Niles North (Skokie) dominates wire to wire over Vernon Hills to keep stranglehold on Central Suburban North led by junior Collin Tobin!!! Top performances in state tonight!!!!!

Vernon Hills was trying to take the lead in the Central Suburban North, but was handicapped by senior big man Daniel Obhiambo being out with ankle injury. It showed on the glass.

Niles North (Skokie) 64 Vernon Hills 47:

Story was rebounding early as Niles North climbed the offensive glass collecting 7 in the first half. Senior forward Tom Opio (6'2") (#44) had 4 in the start. Senior forward Mustaf Rexhepi (6'4") had the other 3. It was also the on the ball defense of Niles North which was physical and stifling. They made it hard for Vernon Hills to get to their scoring spots on the court. Vikings guards were getting steals and making Vernon Hills run down the shot clock to take desperation shots at the end of the clock. As for Niles North's offense, senior point guard Rayne Punzal was getting into the lane at will and either scoring, or dropping passes off the three point shooters. He had 7 assists for the game. Junior guard Collin Tobin (6'3") (#5) was aggressive scoring in the mid range, on cuts to the rim, and posting up on the block. His three was not falling tonight (0/4), but got off 13 shots in the first half. Didn't need to shoot as much in the second half. Niles North led 19-11, 40-20 at recess, and 54-29 after three and cruised from there. Vernon Hills top scorer senior Brady Larsen fouled out with 3:29 to go in the third ruining any chances of a Vernon Hills comeback. Niles North (Skokie) ups it's record to 12-4, 4-0 in Central Suburban North, while Vernon Hills drops to 11-5, 3-1 in conference. Return go is February 6th at Vernon Hills. Obhiambo should be back in a couple of weeks.

Top performers:

Niles North (Skokie):

Junior Colllin Tobin 20 points (8/19 FG) 2 steals

Senior Rayne Punzal 12 points 7 assists 2 steals

Senior Tom Opio 12 points 7 rebounds

Senior Mustaf Rexhepi 7 points 8 rebounds 2 steals 1 block

Vernon Hills:

Senior Jeremy Zamost 12 points 6 rebounds 2 steals

Senior Brady Larsen 10 points

Senior Graham Lis 9 points 1 steal 1 block

Junior Riley Cline 9 points 9 rebounds

Top performances in state:

Jamier Montgomery, Crane Medical (Chicago) 17 points (junior)

Demarion Clark, Fenger (Chicago) 16 points 12 rebounds (double/double) 6 assists

TJ Eaton, Rich Township (Richton Park) 25 points 3 steals

Cameron Mercer, Riverside Brookfield 25 points (scored 1000th point over holidays)

Trey'Veon Roberts, Waukegan 19 points

Jaali "Rico" Love, Waukegan 16 points 6 rebounds 100th career block

Carter Newsome, Waukegan 16 points 4 steals

Bryce Wegrzyn, Libertyville 25 points 12 rebounds (double/double) (Winona State commit)

Brady Harris, Francis Parker (Chicago) 28 points 5 rebounds

Donovan "Donny" Williams, Stevenson (Lincolnshire) 28 points (2 dunks) 5 rebounds

Rocco Pagliocca, Stevenson (Lincolnshire) 18 points 5 rebounds 2 steals

Joseph Lubbe, York Township (Elmhurst) 27 points (junior)

Hunter Stepanich, York Township (Elmhurst) 19 points

Deven Marshall, Rock Island 32 points (junior)

Logan Kurtz, Tuscola 21 points 4 steals

Torey Baskin, Hoffman Estates 25 points 5 rebounds 7 steals

Bryce Smith Hoffman Estates 10 rebounds

Michael Nee, Glenbard East (Lombard) 23 points (7 threes) (South Dakota commit)

Ali Tharwani, Marmion Academy (Aurora) 19 points 6 rebounds

Joey Kramer, Marmion Academy (Aurora) 15 points 8 rebounds

Freddy Battaglia, Lake Park (Roselle) 20 points 8 rebounds 5 assists

Brennan Shannon, Lake Park (Roselle) 16 points 17 rebounds (double/double) 3 blocks (sophomore)

Ryan Dinnon, Andrew (Tinley Park) 28 points 10 rebounds (double/double) (junior)

Malik Mahmoud, Andrew (Tinley Park) 20 points

Collin Burns, Morton 17 points

Quinton Kitt, East Peoria 22 points (junior) (Illinois commit)

Angelo Adams, St Rita (Chicago) 22 points (sophomore)

Eze Nwangu, St Rita (Chicago) 19 points (sophomore)

Michael Flynn, St Rita (Chicago) 15 points

Brady Jones, Metamora 21 points (sophomore)

Matt Welch, Glenbard North (Carol Stream) 19 points

Rylan White, Heritage 19 points

Kale McComas, Heritage 13 points 11 rebounds (double/double)

Brayden Jones, Heritage 10 points 10 rebounds (double/double)

Gavin Peppenhorst, Mater Dei Catholic (Breese) 17 points

Richie Darr, Bishop McNamara (Kankakee) 26 points

Coen Demack, Bishop McNamara (Kankakee) 17 points

Callaghan O'Connor, Bishop McNamara (Kankakee) 15 points

Nathaniel Marlow, Webber Township (Bluford) 37 points

Alex Sirbu, Buffalo Grove 25 points 15 rebounds (double/double) (junior)

Ethan Fajardo, Buffalo Grove 17 points

Joey Jakstys, Yorkville 19 points (sophomore)

Braydon Porter, Yorkville 16 points (sophomore)

Mr Basketball Jaxson Davis, Warren Township (Gurnee) 20 points (junior)

Travis Brown Jr, West Aurora 30 points (career high) (junior)

Matthew Badal, Hinckley Big Rock 26 points

Jacob Orin, Hinckley Big Rock 20 points

Kain Kretchmar, Lake Zurich 20 points

TJ Cason, West (Belleville) 16 points

Maddox Ritzel, Nashville 16 points 2 steals

Nolan Keller of Triad (Troy) scored his 1000th point tonight

Tyler Thompson of Triad (Troy) scored his 1000th point tonight

Adam Bauer, Cary Grove 25 points 13 rebounds (double/double)

Collin Booker, Metea Valley (Aurora) 19 points

Tre Watkins, Metea Valley (Aurora) 15 points (Illinois-Springfield commit)

Byrson Mossman, Routt (Jacksonville) 20 points

Adler Gray, Mendon Unity 17 points (sophomore)

Blake Arnsman, Mendon Unity 15 points

Vince Cramsey, Liberty 19 points

Eli Phillips, Providence Catholic (New Lenox) 16 points (junior)

Reece Kras, Providence Catholic (New Lenox) 16 points (sophomore)

Sean Reese, Glenbard South (Glen Ellyn) 16 points (junior)

Dajuan Brown, Bradley Bourbonnais 19 points (freshman)

Ethan Vahl, Oswego 25 points 7 rebounds 2 steals (sophomore)

Will Johnson, Sandburg (Orland Park) 21 points

Gray Kanter, Highland Park 27 points (junior)

Evan Mintzer, Highland Park 18 points

Victor Norris, Providence St Mel (Chicago) 25 points 6 assists 6 steals (junior)

Elisha Dahe, Providence St Mel (Chicago) 16 points 9 rebounds (sophomore)

Troy Garner, Bloom Township (Chicago Heights) 20 points 10 rebounds (double/double) 5 blocks (Northern Illinois football commit)

Keiwon Gulley, Bloom Township (Chicago Heights) 15 points 7 steals (freshman)

Lincoln Williams, Kankakee 20 points 5 rebounds 3 blocks

EJ Hazelett, Kankakee 20 points 12 rebounds (double/double) 6 assists (Indiana State commit)

Tayshawn Marble, Perspectives MSA (Chicago) 26 points 10 rebounds (double/double)

Jvion Tilly, Perspectives MSA (Chicago) 15 points 6 rebounds

Jordan Wordlaw, Dunbar (Chicago) 32 points 3 steals (junior)

Joesiah Johnson, Dunbar (Chicago) 21 points

Tyler Nixon, Dunbar (Chicago) 15 assists

Panayiotis Sotos, Maine South (Park Ridge) 26 points (6 threes)

Ian Smucker, Maine South (Park Ridge) 17 points (junior)

KJ Miller, East (Plainfield) 24 points 5 rebounds 4 steals (junior)

Dominic Mordini, Lake Forest 24 points

Rory Haas, Lake Forest 16 points

Matt Kuban, Reed Custer 16 points 5 rebounds (sophomore)

Jesse Tresouthick, Reed Custerf 16 points 5 rebounds (junior)

Nedas Venckus, Lockport Township 26 points (junior)

Trace Schaaf, Lockport Township 16 points 5 rebounds

Vito Rocca, Evanston Township 20 points 7 rebounds (junior)

Dion Lane Jr, Evanston Township 17 points (junior)

Dane Eisenmenger, Tolono Unity 16 points

Coleton Langendorf, Tolono Unity 15 points

Ayden Jensen, Tri Valley (Downs) 27 points

Layten Gerdes, Fieldcrest (Minook) 24 points

Robert Sansone, Montini Catholic (Lombard) 27 points

Chase Ruppert, Heyworth 31 points

Drake Been, Lincoln Way West (New Lenox) 25 points

Nathaniel Marlow, Webber 37 points