In a longtime rivalry, Friday night’s boys basketball clash between Rockridge and Sherrard may be the highest-profile game the programs have ever played against each other.
Eyes from around Illinois will be on Edgington as the Tigers and Rockets have both been tabbed as top teams in the state all season. This week, Sherrard is No. 8 in the 2A AP Poll and No. 9 in the Nesto Hoops rankings. Rockridge received votes in the 2A AP Poll and the Rockets are No. 10 from Nesto Hoops.
Sherrard (18-2, 5-0 TRAC West) has won five games in a row after a 57-47 loss to West Hancock on Jan. 4, most notably over Dyett 49-41 at Wharton Field House Saturday to vault into the 2A top 10. The only other loss for the Tigers was against Rockford Christian on Nov. 30.
Rockridge (15-6, 4-1 TRAC West) is 11-2 in its last 13 games after starting the season 4-4, with wins in that stretch against West Hancock, Peoria Christian and Bloomington Central Catholic. The 2024-25 schedule the Rockets put together is likely the most challenging the program has ever played and, by most metrics, the toughest 2A schedule in the state. Rockridge’s losses are to Dyett, Rock Island, Sherrard, Moline, United Township and East Peoria.
Sherrard won the first meeting over Rockridge in a 38-35 slugfest at Harry Hunt Gymnasium on Dec. 6. The Tigers opened the game on an 11-2 run and never relinquished the lead. The win snapped a 13-game losing streak for Sherrard against Rockridge and also ended the Rockets’ 35-game winning streak in conference games.
Sherrard holds a one-game lead on Rockridge in the conference race and both teams feed into the same postseason sub-sectional. Both head coaches talked to WRMJ about the importance of Friday’s battle.
Sherrard boys basketball coach Alex Johnson
Rockridge boys basketball coach Jordan Harris
Rockridge hosts Sherrard Friday night. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. WRMJ’s pregame coverage will start at approximately 6:30 p.m. Listen on 102.3 FM, wrmj.com, or via the WRMJ Studios mobile app.