Four very good teams in the semifinals but the games ended up not close at the end. The star players took over in the second half for both winning teams. Here we go:
#14 Lyons Township (LaGrange) 66 #6 St Ignatius College Prep (Chicago) 47: This game was decided in the third quarter. Lyons was leading the entire game, but St Ignatius stayed within striking distance till the faithful third stanza. This is when senior Jackson Niego (6'0") put on a point guard clinic, spinning defenders like a top, then hitting his partner senior Penn commit wing Niklas Polonowksi (6'6") with beautiful passes for four straight 3 pointers to break it open. Lyons led 16-11 after one quarter, 33-27 at the half. They went on a 16-2 run in a three minute stretch in the third quarter to lead 52-36 after three quarters, then cruised from there. Lions are good at cutting off the ball to get layups, and kick outs for open threes. Fundamentally sound and does not get sped up by defenses. Niego had a double/double 14 points and 10 assists. Polonowski had 19 points and 5 rebounds. Senior wing Connor Carroll (6'4") had 18 points 4 rebounds for the Lions. Senior forward Graham Smith (6'5") had 10 rebounds. St ignatius was led by senior wing George Mason commit Richard Barron III's (6'5") game high 24 points. Senior forward Miami (OH) commit Jackson Kotecki (6'9") had 12 points 6 rebounds and 2 blocks. Lyons Township advances to title game against Rolling Meadows and ups its record to 11-0. St Ignatius goes to the third place game against Bolingbrook with a 13-2 record and first loss to an Illinois opponent.
#8 Rolling Meadows 76 #19 Bolingbrook 61: This play encompasses the game. Late in fourth quarter senior point guard Minnesota commit Cameron Christie drives through the whole Bolingbrook defense and finishes with a nasty two handed dunk. It was a team win for the Mustangs, but the best player in the state was fouled a lot in this game. He missed 5 free throws which is unusual for him. He was 12-17 from the foul line but ended up with 34 points 7 rebounds 2 assists 2 steals and 2 blocks. Another play in the second quarter, there was a switch out onto Christie and he was being guarded by Donoven Younger (6'10"). He took his time and made a nasty crossover dribble look so easy and drilled the three pointer. Rolling Meadows led 23-10 after one quarter. Bolingbrook fought it's way back in the second quarter and was down only 34-30 at halftime. Tsvet Sotirov (6'7") hit a couple of huge shots in the third quarter to keep a working margin for the Mustangs as they led 54-45 after three quarters and cruised from there. Sotirov had 12 points 3 assists and 3 steals. Mark Nikolitch-Wilson had a double/double 18 points (a couple of huge threes) 10 rebounds and 3 assists. Sophomore wing Ian Militec (6'6") had 10 points. Bolingbrook was led by junior guard Kylan Berry-Johnson (5'11") with 12 points. Junior guard DJ Strong had 11 points. Senior point guard Miami Ohio commit Mekhi Cooper was held to 6 points by the Rolling Meadows defense who's starting lineup averages 6'6". Rolling Meadows rolls into the title game against Lyons Township (LaGrange) and ups it's record to 15-1. Bolingbrook goes to the third place game against St Ignatius College Prep (Chicago) with a record of 9-4.
News and notes:
Mount Carmel (Chicago) upsets Moline to win the Pekin Holiday Tournament.
Whitney Young (Chicago) gets revenge on Kenwood Academy (Chicago) from losing in the Proviso West Holiday Tournament Title Game last season by winning the rematch this year. Also avenge a loss to this same team in the season opener. They were without Coach Tyrone Slaughter.
Perspectives Leadership (Chicago) upsets defending Big Dipper Tournament of the Stars Champ Hyde Park Academy (Chicago) to advance to the title game.
Hinsdale Central upsets East (Oswego) to win their own tournament the Hinsdale Central Holiday Classic. Senior wing Ben Oosterbaan is name Justin Hardy MVP of the tournament.
Glenbrook North (Northbrook) survives beating Fremd by 1 as junior Josh Fridman hit the game winner at Wheeling Hardwood Classic. They advance to the title game against Libertyville.
Romeoville advances to large school title game at the State Farm Holiday Classic.
Some of the top performances:
Brett Gomez, Kennedy (Chicago) 18 points
Kenric Mosley, Longwood (Chicago) 24 points 14 rebounds (double/double) 5 blocks
Logan Smith, St Joe Ogen 25 points
Ty Pence , St Joe Ogden 23 points
Walt Hill, Lutheran (Rockford) 42 points
Jonas Johnson, DePaul College Prep (Chicago) 18 rebounds
Billy Buchanan, Evergreen Park 20 points
DJ Wallace, Hoffman Estates 16 points 9 rebounds 8 blocks
Will Buchert, Libertyville 23 points 8 rebounds 3 steals
Tim Handy, Perspectives Leadership (Chicago) 18 points 8 rebounds
JaKeem Cole, Perspectives Leadership (Chicago) 18 points
Angelo Ciaravino, Mount Carmel (Chicago) 20 points
Anthony Ciaravino, Mount Carmel (Chicago) 18 points
DeAndre Craig, Mount Carmel (Chicago) 18 points
Owen Freeman, Moline 25 points
Stefan Cicic, Riverside Brookfield 22 points
Connor May, Palatine 27 points
David Douglas Jr, Christian (Yorkville) 26 points
Meyoh Sawnsey, Romeoville 19 points
James Stevenson Jr, Momence 21 points 12 rebounds (double/double) 5 assists
Adyn McGinley, Beecher 24 points
Zack Johnson, Beecher 18 points
Larenz Walters, Kankakee 43 points (school record)
Quentin Heady, Hillcrest (Country Club Hills) 21 points 8 rebounds
Samar Bures, Rich Towsnhip 25 points
Darrin Ames, Kenwood Academy (Chicago) 24 points
Calvin Robins Jr, Kenwood Academy (Chicago) 14 points 11 rebounds (double/double)
Mason Funk, U-High (Normal) 19 points
Ty Blake U-High (Normal) 19 points
Cole Certa, Central Catholic (Bloomington) 23 points
Jake Hamilton, Sacred Heart Griffin (Springfield) 21 points 6 rebounds
Zack Hawkinson, Sacred Heart Griffin (Springfield) 19 points 6 rebounds
Daniel Johnson, Whitney Young (Chicago) 16 points 6 rebounds (Proviso West Tournament MVP)
Davee Flowers, Niles West (Skokie) 32 points
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