A Morton Grove school will be cheering on its eighth grade boys basketball team in the state finals this weekend, which marks a first.
MCC Academy became the first Islamic school to win an Illinois Elementary Sports Association sectional championship.
The Crescents are undefeated this season after winning Monday’s sectional game by 19 points.
Small forward Ayoub Ibrahim says they will keep their intensity up during Saturday’s game in Kankakee because anything can happen.
Superintendent Habeeb Quadri tells WBBM the small academy is one of about a dozen Islamic schools in the state and has been working with other private schools to arrange games.
“Sports sometimes brings people together and I think that’s been great to see,” he says.
An additional challenge for the team this season is they’ve had to practice and play home games at other schools while its gym is under construction.
Quadri sees it as a growth opportunity, saying the boys have learned to adapt.
The team will play Midwest Central from downstate Green Valley Saturday at 2:30pm and if they continue their winning streak, they’ll play a second game at 5:30pm and possibly the championship next week.