West Hancock began the high school basketball season in Illinois with a loss to Washington. However, the Titans were in position to win or tie the game on the final possession.
A controversial no call dropped them to 0-1.
It was a bummer way to start the high school basketball season. The officials blew it and even the player who committed the very obvious foul knew he was guilty.
West Hancock beat Washington.
The West Hancock Titans are a co-op team. It combines student-athletes from Hamilton High School, which enrolls only 177 students, and Warsaw High School, which enrolls only 375 students. Hamilton is located right on the Illinois-Missouri border. Warsaw is located six miles to the south.
Washington High School is located about 130 miles to the east. It enrolls more than 1,451 students.
The Panthers defeated the Titans by a final score of 45-43 on Tuesday night at the Tournament of Champions. Unfortunately, it came down to a controversial no call in the final seconds of the game.
Illinois high school basketball officials missed a blatant foul.
West Hancock trailed Washington by two points with three seconds left on the clock. It had possession with a chance to tie or win.
The Titans were able to advance the ball beyond half court and get a three-point shot off right at the buzzer but the ball bounced off the back of the rim and out. No good. Game over.
What did you see here? Not reason we lost the game but can’t get much more obvious I don’t think. pic.twitter.com/b0i2QuQXYY
— Casey Shaw (@CaseyShaw9802) November 26, 2025
Here’s the thing. The Panthers’ defender very clearly fouled the shooter from behind before the buzzer but the officials decided to swallow their whistle. He knew it too.
If the foul had been called, it would’ve been three shots.
West Hancock would’ve gone to the line with a chance to win the game on free throws. Instead, it dropped to 0-1 to begin the Illinois high school basketball season because of the no call.