On the weekend of March 25-27, 2022, the top teams from Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin will meet in Peoria, Illinois to battle it out for the 2nd Annual Great Lakes States Basketball Championship.   After a long regular season playing against other teams in your area, the State Basketball Championship offers teams the shot to compete against fresh faces from all corners of the Great Lakes States. This is not your ordinary league tournament, but rather the chance of a lifetime for all kids... "Remember the time we went to States!?!"

Championship Overview

• Two Championship divisions - "Feeder/School" and "Club".  Both divisions offer exciting competition for Boys and Girls grades 3-8.
• All teams play a minimum of 4 games. Some will play 5 games.
• Play begins as early as 5pm Friday and the latest Sunday games will tip off at 4:45pm.
• Entry fees are regularly $400 per team, however early sign up and multiple team discounts are available.
• Awards for teams and for 1st and 2nd places in both divisions
• Game results immediately posted to the website after completion

There's more! Here's what you'll get when we See You at STATES!

• Players and coaches will play youth teams that they've never faced before.  We'll have teams traveling from cities along the Great Lakes to the north, to all points connected via interstate into Indianapolis, and down to Evansville and the Hoosier National Forest in the south.  And, of course, there'll be hometown teams representing southern Indiana!
• Partner hotels and resorts offering discounted rates.
• Competition will be held at clean, multi-court facilities. Friday evening and Saturday will feature exciting pool play with Sunday bringing the magic of the semi-finals and Championship games.
• Certified referees from the local high school association.
• Pre-determined scoreboard operators and scorebook keepers. No need for State coaches to pull visiting parent volunteers from the stands. So parents can sit back and relax (if watching your child compete in the Championship is relaxing?!)
• All of the above while enjoying the town of Peoria - one the top tourist destinations in Illinois! Click here to start planning your trip. 

We really enjoyed the tournament!  It will be memories that last a life time for all of us...We have some younger teams that have been influenced by the experience they had watching their brothers at the State Tournament and are looking forward to Seeing You at State for many years to come.

Coach Ricks
Aurora Central 8th grade boys

I wanted to thank you for putting together an amazing tournament this weekend.  It was well organized with extremely nice facilities.  State College was the perfect location to host this event.

Our girls had a blast and made memories that will last a life time.

We look forward to year two next year!  

Dave S
Thomas Jefferson 5th Grade Girls