Boys Basketball | Illinois Valley

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.

A look at the best boys basketball players in the NewsTribune area for the 2025-26 season.

La Salle-Peru sophomore Marion Persich is the NewsTribune Boys Basketball Player of the Year after leading the area in scoring and helping L-P to its third straight regional title.

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

Mendota sophomore Cole Tillman was voted Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Class 2A All State.

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.

Princeton's Keighley Davis and Bureau Valley's Libby Endress were special mention IBCA All State, plus more in the NewsTribune sports briefs.

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