Wotta game. Hyped all season, the seemingly inevitable Illinois boys’ basketball title matchup between top-ranked Simeon and number two Proviso East—neither of whom had lost all season within the state—turned out to be one of those rare athletic events that actually transcend expectations.

If you missed Simeon’s 50-48 victory—broadcast locally on a spare digital channel of WMAQ TV—I’m sorry the hype didn’t make it more imperative to watch.