March 13--A capsule look at the eight teams that will compete for two state championships this weekend at the Class 1A and 2A boys basketball finals at Carver Arena in Peoria:
CLASS 2A
Uplift
Nickname: Titans.
Location: Uptown neighborhood, North Side.
Enrollment: 346.
Record: 26-5.
Win streak: 6.
Coach: David Taylor (8th year, 135-74).
State history: First appearance.
Last year: Lost 3A sectional final.
Player to watch: Jeremy Roscoe, 6-2 sr. G (13.4 pts, 5.0 reb, 4.0 ast).
Mater Dei
Nickname: Knights.
Location: Breese (40 miles east of St. Louis).
Enrollment: 452.
Record: 24-10.
Win streak: 5.
Coach: Ron Shadegg (2nd year, 43-20).
State history: 5th appearance (2nd in 1996).
Last year: Lost 2A regional final.
Player to watch: Nolan Gerling, 6-9 sr. C (15.7 pts, 7.3 reb).
St. Teresa
Nickname: Bulldogs.
Location: Decatur.
Enrollment: 266.
Record: 26-4.
Win streak: 6.
Coach: Tom Noonan (5th year, 107-35).
State history: 4th appearance (1st since 1986).
Last year: Lost 2A regional final.
Player to watch: Christian Williams, 6-6 sr. G/F (19.1 pts, 8.7 reb, 3.3 ast).
Rockridge
Nickname: Rockets.
Location: Taylor Ridge (12 miles south of Quad Cities).
Enrollment: 384.
Record: 30-1.
Win streak: 17.
Coach: Toby Whiteman (4th year, 102-14).
State history: First appearance.
Last year: Lost 2A sectional final.
Player to watch: Bryan Heath, 6-4 sr. G (24.2 pts, 6.0 reb), Michigan Tech recruit.
CLASS 1A
Forreston
Nickname: Cardinals.
Location: 32 miles SW of Rockford.
Enrollment: 261.
Record: 26-5.
Win streak: 14.
Coach: Travis Ross (1st year, 26-5).
State history: 4th appearance (1st since 2006).
Last year: Lost 1A regional first round.
Player to watch: Robert DeVries, 6-3 sr. G (16.0 pts, 6.5 reb, 5.7 ast).
Meridian
Nickname: Bobcats
Location: Mounds (45 miles south of Carbondale).
Enrollment: 132.
Record: 26-7.
Win streak: 6.
Coach: Erik Griffin (1st year, 25-7).
State history: 2nd appearance (2nd in 1972).
Last year: Lost 1A regional final.
Player to watch: Davarae Edmonds, 6-2 sr. F (15.5 pts, 11.2 reb).
Brimfield
Nickname: Indians.
Location: 20 miles NW of Peoria.
Enrollment: 222.
Record: 32-2.
Win streak: 18.
Coach: Scott Carlson (18th year, 392-148).
State history: 2nd appearance (1st since 1979).
Last year: Lost 1A sectional semifinal.
Player to watch: Carson Cuevas, 6-3 sr. G (21.7 pts, 5.1 reb, 2.8 ast).
Ridgeview
Nickname: Mustangs.
Location: Colfax (25 miles east of Normal).
Enrollment: 160.
Record: 31-1.
Win streak: 31.
Coach: Rodney Kellar (29th year, 536-273).
State history: 2nd appearance (1st since 2005).
Last year: Lost 1A regional semifinal.
Player to watch: William Tinsley, 6-4 sr. G (15.0 pts, 4.6 reb).
