It’s always special when the final game of the season comes down the last play. Benet beat Warren Saturday night in a fun, memorable Class 4A state title game.
The crowds in Champaign this weekend were not spectacular. None of the schools brought an overwhelming amount of fans, but there were a significant amount of fans for all the championship bracket games. The Class 4A title game didn’t start until after 9 p.m. and that’s what most fans have reached out to complain about. DePaul Prep’s double-overtime win against Brother Rice in the 3A title game delayed things significantly.
On to the final rankings. I let the state tournament results determine the vast majority of the final rankings. Winning a holiday tournament and major wins during the regular season also factor in.
Seven teams unranked in the preseason made the final Super 25. That’s a typical number most years. I always expected Marist to be a Super 25 when Stephen Brown returned from injury. Waukegan and Fremd were right on the outskirts of the preseason rankings. Evanston and Downers Grove North are the two surprises.
Dyett slides into the last spot. The Eagles were unranked in the preseason. They won Class 2A and deserve some recognition.
Niles North (10), Lincoln Park (11), Bloom (13), New Trier (16), Joliet West (17), Barrington (22) and Lemont (25) were in the preseason rankings but missed out on the final Super 25 for various reasons.
Final Super 25 rankings for the 2024-25 season
With record and preseason ranking
1. Benet (33-5) 5
2. Warren (27-11) 2
3. DePaul Prep (33-4) 3
4. Evanston (31-6) NR
5. Rich (25-10) 4
6. Brother Rice (31-7) 23
7. Kenwood (31-2) 9
8. St. Patrick (29-8) 24
9. Curie (24-10) 21
10. Homewood-Flossmoor (30-4) 6
11. Bolingbrook (29-5) 1
12. Hinsdale Central (29-4) 20
13. Mount Carmel (29-6) 12
14. St. Laurence (29-6) 14
15. Marist (31-3) NR
16. Rolling Meadows (30-5) 19
17. Glenbard West (28-6) NR
18. Waubonsie Valley (31-3) 7
19. Downers Grove North (26-9) NR
20. Waukegan (24-8) NR
21. Young (20-14) 18
22. Simeon (21-8) 8
23. Kankakee (25-6) 15
24. Fremd (27-4) NR
25. Dyett (27-7) NR