Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – The Springfield Public School Board Tuesday night honored a state champion girls basketball team.
The District 186 Board recognized the Lincoln Magnet/Ball Charter 8th Grade Girls Basketball team. In December, 2025, they won the Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA) State Tournament in Class 3A. In the tournament, the girls defeated Manteno 35-28, Downs Tri-Valley 31-19, and Germantown Hills 43-34 to win the championship.
Lincoln Magnet/Ball Charter ended the season with a record of 18-2.
Team members included: Joy Bardwell, Amari Chandler, Layla Hullum, Caleese Jones, Morgan Jones, Kamari Lawrence, Alycia McBride, Hannah Nichols, Lydia Nichols, Rachel Thomas, and Zoe Williams. Shekela Lee is the team’s head coach, assisted by Dominique Lee and Regina Porter.
Also at the 8th Grade tournament, Springfield’s Christ the King lost in the first round to Oakland Lake Crest 45-25 in Class 1A. They ended the season with a 20-7 record.
Springfield Christian was the champion in Class 2A, defeating Sidell Salt Fork 33-15, Dietrich 45-27, and Mt. Sterling Brown County 35-30. Springfield Christian ends the season with a 22-3 record.
In the class 4A tournament, Chatham Glenwood lost in the first round to the eventual champion, Normal Kingsley, 38-10, ending their season with a 16-7 record.
In the 7th Grade tournament, Normal Epiphany won in Class 1A, Mt. Sterling Brown County won in Class 2A with a record of 27-0, Teutopolis won in Class 3A, and Bethalto Trimpe in Class 4A.
