Alton Redbirds clinch another SWC girls basketball title

Alton High School girls basketball team extends home and conference winning streaks with victory over Belleville East

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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The Alton Redbirds girls basketball team clinched their fourth consecutive Southwestern Conference (SWC) championship with a 60-58 victory over the Belleville East Lancers on Thursday night. The win extended Alton's home winning streak to 50 games and their conference winning streak to 39 games. Alton, ranked 4th in the state in Class 4A, finished the regular season with a 26-2 record and will be the top seed in the upcoming Edwardsville Regional.

Why it matters

The Alton Redbirds have established themselves as the dominant girls basketball program in the Southwestern Conference over the past four seasons. Their ability to maintain long home and conference winning streaks is a testament to the team's consistent excellence and the strong support from the local community.

The details

In Thursday's game, Alton used a 15-4 second quarter run to take a 27-20 halftime lead over Belleville East. The Redbirds maintained their lead throughout the second half, taking a 45-36 advantage into the fourth quarter. Alton was led in scoring by Kyridas Orr with 13 points, Ja'Kayla Steen with 13 points, and Kaylea Lacey with 12 points.

  • The Redbirds' home winning streak dates back to a loss against O'Fallon on January 27, 2022.
  • Alton has now won 39 consecutive SWC games, including a perfect 12-0 record this season.

The players

Kyridas Orr

A key player for the Alton Redbirds, scoring 13 points in Thursday's victory.

Ja'Kayla Steen

Also scored 13 points for the Redbirds in the conference-clinching win.

Kaylea Lacey

Contributed 12 points to Alton's offensive effort against Belleville East.

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What they’re saying

“Southwestern Conference and home-court winning streaks for Alton Redbirds girls basketball will live to enjoy another summer.”

— Greg Shashack, Reporter (thetelegraph.com)

What’s next

The Alton Redbirds will enter the postseason as the top seed in the Edwardsville Class 4A Regional, where they will look to continue their dominant run and make a deep playoff push.

The takeaway

The Alton Redbirds have established themselves as the premier girls basketball program in the Southwestern Conference, showcasing their ability to maintain long winning streaks at home and in conference play. Their consistent excellence and strong community support have made them a force to be reckoned with in the local high school sports landscape.