At famed Virgil Fletcher Gymnasium at Collinsville High School, during half-time of a key conference game between the Kahoks and the East St. Louis Flyers, the IBCA honored the Southwestern Conference as a 2025 Organization of the Year. In the photo are: ESL Assistant AD Brian Schoby, ESL AD Darren Sunkett, BOD Steve Allen, Southwestern Conference Commissioner Bill Schmidt, former Alton Telegraph Sports Editor and IBCA Hall of Famer Steve Porter, HOF player Rich Essington, and Collinsville AD Clay Smith.
Originally named the Southwest Conference in the 1923-24 season, Alton, Belleville, Collinsville, Edwardsville, Granite City, and Wood River were the original 6 members. Current members include Alton Sr., Belleville East, Belleville West, Collinsville, East St. Louis Sr., Edwardsville, and O’Fallon.
Granite City was the first Southwestern Conference team to win a basketball state championship in 1940. Including Collinsville (twice), Belleville West (twice), and East St. Louis (once), the conference has won 6 boys state titles. On the girls’ side, O’Fallon won the 4A title in 2023.
On Saturday, May 3, the IBCA will again recognize the Southwestern Conference at the annual Hall of Fame Banquet held at Redbird Arena on the campus of Illinois State University.
Congratulations to all members of the Southwestern Conference – past and present – on selection as one of three 2025 IBCA Organization of the Year!
