The Kankakee girls basketball team made it nine wins in their last 11 games with a 70-27 win over Thornridge at home on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026.

Two of Sanaii McPherson’s seven rebounds were key to St. Edward’s 54-51 nonconference win over Aurora Central Catholic Thursday as the Green Wave rallied past the Chargers.

Two days after topping defending IHSA Class 3A State champion Montini on the road, the Kays returned home and back to Southland Athletic Conference with a resounding 70-27 win over Thornridge on Thursday.

Cissna Park senior Lauryn Hamrick scored 16 points Thursday, surpassing 1,000 for her career and helping lead the Timberwolves to their ninth straight win, and more in Thursday's Daily Journal roundup.

Mia Cotton had 16 points and eight steals, Anna Herrmann had 22 points and inched her way closer to the state's Top 20 list for 3-pointers made in a career, and Hinckley-Big Rock went more than 16 minutes without allowing IMSA to score in a 48-12 win on Thursday.

The Hinckley-Big Rock girls basketball team welcomed the Illinois Math and Science Academy Thursday night for a matchup on the hardwood.

Ellie Noble played a key supporting role last year for Glenbard West's first sectional champion in 26 years. Now, with seven seniors graduated, Noble is the star for a Hilltoppers team off to a 17-1 start. That, Benet No. 1 in first AP rankings and Coach Kipp's Hoopsfest lineup.

Watseka and Clifton Central's girls basketball teams put up strong defensive performances in home wins, holding their opponents to 22 and 21 points respectively, and more in Wednesday's Daily Journal roundup.

BYU-bound senior Stella Sakalas scored 21 points and grabbed 14 rebounds as Nazareth rolled past Carmel 46-23. Mia Gage also had a double-double in the victory.

Freshman guard Kiana Ogulei, like everyone in the gym Wednesday at Plano, had a cold start shooting. But Ogulei had three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and scored 11 of her 13 points in the final period to send visiting Yorkville Christian past Plano 38-30.

Senior guard Maggie Frank, who was honored for reaching the 1,000-point club before the game, shook off a slow start from the floor to finish with 23 points and help Lake Park to a 42-29 victory over St. Charles East.

By the opening frame’s end, St. Charles North forced three turnovers, a pair thanks to stifling full-court pressure, and coach Grant Oler’s squad kept up that intensity all game long on the way to a 43-30 DuKane Conference victory at Wheaton Warrenville South.

A pair of 20-point games from EJ Hazelett and Lincoln Williams led Kankakee to its seventh straight win, Bishop McNamara's Richie Darr exploded for 26 points against Peotone and more in Tuesday's Daily Journal roundup.

Sterling used stifling defense and a 3-point barrage to cover up some deficiencies Tuesday night in a 62-24 win over Rochelle at Musgrove Fieldhouse.

Adam Bauer had a double-double to lead Cary-Grove's boys basketball team to a 62-35 win over Carmel in a nonconference game. Hampshire's girls beat Crystal Lake South behind Mikala Amegasse's 18 points, and more in Tuesday's Northwest Herald roundup.

Johnsburg never trailed Tuesday and held off Marengo 42-37 to move to 14-0 and into sole possession of first place in the Kishwaukee River Conference.

Olivia Leuze posted a 13-point, 14-rebound double-double and Malaina Kurth added 11 points as the Cary-Grove girls basketball team handed Burlington Central its first Fox Valley Conference loss of the season, defeating the Rockets 42-35 on Tuesday night.

Minooka's girls basketball team held Joliet West to single digits in every quarter Tuesday in a 62-32 win.

Joliet West appeared to be on the brink of letting a potential win get away from them on Tuesday, but Aamir Shannon wouldn't let it happen as the Tigers second half regroup allowed them to claim a 53-35 win.

Marengo faces Johnsburg in a Kishwaukee River Conference girls basketball on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, at Homer “Bill” Barry Gymnasium on the campus of Marengo High School.

As the regular season hits the second half and the postseason gets closer, many Times-area girls basketball teams and players are trending up in Brian Hoxsey's girls basketball notebook.

Meet this week's Daily Journal Athlete of the Week,

Sterling faces Rochelle in girls basketball Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. Sterling took the win 62-24.

Beecher secured a 60-28 win over Grace Christian Academy on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026.

Beecher doubled up Grace Christian and then some, Grant Park dropped Illinois Lutheran by more than 70 points, Gardner-South Wilmington bested Momence and more in Monday's Daily Journal roundup.

Naveah Wright had a game-high 21 points as Joliet Central saw four players reach double digits in a 68-47 win over Joliet Catholic

Oswego cashed in turnovers and got plenty of second-chance points in a 53-30 win over DeKalb on Monday.

The Oswego girls basketball team traveled to DeKalb Monday night to take on the Barbs in a nonconference matchup.

A look at the top basketball performers in the NewsTribune area for the holiday tournaments.

Providence Catholic is 16-2 on the season, Lockport is looking strong and more in the Herald-News Girls Basketball Notebook.

Burlington Central junior Audrey LaFleur scored a career-high 25 points for the Rockets in a 68-59 win against Pecatonica at the Dixon Christmas Classic and averaged 17.5 points over four tournament games. LaFleur is the Northwest Herald Athlete of the Week.

Crystal Lake South sisters Laken and Gracey LePage aren't taking their final season together for granted, Burlington Central's hot start, a key KRC battle between Marengo and Johnsburg looms, and more in this week's Northwest Herald girls basketball notes.

Marquette defeated L-P 56-55 on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026 in Bader Gymnasium at Marquette High School. Check out photos from the game by MaKade Rios.

Bradley-Bourbonnais lost 66-32 at home against Southwest Suburban Conference opponent Sandburg on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026.

Sterling's Jossy James eclipsed 1,000 career points and helped lead the Golden Warriors to the Dixon Christmas Classic title. She is the Sauk Valley Athlete of the Week. Here is a Q&A with the junior standout.

The Forreston Cardinals hosted the Oregon Hawks in an afternoon game at Forreston High School on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026.

OJ Powell scored 25 points and became Willowbrook's career scoring leader, passing Everett Stubblefield III, in the Warriors' win over Wheeling, Downers Grove North also won at the WSC/MSL Showdown and Nazareth girls basketball rolled to a win in Wisconsin in Saturday's roundup.

Fremd outscored St. Charles East 11-4 in overtime to pull out a hard-fought 57-50 nonconference victory. Brooklyn Schlib scored 23 for the Saints.

The Marquette girls basketball team held off a fourth quarter rally from La Salle-Peru to earn a 56-55 victory at Bader Gymnasium in Ottawa on Saturday.

Bradley-Bourbonnais opened up the second half of the season with a 66-32 loss at home against Southwest Suburban Conference opponent Sandburg on Saturday.

Lily Hubbuch wreaked havoc all over the court with eight points, six assists, five steals and five rebounds, her defense sparking Glenbard West to a 63-39 win over Mundelein at the Grow the Game Showcase to continue the Hilltoppers' best start in 47 years.

Cary-Grove faces Lakes in a nonconference girls basketball game on Friday Jan. 2, 2026, at Lakes high School in Lake Villa.

Huntley faces Mundelein in a Komaromy Classic girls basketball tournament game on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025, at Dundee-Crown High School in Carpentersville.

Coal City's boys wrestling team dominated its way to a first-place finish at Abe's Rumble in Springfield, a pair of local girls wrestlers finished second at the Ottawa Holiday Hootenanny and more in Tuesday's Daily Journal roundup.

Huntley's Aubrina Adamik and Luca Garlin earned all-tournament honors, and the Red Raiders held off a record-setting game by Mundelein's Casey Vyverman for a 59-45 win in the seventh-place game at the Komaromy Classic on Tuesday.

The Duchesses bounced back with a 52-43 win over Stillman Valley to take third at the Dixon Christmas Classic on Monday night.

Trinitee Thompson scored 23 points to lead Bishop McNamara to a 54-40 win at the State Farm Classic, snapping a six-game losing streak for the Fightin' Irish, and more in Monday's Daily Journal roundup.

A late 3-pointer from Riley Barber sent things to overcome, but St. Charles North was eventually bested by Maine South in the Komaromy Classic semifinals Monday.

Sterling's smothering defense and 17 points from Jossy James helped the Golden Warriors beat previously undefeated Byron 43-26 and win their first Dixon Christmas Classic since 2018.

Sterling plays Byron in the Championship game of the 47th Annual Christmas Girls Holiday Classic in Dixon on Monday, December 29th.