Deerfield Rides Wave to First State Quarterfinal Appearance

Charlie Yellen's key basket ends scoring drought, propels Warriors to 51-36 supersectional win over Wheaton St. Francis

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Deerfield High School boys basketball team overcame a second-quarter scoring drought and used a 10-2 run to start the second half to defeat Wheaton St. Francis 51-36 in the Class 3A Hoffman Estates Supersectional on Monday. Sophomore guard Charlie Yellen's basket late in the first half ended the Warriors' scoring drought and sparked their decisive run, helping Deerfield advance to the state quarterfinals for the first time in program history.

Why it matters

Deerfield’s state quarterfinal appearance marks a significant milestone for the program, which has never reached this level of the postseason before. The Warriors’ victory over a tough Wheaton St. Francis squad showcases their resilience and ability to make key plays when the offense stalls, a trait that will be crucial as they look to make a deep run in the state tournament.

The details

After building an early 13-point lead, Deerfield went scoreless for several minutes in the second quarter, allowing Wheaton St. Francis to cut the deficit to just one point. But Yellen’s basket with 15 seconds left in the half stopped the bleeding, and the Warriors then opened the third quarter on a 10-2 run to regain control. Senior guard Evan Nagler led Deerfield with 20 points, while Yellen finished with six points, including the first basket of the fourth quarter.

  • Deerfield built an early 13-point lead in the first half.
  • Wheaton St. Francis cut the deficit to one point in the second quarter.
  • Yellen scored a basket with 15 seconds left in the first half to end Deerfield’s scoring drought.
  • Deerfield opened the third quarter with a 10-2 run to regain control of the game.
  • Deerfield defeated Wheaton St. Francis 51-36 on Monday, March 9, 2026.

The players

Charlie Yellen

A sophomore guard for the Deerfield High School boys basketball team who scored a key basket late in the first half to end the Warriors’ scoring drought and spark their decisive second-half run.

Evan Nagler

A senior guard for the Deerfield High School boys basketball team who led the Warriors with 20 points in their 51-36 supersectional victory over Wheaton St. Francis.

Deerfield High School

The boys basketball team from Deerfield, Illinois that advanced to the state quarterfinals for the first time in program history with their 51-36 win over Wheaton St. Francis in the Class 3A Hoffman Estates Supersectional.

Wheaton St. Francis

The boys basketball team from Wheaton, Illinois that lost to Deerfield 51-36 in the Class 3A Hoffman Estates Supersectional.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

Deerfield will play Kaneland (35-0) in the Class 3A state quarterfinals at 10 a.m. on Friday at the State Farm Center in Champaign.

The takeaway

Deerfield’s state quarterfinal appearance showcases the team’s resilience and ability to make key plays when the offense stalls, a trait that will be crucial as they look to make a deep run in the state tournament. The Warriors’ victory over a tough Wheaton St. Francis squad marks a significant milestone for the program, which has never reached this level of the postseason before.