CHAMPAIN, Illinois. Over the past five months, Glenbard West has become more than just a basketball team.
Hilltoppers – Braden Huff, Kaden Pierce, Ryan Renfro, Paxton Warden and Bobby Durkin – won hearts in Glen Allyn.
Local adults attended high school basketball games for the first time in decades. Young children collected Topps basketball cards, created by photographer Ted Python. Postcards were a big hit as souvenirs at birthday parties.
“A lot of kids come in with autograph cards after games,” said Hilltoppers head coach Braden Huff. “It was really cool and a bit surreal, especially after last year.”
On Saturday, Glenbard West reached the goal he had been striving for for seven years, defeating Young 56-34 to win the Class 4A state championship.
“It’s an incredible feeling,” Huff said. “To finally achieve this goal, I can’t even describe it. It was a great atmosphere, all the fans came today, the whole city of Glen Ellyn. Everyone was here supporting us, it was crazy.”
When they started playing together in high school, the Hilltoppers had no idea how important their state title run would be to their community and Illinois high school basketball.
After more than two years without a state championship, it was imperative for the sport to come back with a bang, do something to interest the casual fan, and remind Illinois that high school basketball is back and just as important as ever.
Here’s what a group of kids from Glen Ellyn accomplished this year. The Hilltoppers opened the season with 26 straight wins. Their only loss of the season was to Sierra Canyon, California and it came from a three-pointer hitting the buzzer. The sold-out crowd showed off the power of Glenbard West’s fan base, and a superb performance against the national leader featuring Amari Bailey and Bronnie James showed off the quality of the teams.
“They are incredible people and words can’t describe how I feel right now,” said Glenbard West coach Jason Opoka. “If a group comes together to achieve a common goal, anything is possible. If you put hard work and dedication into everything in life, you can achieve this. Just go and get it.”
Glenbard West (37-1) led 25-16 at halftime. Huff, who took his usual game to the next level against Sierra Canyon, immediately did the same against the Dolphins. Even athletic, 6-8 NIU Xavier Amos couldn’t stop Huff in the standing position.
Braden Huff from Glenbard West (34) clears the ball wide of Xavier Amos from Young (5).
Kirsten Stickney / For the Sun-Times
Huff had 19 points, 8 of 13 shots and five assists. Warden led with 21 points. Renfro scored 10 points and five rebounds.
The Hilltoppers defeated Young 74–59 in a shootout on January 22. “Dolphins” were inspired after this defeat and won the city championship. But the rematch didn’t get any closer.
Amos finished ahead of Young by 14 points. AJ Casey and Dalene Davis added six points each.
This is the Hilltoppers’ first state title and first state finals appearance. Young won the AA state title in 1998 and class 4A titles in 2009, 2014 and 2017. The Dolphins lost the Class 4A title game in 2010 and 2018.
The 14-year Public League basketball winning streak is over. The Public League team has won the state title in every season since Derrick Rose and Simeon won the AA title in 2006, a total of 20 titles in 14 seasons.
“I think the best team won today,” young coach Tyrone Slaughter said. “They had a phenomenal run and they completed it the way they wanted. I have no tears because my guys did everything I asked them to.”