The annual Intercity basketball tournament is being reimagined for the 2024-25 basketball season thanks to title sponsor State Farm.

November’s inaugural State Farm Bloomington-Normal Intercity Basketball Tournament will mark the first time that both boys and girls Intercity basketball teams will compete together under one roof.

Both boys and girls tournaments will be held concurrently Nov. 23 to Dec. 2 at Illinois Wesleyan University’s Shirk Center, with Community, West, Bloomington, Central Catholic and U-High each meeting in head-to-head action.

Bloomington High School’s Athletic Director Tony Bauman, the host of this year’s event, expressed his enthusiasm for the tournament’s new format in a Nov. 6 press release.

“We are incredibly excited to … showcase our talented intercity athletes in such a dynamic format,” Bauman said.

In the same press release, State Farm CEO Jon Farney, a Community alum, said, “State Farm aims to consistently make a difference in the communities we serve.”

A difference of note that the new format offers is the opportunity for the Twin Cities girls programs to tip off at Dennie Bridges Court for the first time in Intercity action. In years past, the girls Intercity tournament was held at the area high schools.

Ironmen girls basketball head coach Mr. Dave Feeney sees the new format as a positive in the big picture.

“I think it’s really good for girls basketball,” Feeney said, “playing on a college floor, playing at the Shirk Center, our kids will be super excited about that.”

Both of Community’s boys and girls programs saw success at the Shirk Center last season, after the boys clinched an Intercity title there with a narrow win over the West Wildcats, Community made headlines by sweeping both State Farm Holiday Classic boys’ and girls’ titles.

The boys head coach, Mr. Dave Witzig, likes the new format for what it adds to the Ironmen fan experience—two double-header contests.

“I think there’s going to be a lot of Normal Community people who really like this format, [getting] to see both teams at one time,” Witzig said.

That added fan support is something Feeney sees as a positive, too.

“If there’s a big crowd to boot, I think that’d be awesome and be a great atmosphere,” Feeney said, “and hopefully prepare us for bigger and better games down the road.”

But despite the net positives, Feeney has some mixed feelings about the adjusted Intercity format.

“I’m excited, selfishly,” Feeney said, “that we get extra days to prepare.”

But pushing the start of the girls season back a week means the team will be in Intercity action over Thanksgiving break.

“I’m a little disappointed,” Feeney said, “because Thanksgiving was the one holiday and whole weekend that we could tell our kids ‘spend time with your family’ and ‘just be completely off.’ Now we’re playing on Wednesday night, and we’re playing on Friday, so it changes that a little bit.”

For the boys program and head coach Mr. Dave Witzig, these holiday tournaments are nothing new.

“The worst part about coaching basketball,” Witzig said, “and this is maybe the only negative, is that we have a Thanksgiving tournament, a Christmas tournament and totally impacts our families.”

For Witzig, the only minor drawback of the new format is the Iron will have less time to scout opponents, as they used to observe the games before or after their own.

“More time in the gym is not ideal,” Witzig said, “because you want to spend more time with family.”

Last year, the girls won a third consecutive Intercity title, while the boy’s victory was a rare feat for the veteran head coach Witzig.

The title, Witzig said, was “only the fourth or fifth time we’ve won” in his 25 years coaching the Iron boys.

Intercity Tournament Schedule 

Saturday, 11/23

Girls v. West Wildcats – 6:30 p.m.

Monday, 11/25 

Boys v. West Wildcats – 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, 11/26

Girls v. Bloomington Raiders – 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, 11/27

Girls v. U-High Pioneers – 5:30 p.m.

Boys v. U-High Pioneers – 7 p.m.

Friday, 11/29

Girls v. Central Catholic Saints – 5:30 p.m.

Boys v. Central Catholic Saints – 7 p.m.

Monday, 12/2

Boys v. Bloomington Raiders – 6:30 p.m.