday night. The 6’0” former Belleville East standout made nine of her 11 field goal attempts, including two 3-pointers to lead the Billikens. She also made seven of 10 from the free throw line. She scored 18 of those 27 points in the second half. The 27 points was also a single-game best by a SLU women’s player this season.

It was 50 years ago that the CBC Cadets ruled the Show-Me State in high school basketball. Led by dominanting All-State center Garry Garrison and future Hall of Fame coach D.C. Wilcutt, the Cadets won their second consecutive Missouri Class L state title with a 61-49 victory over arch-rival SLUH.

The Lewis & Clark Community College men’s basketball team is enjoying another 20-victory season under the direction of former University of Illinois star Deon Thomas (pictured). The Trailblazers are currently 20-6 and ranked No. 12 in the latest National Junior College Athletic Association Division II poll. They are also in first place in the Region 24 standings.

The McKendree Bearcats have been a model of consistency throughout the career of Hall of Fame head coach Harry Statham. Earlier this season, Statham (pictured) reached sacred coaching ground when he recorded his 1,000th career victory in 44 great years at McKendree. On Thursday night, the Bearcats reached the 20-victory plateau for the 20th time in 21 years with their 71-41 victory over Columbia College.