9 Peoria-area girls basketball teams headed to the 2026 IHSA sectionals

[ASFN Admin]

The 2026 Illinois High School Association girls basketball regional championships were Thursday night around the state of Illinois. Four more local teams — Illini Bluffs, Elmwood, Bureau Valley and Metamora — play for regional championships on Friday.

Here are the nine teams so far from the Peoria area that won regional championships and advanced to sectional semifinals next week.

CLASS 1A​

Havana​

• How they won: Host Havana won back-to-back regional championships for the first time in 10 years, beating West Prairie, 56-26 for the regional title on Thursday. The Ducks are looking for the program's first sectional championship since 2023.
• What's next: Havana (24-6) vs. Elmwood Regional winner, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Bushnell-Prairie City Sectional semifinal.

Abingdon-Avon​

• How they won: Abingdon won three successive regional championships for the first time in co-op history, beating Brimfield, 48-31 for the regional championship on Thursday. The Tornadoes, who made last season's Elite Eight, beat Brimfield for the second time this season.
• What's next: Abingdon-Avon (26-5) vs. Mt. Sterling Brown County (28-3), 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Bushnell-Prairie City Sectional semifinal.

Deer Creek-Mackinaw​

• How they won: Top-seed and No. 1-ranked Deer Creek-Mackinaw beat Heart of Illinois Conference foe Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley, 57-44 in Thursday's Armstrong Regional championship. Dalia Dejesus scored 27 points for the Chiefs, who also got 11 points from Jaelyn Nunley. Dee-Mack is the sectional for a fourth straight season.
• What's next: Dee-Mack (29-3) vs. Roanoke-Benson (23-8), 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Gilman Iroquois West Sectional semifinal.

What a battle! Dee-Mack defeats GCMS 57-44 to win a Regional Championship! Our seniors were the star of stars--Dalia Dejesus led with 27, followed by Jaelyn Nunley with 11. So proud of this squad! pic.twitter.com/w5Ad7NZHqn

— DeeMack Lady Hoops (@DMladychiefs) February 20, 2026

Roanoke-Benson​

• How they won: Roanoke-Benson won back-to-back regionals for the first time in program history, defeating host Clifton Central, 49-25 on Thursday. Bri Harms scored 25 points to lead the Rockets, who ride a six-game win streak into their third sectional.
• What's next: Roanoke-Benson (23-8) vs. Dee-Mack (29-3), 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Gilman Iroquois West Sectional semifinal.

Back to Back Regional Champs! 49-25 over Clifton Central.@harms_bri was unstoppable dropping 25 points and dishing out assists all night. @JordynT44 added 8 points in the win!@hoijim@KurtPegler@AdamDuvall@Brock_Alkire@Pg_Reinhardt@ClutchSportsILpic.twitter.com/GDtXhXakgN

— Roanoke-Benson Girls Basketball (@RBRocketsGBB) February 20, 2026

Wethersfield​

• How they won: In the Fulton Regional championship, Wethersfield knocked off second-seed Pecatonica, 36-32 on Thursday. The Flying Geese won back-to-back regional titles for first time in seven years, while looking to end a 20-year drought without a sectional title.
• What's next: Wethersfield (22-9) vs. Lanark Eastland (27-6), 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Lanark Eastland Sectional semifinal.

Midland​

• How they won: Top-seeded Midland ended a 27-year stretch between regional championships with a 52-45 win over Yorkville Christian in the Serena Regional final on Thursday. The Timberwolves continue to set the program's single-season wins mark and enter sectional play on a 12-game winning streak.
• What's next: Midland (25-7) vs. Aurora Christian (12-15), 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Shabbona Indian Creek Sectional semifinal.

CLASS 3A​

Washington​

• How they won: No. 1-ranked Washington made it a clean sweep against host Dunlap, beating its Mid-Illini Conference rival, 61-33. The Panthers, who are heading to a sectional for a fifth consecutive season, got 17 points from Avery Tibbs and 14 by Dani Guedet in their third win over the Eagles this season. Keyaira Haywood scored a game-high 18 points to lead Dunlap (19-13).
• What's next: Washington (30-2) vs. Ottawa (20-9), 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Galesburg Sectional semifinal.

Regional Champs!
Final at Dunlap:
Washington 61
Dunlap 33
Lady Panthers advance to the Galesburg Sectional- Tuesday at 7:30pm. Congratulations ladies!! pic.twitter.com/bZp0FL6CVd

— WCHS #308 Athletics (@wchs_308sports) February 20, 2026

Galesburg​

• How they won: In a rematch of closely contested regular season meeting, second-seeded Galesburg put the clamps down on No. 3-seed Morton, 35-19 in the East Peoria Regional title on Thursday. The Silver Streaks look to win the program's first sectional championship since 2011.
• What's next: Galesburg (27-4) vs. the Metamora Regional winner, 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Galesburg Sectional semifinal.

CLASS 4A​

Richwoods​

• How they won: Top-seeded Richwoods held off a pesky Rock Island to win the East Moline United Township Regional championship, 52-48 on Thursday. The Knights won their first regional since 2020 and look to capture the program's first sectional since winning the 2018 Class 3A state title.
• What's next: Richwoods (23-4) vs. Moline (25-7), 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Richwoods Sectional semifinal.

Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: IHSA girls basketball: 2026 regional scores, sectional teams from Peoria

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