Defending Class 4A state champs Belleville West open with Urbana at Washington Tournament of Champions

The defending Class 4A state champion Belleville West Maroons will be spending part of their Thanksgiving holiday break at the Tournament of Champions in Washington, Illinois.

Led by the reigning Illinois’ Mr. Basketball in senior EJ Liddell, the Maroons will take on Urbana at 8:45 p.m. on Nov. 20 . West will compete in the National Classic as part of the Washington Tournament of Champions at Washington High School.

West will take on Lakewood (S.C.) at 12:45 p.m. on Nov. 21 then will close out play in its four-team pool on Nov. 23 against Mobile (Ala.) Le Flore High School at 6:15 p.m.

The tournament concludes on Nov. 24 with pairings to be determined.

Le Flore, which finished 28-7 a year ago, is led by Wichita State recruit DeAntoni Gordon

The trip to the Washington Tournament of Champions is the second straight for Belleville West which advanced to the title game a year ago before losing 84-74 to Sam Houston (Texas) Math and Science. The Maroons went on to finish 32-2, winning the Class 4A state championship with a 60-56 victory over Chicago Whitney Young.

This story was originally published August 28, 2018 at 12:40 PM.