Can Metamora win back-to-back boys basketball state titles? Let's look at the path
Metamora is looking to repeat.
The reigning Class 3A state champion boys basketball team enters the Illinois High School Association postseason with a 14-game winning streak and a huge target on its back. Second-ranked Metamora (27-4) just completed a 13-1 season in the Mid-Illini Conference to share the league crown with Morton.
Very few teams in Illinois, regardless of class, played a tougher schedule than the Redbirds. Retiring coach Danny Grieves has a battle-tested roster with some very talented seniors in Iowa recruit Cooper Koch, 2023 player of the year Tyler Mason, Luke Hopp, Nick Walker and Division-I recruit junior Matthew Zobrist. As the highest-ranked team in the Peoria area, here is a look at Metamora's possible path through the Class 3A state playoffs.
Regional semifinals
Likely opponent: Galesburg
The Redbirds enter the postseason as the top seed in the Geneseo Regional, playing the winner of Geneseo and Galesburg at 6 p.m. Wednesday. Metamora averages 65.1 points a game against a shade over 49 allowed. The Silver Streaks are the favorite to win the play-in game. Galesburg (10-20) swept the Western Big Six Conference series against Geneseo by 35 and 17 points, respectively.
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Regional finals
Likely opponent: Peoria High
A win here sends Grieves into the sectional for the fifth time in his 13-year coaching tenure with the Redbirds. A victory also would give Metamora three consecutive regional titles for the first time in its history. Peoria High tied for third in the Big 12 Conference, winning six in a row to close the regular season. Junior Leshawn Stowers is a Division-I prospect with multiple offers including Bradley.
Sectional semifinals
Likely opponent: Sterling
Metamora needed late free throws in this game last season to beat Sterling by two. However, the Redbirds won't have to deal with since-graduated JP Schilling, who scored 32 points in the loss. This isn't the same Sterling team as last season, though, getting swept by Rock Island in WB6 play. A common opponent for these teams is Mt. Zion, which beat Sterling by 21 and lost to Metamora by three.
Sectional finals
Likely opponent: Richwoods
Could this be the third postseason in a row that Metamora and Richwoods meet? It seems like these teams have been on a crash course to meet in this game. The Knights lost the prior two postseason meetings — the 2022 regional semifinals and 2023 sectional title. Metamora will have to deal with containing Rutgers recruit Lathan Sommerville, while Richwoods needs to try and stop Koch.
Supersectionals
Likely opponent: Harvey Thornton
This would be a rematch and No. 1 versus No. 2, per the final poll by The Associated Press. Thornton beat Metamora, 63-62, on Jan. 6 at the Highland Shootout — Metamora's last loss. Thornton has four losses, including three by a combined five points. Metamora is very familiar with this super site, having played in a loud, packed Kingman Gymnasium in Ottawa the past two Elite Eights.
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State semifinals
Likely opponent: Chicago DePaul College Prep
This might be a first in IHSA history where reigning state champions from two different classes meet in the Final Four. Third-ranked DePaul College Prep, which got bumped up a class this season, was a state champion last season, winning the Class 2A title by 24 points. The Rams return three starters — seniors PJ Chambers and Jaylan McElroy as well as junior Makai Kvamme — from that title-winning team. Both Metamora and DePaul are familiar with the State Farm Center, having both played four times each over the last two seasons.
State final
Likely opponent: Mt. Zion
Three years in Champaign, three years of Metamora being one of the two teams left standing in the 151-team field. Playing in this game has become a habit for the Redbirds and with good reason. On top of being super talented, Metamora is always well-prepared and has proven to execute against all opponents. No. 5 Mt. Zion finished the season with 30 wins and just one loss — to the Redbirds, 72-69, on Jan. 19. A victory here gives Metamora wins over the 1st-, 3rd- and 5th-ranked teams — as well as back-to-back state championships.
Prediction: Metamora 58, Mt. Zion 53
Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Metamora basketball's road to IHSA state championship repeat
