Bob Bartman is the new Ottawa varsity boys basketball head coach, taking over for Mark Cooper, who retired after 22 seasons.

We are proud to honor 25 of The Times area's top boys basketball players from this past season, including first-team standouts from Woodland, Ottawa, Streator, Marquette and Newark.

The Times Sports staff is proud to announce our 2026 Boys Basketball Player of the Year, Woodland senior Nolan Price.

Here is the 2025-26 All-Interstate 8 Conference boys basketball team, as voted on by I-8 coaches.

Johnsburg senior Jayce Schmitt and Woodstock junior Max Beard were named co-Kishwaukee River Conference Player of the Year. Check out the full All-KRC boys basketball team here, as selected by coaches.

The Indian Creek boys basketball team used a late third-quarter surge to take the lead, then survived a potential game-winning 3-pointer by Marquette at the final horn to claim a thrilling 46-44 victory the Class 1A Amboy Sectional championship game Friday.

Indian Creek defeated Marquette 44-46 in the Class 1A Sectional final game on Friday, March 6, 2026 at Amboy High School. The Timberwolves will play Chicago Marshall in the Supersectional on Monday at 6p.m. at Joliet Central High School.

Isaac Willis finished with 19 points and 13 rebounds as Indian Creek dominated the glass and knocked off Woodland in a Class 1A Amboy Sectional semifinal on Wednesday. Nolan Price had 25, crossed over 1,00o career points and made state history for the Warriors.

Indian Creek defeated Woodland 58- 43 during the Class 1A Sectional semifinals on Wednesday, March 4, 2026 at Amboy High School. The Timberwolves will face Marquette for the Sectional title on Friday at 7p.m.

The Marquette boys basketball team used a late first half spurt to grab the lead and held off Hinckley-Big Rock throughout the second half in a 54-51 win in Tuesday's Class 1A Amboy Sectional semifinal.

The Marquette High School boys basketball team traveled to Amboy Tuesday night to take on Hinckley-Big Rock in a sectional semifinal.

The IHSA Class 1A Amboy Sectional tips off Tuesday and Wednesday evening with the semifinals, a DeKalb County team awaiting both Woodland and Marquette's boys basketball teams.

The Marquette boys basketball team topped St. Bede 57-49 in the championship game of the Class 1A Serena Regional on Friday night. It's the first postseason title for the Crusaders since 2019.

In front of its home crowd, Wilmington's boys basketball team claimed the Class 2A regional championship with a 54-43 win over Seneca on Friday night.

Marquette defeated St. Bede to win the Class 1A Regional title on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026 at Serena High School. Check out photos from the game by MaKade Rios.

Woodland's boys basketball team scored the night’s initial six points, built its advantage to double digits by the close of that quarter and withstood a couple second-half runs to top Newark 57-38 and claim the Class 1A Woodland Regional championship.

Woodland defeated Newark 57-38 to win the Class 1A Regional title game on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026 at Woodland High School. This is the first time since 1989 that Woodland has won a Regional title. Check out photos from the game by Tom Sistak.

L-P wins its third consecutive regional title with a 57-53 victory over Ottawa on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026 in Sellett Gymnasium at L-P High School.