Maine South Hawks Suffer Surprise Home Loss to Evanston Wildkits

Defeat drops Hawks' record to 21-7 as Wildkits pull off upset in Illinois high school basketball matchup.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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The Maine South Hawks, ranked 13th in Illinois, suffered a surprise 54-48 home loss to the 65th-ranked Evanston Wildkits on Friday. The defeat was the Hawks' first at home this season, dropping their record to 21-7. Evanston's win improved their record to 14-9.

Why it matters

The loss was unexpected given Maine South's higher ranking, highlighting the unpredictability of high school basketball and the ability of lower-ranked teams to pull off upsets, especially on the road. The game also had implications for the teams' playoff seeding and momentum heading into the postseason.

The details

Maine South entered the game as the heavy favorites, but Evanston was able to pull off the upset victory. The Hawks had previously been undefeated at home this season before the 54-48 loss to the Wildkits.

  • The game took place on Friday, February 7, 2026.
  • Maine South lost their next game 59-49 against Libertyville on February 7th as well.
  • Evanston also played on February 7th, losing 55-46 to Waubonsie Valley.

The players

Maine South Hawks

The Maine South High School basketball team, ranked 13th in Illinois.

Evanston Wildkits

The Evanston High School basketball team, ranked 65th in Illinois.

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The takeaway

This game highlights the unpredictability of high school basketball, where lower-ranked teams can sometimes pull off surprising upsets against more highly touted opponents, especially when playing at home. The loss will be a setback for Maine South as they look to maintain their ranking and positioning heading into the playoffs.