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"path": "/high-school-basketball/2026/02/20/curie-basketball-city-title-chicago",
"publishedAt": "2026-02-21T04:57:19.630Z",
"site": "https://chicago.suntimes.com",
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"textContent": "<p>Curie guard Justin Oliver is a nearly perfect representation of his school’s successful basketball program. Unknown and underrated early, he finished his career at the very top of Chicago basketball.</p><p>“Justin is a special kid,” Curie coach Mike Oliver said. “He came in with no name and leaves First Team All-City. He’s a quiet killer. That’s what Curie does, we sneak up on people and grind it out.”</p><p>The <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/2026/02/15/high-school-basketball-rankings-chicago-illinois-sun-times-michael-obrien\" >No. 3 Condors</a> beat No. 21 Lincoln Park 59-50 to win the city championship on <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/high-school-basketball/scores/2026/02/20/chicago-illinois-high-school-basketball-scores\" >Friday</a> at UIC. It’s the fourth city title for Oliver and the Condors.</p><p>Justin Oliver and coach Oliver are not related, but Justin’s dad played for coach Oliver.</p><p>“This has been surreal for my dad,” Justin Oliver said. “He loves it. He loves the program and trusts Mike.”</p><p>Justin Oliver led the Condors (26-1) with 15 points and seven assists. He stepped up huge in the fourth quarter with eight points and multiple assists as Curie turned a three-point advantage into a double-digit lead.</p><p>“They told me they needed me, so I got in the paint and made some passes,” Oliver said. [Kendall Holliday and Keith Collins] were the x-factors.”</p><p>Holliday, a 6-4 senior and Collins, a 6-8 senior, dominated in the post as the Condors out-rebounded Lincoln Park 33-19.</p><p>Holliday finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds and Collins added 11 points and eight rebounds off the bench.</p><p>“We just need Collins to be big and cause havoc,” Mike Oliver said. “Any points he gives us is a bonus. We needed him for the defense. That’s where we came up short last year, we had no one to rebound and play good defense in the paint.”</p><p>Mike Oliver’s son, Mike Oliver Jr., scored three points and had three assists.</p><p>“This one is real special because these are the guys [my son] came in with and their goal was to sophomore champs and city champs [and they accomplished it,” Mike Oliver said.</p><div class=\"Enhancement\" data-align-center> <div class=\"Enhancement-item\" data-crop=\"\"> <figure class=\"Figure\"><a class=\"AnchorLink\" id=\"image-1a0000\" name=\"image-1a0000\"></a> <picture data-crop=\"medium\"> <source type=\"image/webp\" width=\"490\" height=\"275\" data-srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7f28ecb/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2000x1122+0+0/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fdd%2Fb7%2F068fa6524b76aab3ab56b503ffa4%2Fob-cst-022126-7003.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2f765e5/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2000x1122+0+0/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fdd%2Fb7%2F068fa6524b76aab3ab56b503ffa4%2Fob-cst-022126-7003.jpg 2x\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" srcset=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" /> <source width=\"490\" height=\"275\" data-srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e792832/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2000x1122+0+0/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fdd%2Fb7%2F068fa6524b76aab3ab56b503ffa4%2Fob-cst-022126-7003.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" srcset=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" /> <img class=\"Image\" alt=\"Curie celebrates its Public League championship victory over Lincoln Park.\" srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e792832/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2000x1122+0+0/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fdd%2Fb7%2F068fa6524b76aab3ab56b503ffa4%2Fob-cst-022126-7003.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/23fea79/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2000x1122+0+0/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fdd%2Fb7%2F068fa6524b76aab3ab56b503ffa4%2Fob-cst-022126-7003.jpg 2x\" width=\"490\" height=\"275\" data-src=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e792832/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2000x1122+0+0/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fdd%2Fb7%2F068fa6524b76aab3ab56b503ffa4%2Fob-cst-022126-7003.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" src=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" > </picture> <div class=\"Figure-content\"><figcaption class=\"Figure-caption\"><p>Curie celebrates its Public League championship victory over Lincoln Park.</p></figcaption><span class=\"line\"></span><div class=\"Figure-credit\"><p>Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>Curie led 22-18 after a fun, fast first quarter. The rest of the game was a physical, foul-filled slog. Lincoln Park starters Ahmad Lee (nine points) and Larry Harris (eight points, six rebounds) fouled out late in the game.</p><p>“This feels amazing,” Holliday said. “It doesn’t feel great it feels tremendous. Just excellent. I worked hard for it. Even though this goal is done we still have the state championship goal and we have to work even harder for that.”</p><p>Curie’s only loss this season was to top-ranked DePaul Prep at the Pontiac Holiday Tournament. The emergence of Collins will be a significant factor in the Condors’ state playoff run.</p><p>“We worked so hard for this moment,” Justin Oliver said. “To beat a team playing their best basketball feels great. I’m ready to go win state now.”</p><p>Senior guard Jaylen Dickerson led Lincoln Park (20-8) with 17 points and sophomore Alvin Robinson scored 17.</p><p>This was the first city title game appearance for Lincoln Park in 122 years. The school was called North Division when it knocked off Austin to win the championship in 1904. It was renamed Waller and then became Lincoln Park in the late 1970s.</p><p>“I’m proud of these guys,” Lions coach Josh Anderson said. “They made a run and started playing good basketball at the right time. We didn’t finish the goal but we got where we wanted to be and our young guys were able to get a taste of the atmosphere. That is great for the program.”</p><div class=\"Enhancement\" data-align-center><div class=\"Enhancement-item\"> <div class=\"ExternalContent-wrapper\" > <div class=\"TweetUrl\"> <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Curie beats Lincoln Park 59-50 to win the city title. <a href=\"https://t.co/HLf6rosUHl\">pic.twitter.com/HLf6rosUHl</a></p>— Michael O'Brien (@michaelsobrien) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/michaelsobrien/status/2025055772900807128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 21, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src=\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script> </div> </div> </div></div><p><b>The complete list of Public League title games</b></p><p>2025—<a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/high-school-basketball/2025/02/15/kenwood-curie-public-league-championship-city-title-chicago\" target=\"_blank\" >Kenwood 67, Curie 65</a></p><p>2024—<a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/2024/2/10/24069066/curie-basketball-city-championship-kenwood-public-league-chicago-public-schools\" target=\"_blank\" >Curie 65, Kenwood 59</a></p><p>2023—<a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/2023/2/11/23596101/simeon-high-school-basketball-robert-smith-kenwood-chicago-public-league-city-title\" target=\"_blank\" >Simeon 72, Kenwood 64</a></p><p>2022—<a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/2022/2/12/22931025/whitney-young-curie-city-title-public-league-high-school-basketball-cps\" target=\"_blank\" >Young 55, Curie 50</a></p><p>2021—No city tournament due to COVID</p><p>2020—<a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/2/16/21140359/simeon-morgan-park-city-title-basketball\" target=\"_blank\" >Simeon 81, Morgan Park 76</a></p><p>2019—<a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/2/17/18493318/curie-beats-morgan-park-to-win-city-title\" target=\"_blank\" >Curie 65, Young 60</a></p><p>2018—<a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/2018/2/18/18371974/simeon-beats-orr-for-third-straight-city-championship\" target=\"_blank\" >Simeon 69, Orr 59</a></p><p>2017—<a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/2017/2/19/18494567/kezo-brown-sparks-simeon-to-city-title\" target=\"_blank\" >Simeon 68, Morgan Park 64</a></p><p>2016—Simeon 54, Kenwood 49</p><p>2015—Bogan 47, Simeon, 42</p><p>2014—Curie 69, Young 66 4 OT, (later forfeited)</p><p>2013—Young 60, Morgan Park 56, OT</p><p>2012—Simeon 53, Curie 49</p><p>2011—Brooks 67, Young 54</p><p>2010—Morgan Park 61, Marshall 60</p><p>2009—North Lawndale 54, Hyde Park 51, OT</p><p>2008—Marshall 55, Farragut 51</p><p>2007—Simeon 89, Washington 57</p><p>2006—Simeon 55, Washington 40</p><p>2005—Westinghouse 67, Simeon 52</p><p>2004—Westinghouse 60, Simeon 48</p><p>2003—Crane 80, Julian 68</p><p>2002—Westinghouse 62, Farragut 58</p><p>2001—Morgan Park 67, Crane 60</p><p>2000—Westinghouse 82, Young 60</p><p>1999—King 59, Westinghouse 39</p><p>1998—Young 67, King 46</p><p>1997—Young 72, Manley 50</p><p>1996—Westinghouse 55, Farragut 46</p><p>1995—Farragut 71, Carver 62</p><p>1994—Westinghouse 59, King 58</p><p>1993—King 77, Westinghouse 52</p><p>1992—Westinghouse 76, King 68</p><p>1991—Marshall 58, Westinghouse 38</p><p>1990—King 83, Westinghouse 48</p><p>1989—King 67, Simeon 57</p><p>1988—Simeon 66, King 59</p><p>1987—King 93, Crane 66</p><p>1986—King 49, Simeon 46</p><p>1985—Simeon 65, Carver 54</p><p>1984—Simeon 44, Robeson 42</p><p>1983—Marshall 67, Collins 62, 2 OT</p><p>1982—Marshall 58, Crane 48</p><p>1981—Westinghouse 79, Marshall 66</p><p>1980—Manley 67, Collins 55</p><p>1979—Manley 88, Westinghouse 83, 2 OT</p><p>1978—Westinghouse 71, Manley 68</p><p>1977—Phillips 77, Westinghouse 65</p><p>1976—Morgan Park 75, Vocational 60</p><p>1975—Phillips 65, Morgan Park 60</p><p>1974—Morgan Park 84, Phillips 73</p><p>1973—Hirsch 55, Parker 53</p><p>1972—Crane 75, Marshall 63</p><p>1971—Harlan 44, Tilden 38</p><p>1970—Harlan 72, DuSable 63</p><p>1969—Hirsch 72, Bowen 66</p><p>1968—Crane 75, Marshall 65</p><p>1967—Harlan 60, DuSable 56</p><p>1966—Marshall 81, Dunbar 68</p><p>1965—Marshall 69, DuSable 55</p><p>1964—Crane 63, Dunbar 58</p><p>1963—Carver 57, Harlan 51</p><p>1962—Carver 47, Marshall 39</p><p>1961—Marshall 64, DuSable 61</p><p>1960—Marshall 79, Crane 38</p><p>1959—Marshall 61, Crane 58</p><p>1958—Marshall 68, Dunbar 59</p><p>1957—Crane 66, Marshall 61</p><p>1956—Dunbar 79, Hyde Park 68</p><p>1955—Marshall 67, Crane 57</p><p>1954—DuSable 82, Lake View 65</p><p>1953—DuSable 82, Wells 74</p><p>1952—Roosevelt 63, Tilden 62</p><p>1951—Parker 64, Von Steuben 58</p><p>1950—Tilden 45, Vocational 35</p><p>1949—Tilden 54, Marshall 49</p><p>1948—Marshall 57, Von Steuben 32</p><p>1947—South Shore 58, Lane 38</p><p>1946—Tilden 59, Amundsen 51</p><p>1945—Senn 32, Von Steuben 20</p><p>1944—South Shore 51, Harper 37</p><p>1943—Kelvyn Park 28, Lindblom 26, OT</p><p>1942—Lindblom 41, Kelly 25</p><p>1941—Manley 38, Marshall 34</p><p>1940—Crane 35, Hirsch 23</p><p>1939—Lane 30, Hirsch 25</p><p>1938—Von Steuben 27, Hyde Park 24</p><p>1937—Wells 23, Farragut 21</p><p>1936—Farragut 23, Kelvyn Park 21</p><p>1935—Tilden 33, Senn 24</p><p>1934—Lane 29, Tilden 16</p><p>1933—Lake View 25, Bowen 17</p><p>1932—Crane 25, Calumet 21</p><p>1931—Crane 30, Phillips 22</p><p>1930—Phillips 20, Morgan Park 19</p><p>1929—Crane 23, Lindblom 17</p><p>1928—Crane 20, Englewood 19</p><p>1927—Englewood 20, Lane 17</p><p>1926—Lane 31, Englewood 17</p><p>1925—Hyde Park 17, Lake View 11</p><p>1924—Lane 18, Phillips 4</p><p>1923—Tilden 30, Hyde Park 11</p><p>1922—Austin 27, Lane 9</p><p>1921—Crane 21, Hyde Park 8</p><p>1920—Lane 15, Hyde Park 15, tie</p><p>1919—Schurz 17, Englewood 12</p><p>1918—Englewood 21, McKinley 8</p><p>1917—Phillips 22, Lane 11</p><p>1916—Hyde Park 24, Marshall 20</p><p>1915—Lane 23, Calumet 7</p><p>1914—Parker 18, Lane 16</p><p>1913—Hyde Park 11, Englewood 9</p><p>1912—Hyde Park 19, Lyons 18</p><p>1911—Lane 34, Hyde Park 29</p><p>1910—Englewood 30, Calumet 18</p><p>1909—Lake View 40, Calumet 17</p><p>1908—Lake 25, Austin 21</p><p>1907—Lake View 24, Austin 21</p><p>1906—Oak Park 21, Austin 14</p><p>1905—Austin 62, Lake 22</p><p>1904—North Division 26, Austin 19</p><p>1903—North Division 41, Medill 14</p><p>1902—Medill 16, Lake 15</p><p>1901—Hyde Park 23, North Division 22, OT<br></p>",
"title": "Justin Oliver's late surge beats Lincoln Park and secures Curie's fourth city championship",
"updatedAt": "2026-02-21T04:57:26.203Z"
}