{"id":184016,"date":"2026-02-28T04:02:09","date_gmt":"2026-02-28T04:02:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/184016\/"},"modified":"2026-02-28T04:02:09","modified_gmt":"2026-02-28T04:02:09","slug":"kankakee-secures-regional-three-peat-with-dominant-93-41-win-over-plano-shaw-local","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/184016\/","title":{"rendered":"Kankakee secures regional three-peat with dominant 93-41 win over Plano \u2013 Shaw Local"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kankakee<\/a> collected the first piece of postseason hardware on its quest for the program\u2019s first-ever state title, putting on a dominant performance in Friday\u2019s IHSA Class 3A Geneseo Regional championship.<\/p>\n

The Kays secured their third straight regional title, won their 23rd game in a row and set a new season high in points in a 93-41 win over Plano<\/a>, and will now advance to play East Peoria (29-4) in the 3A Ottawa Sectional semifinals on March 4.<\/p>\n

Friday\u2019s win came two days after the Kays (28-1) faced a bit of an early scare against Morris in Wednesday\u2019s semifinal.<\/p>\n

The Kays responded and won that game 63-36, but senior Lincoln Williams said he and his teammates wanted to have a strong showing Friday to hit the rest of the postseason with plenty of momentum.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat game on Wednesday was our first game in I think a week and a half,\u201d he said. \u201cI think tonight we were well-conditioned, and it showed. It showed in the score. …<\/p>\n

\u201cThese next games, I think it\u2019s five games to win state, are going to be pretty tough. I think we can do it this year.\u201d<\/p>\n

Williams led the team with 24 points, 11 rebounds and six steals, also adding four assists. <\/p>\n

Unlike Wednesday\u2019s game, Kankakee never trailed Friday after Kenaz Jackson Jr. made a 3-pointer on the game\u2019s opening possession.<\/p>\n

Kankakee’s Kenaz Jackson Jr. opened the scoring with this 3-pointer and it’s been all Kays since. They lead Plano 19-9 after one quarter of play. pic.twitter.com\/uvMsulMISa<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Adam Tumino (@ATuminoTDJS) February 28, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

The Kays pulled ahead 19-9 by the end of the first quarter, and after Plano (19-13) cut it back to eight at 21-13, the Kays started to run away.<\/p>\n

They led 56-22 at the half and 77-35 after three before outscoring Plano 16-3 in the fourth.<\/p>\n

Senior EJ Hazelett picked up his first regional title with Kankakee after starting his high school career in Indiana. He finished with 21 points, five rebounds and pair of steals.<\/p>\n

Along with Williams, Myair Thompson, Kenaz Jackson Jr. and Cedric Terrell III, Hazelett has fit right into a starting five that he says is continuing to strengthen its bond.<\/p>\n

\u201cOver this season, we\u2019ve gotten so much better playing with each other,\u201d he said. \u201cWe know what our strengths and weaknesses are, so I feel like we\u2019re just playing off each other. I feel like that\u2019s getting us to where we need to get.\u201d<\/p>\n

All five starters scored in double figures Friday, with Thompson adding 12 points and Jackson and Terrell scoring 11 apiece. <\/p>\n

Thompson added three rebounds and three assists, Jackson had 10 rebounds, and Terrell had four steals and a team-high eight assists, including a lob to Williams in transition as the Kays started pulling away in the second quarter.<\/p>\n

This lob from Cedric Terrell III to Lincoln Williams was part of a dominant 28-6 run by Kankakee to close the first half. Williams has 15 points and the Kays lead Plano 56-22 at halftime. pic.twitter.com\/NBThxLxUlv<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Adam Tumino (@ATuminoTDJS) February 28, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

While players like Williams and Hazelett sometimes get the bulk of the attention, Kankakee head coach Chris Pickett said that the chemistry the team has found up and down the roster \u2013 as displayed by the 17 assists Friday \u2013 can potentially carry the Kays far.<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone is doing their job, everyone is doing their role, and right now we\u2019re at a point where everyone has to be selfless,\u201d he said. \u201cOur end goal is to get as far as we can possibly get, and you cannot be a selfish player doing that. They realize that.\u201d<\/p>\n

The next step toward Champaign begins Wednesday against an East Peoria team that is riding high after winning its first regional title in 29 years.<\/p>\n

Williams said that while it\u2019s nice to enjoy Friday\u2019s win a bit, there is plenty more work to do.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is some of the guys\u2019 first (regional), and they\u2019re pretty excited,\u201d he said. \u201cBut the job\u2019s not finished. We\u2019ve got East Peoria [on] Wednesday, and that\u2019s going to be a good one.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The Kankakee boys basketball team poses with its IHSA Class 3A Geneseo Regional plaque on Feb. 27, 2026. (Adam Tumino)<\/p>\n

While Plano\u2019s season came to an end, the Reapers managed to increase their win total for the fourth year in a row, thanks in large part to seniors Alan Contreras, Mario Baca, Eric Nunez and Kevin Martinez.<\/p>\n

Sophomore Cooper Beaty and junior Ethan Taxis led the team with 13 and 11 points, respectively. <\/p>\n

\u201cI think we were intimidated a little bit early, and we didn\u2019t play with the focus we normally do,\u201d coach Matt Kee said. \u201cWe\u2019re sad to see our seniors go, but we\u2019re excited about some of our underclassmen. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re a pretty young team, so hopefully this sticks a bit and takes us into the offseason and we\u2019ll be back.\u201d<\/p>\n