The 2017 State Farm Holiday Classic was full of fan favorites. But, perhaps more importantly, it was full of our favorite fans.
Fan Favorites
The 39th annual tournament featured a some of the best players, a number of beautiful plays, and lots of big moments. A full recap will be available soon, but just a few of the moments that stand out include:
Annawan’s @VanHyfteJayde scores her 359th #SFclassic point to pass her sister, Celina, as the Tournament’s Girls Scoring Leader. #congrats #classicmoment pic.twitter.com/67tXk5qtMS
— The Classic (@sfclassic) December 30, 2017
Ryan Saunders puts an exclamation point on the Steelmen’s (@SteelmenAD) OT victory over @WWSathletics. Cameron Blackmon, who also hit several 3s in the victory, had the assist: pic.twitter.com/nH1oBeEogp
— The Classic (@sfclassic) December 30, 2017
Congratulations to @athleticsGHS Head Coach Scott Hardison as he now has 100 career coaching victories! #SFclassic #classicmoment pic.twitter.com/uDssQMTASP
— The Classic (@sfclassic) December 29, 2017
LSB: Championship > Normal Community 58 / Chicago North Lawndale 46 https://t.co/dHQPvuLvED pic.twitter.com/oo76ewscy1
— The Classic (@sfclassic) December 31, 2017
Congratulations to @EllieWeltha of @BHSRaiderSports as she became Bloomington’s career scoring leader this morning. Here she scores her 1,396th point to move into first. #SFclassic #classicmoment pic.twitter.com/fLsBgLe90n
— The Classic (@sfclassic) December 28, 2017
Well, that was quick. Not even an hour in, and @SchlarmanHoops has already broken a tournament record with 58 points in the first half. Congratulations! #SFclassic #classicmoment pic.twitter.com/PyORDuAIpw
— The Classic (@sfclassic) December 27, 2017
During the #SFclassic we also host the Ron Knisley Memorial Shootout. During our Championship games, fans are treated to the great talent of these @SO_Illinois athletes. It’s one of the best parts of the tournament. pic.twitter.com/fwNqPKfJYP
— The Classic (@sfclassic) December 30, 2017
@LadyPottersHoop (14-1) bring home elusive @sfclassic Championship https://t.co/47x2vuYEfc pic.twitter.com/tQX1CnIzU0
— Matt Jones (@mattmutmed) January 2, 2018
Favorite Fans
It’s not just the best players, beautiful plays, and big moments that make the State Farm Holiday Classic what it is. It’s also our great sponsors who help make it all possible, the volunteers who keep everything running smoothly, the venues who host 64 teams and 128 games in 4 days and the hotels who host the players, officials, and fans, the Bloomington-Normal community who provides tremendous ongoing support, and a fantastic committee made up of volunteers (please go read through the list, and if you see any of those folks around, show them some appreciation) who give up hours and hours of time all year so that for four days we all get to experience“The Best Basketball This Side of March!”.
But, it’s also you – our favorite fans.
Tournament President Dan Highland shared these words after experiencing another amazing Championship Day at The Classic, where fans packed the Shirk Center at Illinois Wesleyan University and created an atmosphere the players and teams deserved as they fought hard to win the coveted Gold Ball trophies.
“I wish high school basketball was like this every night. Over 2,400 packing the Shirk Center at Illinois Wesleyan University tonight to see the 4 girls and boys Championship games of the 2017 State Farm Holiday Classic: #thebestbasketballthissideofmarch.
Brings a tear to this old guy’s eye. This is what high school basketball should still be like.
Thank you Bloomington-Normal Sports fans!
Wherever you came from to watch The Classic, or if you watched at home and followed online via the website, facebook, twitter, instragram or snapchat … thank you! We do this for all the great players and teams, but we also do this for you – the fans. In fact, we couldn’t do it without you.
Until next year,
LSB: Championship > Normal Community 58 / Chicago North Lawndale 46