With four teams winning regionals, two making supersectionals, a third-place team in Class 3A and four all-state selections, there was no shortage of talent in the Daily Chronicle coverage area. We highlight the best in our All-Area Team.

Kaneland senior Marshawn Cocroft, who averaged 21 points a game and led the Knights to a 36-1 record and a third-place finish in Class 3A, is the 2025-26 Daily Chronicle Boys Basketball Player of the Year.

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

The Benet, Kaneland and York boys basketball teams traveled to Champaign this weekend to represent their schools in the IHSA state championships.

After being a rotational staple for Kaneland in the regular season, Jake Buckley's postseason playing took major hit. But that changed in a big way in the 3A third-place game, as the senior forward had a big hand in helping the Knights beat Leo 35-32.

Kaneland held off a late Leo run for a 35-32 win to take third in the Class 3A third-place game, placing for the first time since 1973. Marshawn Cocroft scored 18 to lead the Knights and Jalen Carter grabbed 10 rebounds.

Marshawn Cocroft's shot near the end of regulation extended Kaneland's season for four more minutes Friday in a Class 3A semifinal against. His 3-pointer at the buzzer of overtime couldn't duplicate the feat as the Knights fell 49-48 to Deerfield.

Kaneland lost to Deerfield Friday afternoon in overtime in the IHSA Class 3A state championship semifinal game in the State Farm Center at the University of Illinois in Champaign.

Check out some of the best pictures captured by Daily Chronicle photographers for Shaw Local News Network the week of March 6-12, 2026.