Homewood School District 153 got to celebrate a state win by the James Hart School eighth grade girls basketball team at the school board’s Jan. 12 meeting.

Team members proudly presented their trophies after the team made it to the Class 4A state 2025 competition hosted by the Illinois Elementary School Association and brought home the fourth-place trophy.

The team’s record was 17-1 in the regular season, and 16-0 in conference play.

The team took its record into regional play where Hart defeated Crete Middle School 44-31.

In sectional play, Hart defeated Flossmoor’s Parker Junior High 42-11.  

At state play Dec. 9 in Normal, Illinois, Hart was able to move up in the competition by defeating Minooka Junior High 29-23. That pushed them into the Final Four round. In the semi-final round, Hart lost to Downers Grove Herrick School 39-29.

Hart won the fourth-place trophy after losing in the third-place game 41-27 to Arlington Heights South School.

Coach Christopher Blankenship said it is the second year Hart’s eighth grade girls team made it to state. He also coached the 2024 team that won fourth place. In 2024, the seventh grade team (today’s eighth graders) made it to the first round of the state championship.

Team members are Janiyah Allen, Nora-Rose Coleman, Jacmiah Day, Gavynn Hall, Lynn Hill, Aviyanah Kuita, Layla Lee, Mykel Leigh, Kyleigh Nelsoon, Madison Nugin, Kendalyn Walker, Skylar White, Taja White and Syneal Williams. 

Blankenship works with Henry Stuttley, assistant coach.