Four big time games at University of Illinois Springfield and the Chicago Area did well goin-0. Some people surmised the tough schedule the Chicago Area teams play game in and game out. Here we go:
METAMORA 59 O'FALLON 58: Defending Class 3A Champs were pushed in this one. Winona State commit Tyler Mason (#10) hit 1 of 3 three free throws after getting fouled shooting a three with 0.3 seconds on the clock. Missed the third one on purpose and O'Fallon did not get off a shot. O'Fallon led 12-10 after one quarter, and 29-26 at half. Mason took over to start third quarter with 7 points and a couple of steals to start the second half. Metamora led 45-39 after three quarters. Iowa commit senior Cooper Koch (#30) of Metamora was gave MVP with 20 points 7 rebounds 3 steals. Mason had 16 points 7 assists and 2 blocks. Senior Luke Hopp (#14) added 13 points 5 rebounds 3 assists 1 block off bench. Senior Rini Harris led O'Fallon with 18 points 1 rebound 2 assists 4 steals and 1 block. Senior Jaeden Rush had 13 points 7 rebounds 8 assists 2 steals and 1 block. Metamora upped it's record to 6-3 (has since won another game), O'Fallon dropped to 6-5.
ALTON 55 NOTRE DAME (PEORIA) 42 (GIRLS): Junior power forward Jarius Powers (#44) of Alton is a BEAST!!!!! This is in a good way as she's big time on the glass and hard to keep off picking up rebounds. She was game MVP with 17 points and 12 rebounds (double/double). Added 3 assists 1 steal and 1 block. She has a tag team partner on the glass in fellow junior Talia Norman. She had 9 rebounds. Sophomore Kiyoko Proctor is only 5'6" but she's a ball of energy and hard to stop on the bounce. Had game high 19 points 4 rebounds 2 assists. Team has 1 senior on the squad. Should be a powerhouse the next two years. Notre Dame led 13-8 after one quarter. Alton led 24-20 at half, and 36-26 at end of third quarter. Notre Dame had two young ladies tie for scoring honors with 9. Junior Kaitlin Cassidy and sophomore Lexi Baer both tallied that total. Cassidy had 5 rebounds 2 assists 2 steals and 2 blocks. Baer had 3 rebounds and 2 assists. Alton upped it's record to 10-0 (has won a game since this writing), Notre Dame dropped to 12-2.
HYDE PARK ACADEMY (CHICAGO) 49 RICHWOODS (PEORIA) 46: Hyde Park led wire to wire but Richwoods made it close in the fourth quarter behind Rutgers commit Lathan Sommerville (#24). Hyde Park played a 2-3 zone which Richwoods could not take advantage of the openings from three. They hit two the entire game. Hyde Park led 14-2 after first quarter, 27-12 at halftime, and 39-29 after three quarters. Senior Jurrell Baldwin (#5) was game MVP and had 10 of his 17 in the first half. Hyde Park got huge contributions from senior twins Maurice and Marquise Merritt who just returned to the team. They helped break the press and had a couple of driving buckets. Maurice had 9 points 3 rebounds 2 assists and 2 steals. Marquise had 4 points 5 rebounds 1 assist. Richwoods was led by Sommerville with 27 points and 10 rebounds. He was helped by senior Jared Jackson with 8 points 3 rebounds 1 assist 3 and 3 steals. Hyde Park Academy ups it's record to 7-2, while Richwoods drops to 8-2.
#3 THORNTON TOWNSHIP (HARVEY) 47 NORMAL COMMUNITY 44: Normal is ranked #1 in Class 4A by AP. Thornton led wire to wire in this one. They overcame foul trouble by Illinois commit senior Morez Johnson Jr (#12) who was game MVP to win this one. Senior Chase Abraham (#2) was a lot of the reason. He kept scoring baskets at key times for the Wildcats. He had 14 points 4 rebounds 1 assist and 1 steal. Johnson ended up with 14 points 12 rebounds 1 assist and 3 steals. Normal Community was not able to use it's size advantage as much as it needed to. With that the game was a battle in the paint. Wright State commit Jaheem Webber had a nasty two hand dunk over Morez Johnson Jr (who did not jump folks). Yes it was over him but I would say not getting dunked on. To me you have to jump to try and block a shot before calling it that. It was a POWERFUL DUNK though. Thornton led 12-5 after the first quarter, 20-12 at halftime, and 30-28 after third quarter. Thornton hit 3 threes in the game, Normal Community 2 which were both by senior Braylon Roman. Normal had three players tie for scoring honors. Seniors Noah Cleveland, Webber, and Craig Newsome all had 8 points. Cleveland had 8 rebounds 2 assists. Thornton Township ups it's record to 7-1, while Normal Community took it's first loss at 8-1 (won against Rock Island last night).
WRAP-UP: We need to take girls high school basketball more serious. The Alton vs Notre Dame (Peoria) game was very entertaining and the girls are more skilled than 6-7 years ago. This game was high quality and enjoyable to watch. For the most part they are not dunking but their fundamentals and team play are on point. Special thanks to the young ladies for giving us good quality basketball. Thanks to the organizers of the event who put on big time matchups in the middle of December.
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