2 reasons Metamora basketball became elite — and 1 reason the Redbirds could stay there

CHAMPAIGN — Metamora hoisted the biggest trophy on the final day of the season.

The Redbirds beat their top-ranked cohorts Chicago Simeon, 46-42, in overtime to win the Class 3A state championship on Saturday night and complete a magical season. Metamora (34-2) ended its season on a 32-game win streak and for the second successive season played for the state title.

“We were so tunnel-visioned on what we had to do,” Metamora coach Danny Grieves said, “that it didn’t matter who we played, what they brought, how big they were and how quick. We had a job to do and that was our mission. We weren’t going to be OK with it until we finished it.

“We never thought we’d run this many in a row. It wasn’t part of the objective, but our mission was the same as we were to get here.”

Metamora basketball:Every story from the run to the IHSA Class 3A state championship

How did a school best known most for its powerhouse football program become the talk of Illinois high school basketball?

Here are two reasons why Metamora made back-to-back state title games and one reason why the Redbirds could make it three in row come 2024.

Metamora got bigger and stronger

Immediately following last season’s last-second, double-overtime loss to Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin, Grieves sat at the postgame news conference and said his team would need to hit the weight room if they had any chance of making it back. His team took that challenge to heart.

Over the course of the last 12 months, the Redbirds spent countless hours in the gym, at open gyms, practicing and working after practice.

“It was really motivating,” senior Drew Tucker said of last year’s state title defeat. “All our guys hit the weights hard. We needed to get bigger, stronger. … I’m just really proud of how hard we worked. We definitely deserved this one.

“We went from heroes to legends just like that.”

Said Tyson Swanson: “We put in a lot of work. Definitely in the weight room was probably the biggest thing we had to work on this last year.”

Simeon boasted a tall and solidly built line-up. The Rubin twins — 6-foot-8, 220-pound Wesley and Miles, a 6-foot-9, 215-pound forward — were a big presence in the paint. They combined for 19 points, 11 rebounds and six blocks.

However, that was exactly what Metamora had anticipated. “Last year was a very physical game,” Redbird senior Ethan Kizer said, “so this year we didn’t want to get pushed around.”

Metamora keeps it fun

Spend five minutes around Grieves, and you’ll immediately see that behind his stern demeanor is one of the kindest, fun-loving coaches in the Peoria area. His personality rubs off on his team and that was very evident at the state finals.

He says all weekend at the state finals he tried to crack a few jokes and keep the pressure off his team. They play much better when relaxed, he said.

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“You got to try it keep it light,” Grieves said, “and I told our kids all along, ‘When we’re having fun and I see smiles on their face, you got to keep them loose a little bit.’

“The biggest thing is the love they have for each other. The camaraderie and the cohesiveness is amazing. These kids here expected to win it.”

The players credit the easiness of playing together to their underclass days. They established a good on-the-court rhythm that has led to the best two-year span of basketball in program history. Now that the job is complete, there’s a different type of "fun" emotion coming from the Redbirds.

“Obviously, the emotions from this year are complete polar opposite of what it was last year," Swanson said. "It feels amazing.”

Metamora's future is bright

The loss of three senior starters — Kizer, Tucker and Swanson — will have a big impact on the Redbirds heading into next season. That trio played all 36 minutes of the state title game, combining for 28 of the team’s 46 points, plus 16 rebounds.

But don’t think for a minute that the cupboard is bare. Tyler Mason, Luke Hopp and Mathew Zobrist will be leading the charge. Mix in key junior reserve Nick Walker, a strong sophomore class and that’s a recipe for another dominant team.

“I think we have a very high chance of coming back (to the state finals),” Mason said, “especially because some of us already have experience … I think year three is very possible.”

The 6-foot-1 junior showed out on the state’s biggest stage, scoring 16 points on 6-for-11 shooting, while adding six rebounds and four assists. This is the second successive season he ended his season on the floor in the state championship game.

Hopp played almost 12-and-half minutes in the title game, recording two points and three rebounds.

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“It’s awesome to have still a year left,” the 6-foot-8 forward said, “but to be in this spot as a junior and winning it all is amazing.

“We played with pressure this whole season and obviously we executed, so we’ll do it again.”

And lastly, Zobrist will likely slide into the starting lineup after coming off the bench this season. His role increased immensely following his freshman campaign. He didn’t score in the title game, but he had five rebounds and three assists in nearly 24 minutes.

“Oh, yeah,” Zobrist said with a smile before the question about making a return trip to Champaign could even be asked. “For sure. For sure.”

Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Metamora basketball: Analysis of IHSA basketball state champion