State Farm Holiday Classic Championship Day Review!!!!!

Big Tim's first trip to Bloomington/Normal and it was title day. Saw the boys large school third place game, small school girls title, small school boys title game, large school girls title game, and finally boys large school title game. Note: Need to get better chairs for media. Cushions were great but they kept rolling away from the table like someone was pulling it from behind. Would be nice to be able to lock them in. Otherwise great atmosphere and comfortable college gym at Illinois Wesleyan. Here we go:

Myles Montgomery (#3) of Sacred Heart Griffin (Springfield) dominates the large school third place game win over Peoria:

Junior point guard was penetrating to the rim at will as well as hitting tough mid range jumpers in the win. He hit the offensive glass in the first half with 4 of them. Went 10/14 from the floor, only shot one three which he missed. Ended up with 6 rebounds 5 assists and 3 steals. Backcourt teammate junior Terrion Wallace (#1) was attacking and getting to the free throw line to tune of 7/7 from the stripe. Totaled 15 points 4 assists and 2 steals. Quick and small backcourt duo wrecks havoc with their quickness attacking the rim and quick hands. Cameron Brinkman was the three point sniper 3/5 scoring 18 points for the game and 1 steal. Peoria was led by sophomores Kayden Turner (#1) with 16 points 4 rebounds 1 steal, and Orlando Edwards Jr with 15 points (3/6 three) 1 steal.

Sacred Heart Griffin (Springfield) went to 7-3, and Peoria went to 8-5.

Paris takes the small school girls title over Winnebago:

Paris is located in Eastern Illinois near the Indiana border, 100 miles South of Chicago. They were aggressive on both ends scoring alot of baskets on the fast break and shot 6/13 from three point range. Winnebago is located in the Rockford Area gave it's best and kept the game close but Paris ran away late for the title. They were led by junior guard Macy Bicknell (#23) with 18 points (8/17 FG) 3 rebounds and 2 steals. Sophomore guard Paedyn Keys (#3) had 13 points (3/5 three) 1 steal and 1 block. Junior guard Kailey Young had 6 rebounds and 1 block. Winnebago was led by sophomore forward Alyssa Zambrovitz (#22) with 16 points (3/6 three) 3 rebounds and 1 block. Sophomore forward Ida Fager (#23) had 9 points 6 rebounds.

Paris went to 12-2, Winnebago went to 13-2.

Boys Small School Title game:

Notre Dame (Quincy) stays undefeated as they beat Catholic Academy (Joliet) controlling the game from the second quarter on . They are a serious contender for Class 2A State Title. Team passes well, plays good defense, and balanced scoring. They were led by senior Jace Allensworth (#14) with 20 points (8/16 FG, 2/6 three, 2/4 FT) 6 rebounds 2 steals 2 blocks. Senior Gavin Doellman (#30) had 14 points 5 steals 1 block. Sophomore TJ Togarepi had 12 points 1 steal. Senior Robby Reed had 11 points 1 steal. Catholic Academy (Joliet) was led by junior Donovyn Simmons (#2) with 19 points 4 rebounds 6 assists 3 steals. Senior Jayden Armstrong (#1) had 17 points 4 assists. Junior Elias Passehl had 13 points 6 rebounds and 1 steal.

Notre Dame (Quincy) went to 11-0, Catholic Academy (Joliet) went to 8-4.

Girls Large School title game:

Washington wins the battle of unbeatens:

I don't watch a lot of girls basketball but this was my second time seeing Washington. I saw them beat Northwest (Waukee, IA) in their closest game all year, a three point win. That game told me this team was very good and they showed it again here. This one was not close as they took control from the beginning and didn't let go against DePaul College Prep (Chicago). Senior guard Avery Tibbs (#2) had 22 points 4 assists and 3 steals in the game. Senior guard Mazzy O'Brien (#21) had 19 points 1 steal. DePaul College Prep was led by senior guard Ava Giordano with 9 points (3/6 three) 1 steal.

Washington went to 15-0, DePaul College Prep (Chicago) went to 15-1.

Large school boys title game:

Normal Community wins with ease as Rock Island couldn't hit the broad side of a barn especially in the first half.

Normal Community played well in their hometown but Rock Island shot themselves in the foot. Missed threes, inside shots, layups, ball just had a hard time finding the basket. They were 4/21 from the field in the first half, 3/11 from three as they scored only 13 points in the first half, just one in the second quarter. Normal Community had 21 but Rock Island's shooting woes continued though it got a little better in the second half. Their press cut the lead to as low as 6 but Normal Community got a couple of layups and free throws to put it away. Sophomore wing Chase Kasten (#23) had a double/double 19 points 16 rebounds. Senior point guard Trey Burditt played (#5) played a great floor game controlling tempo. Lefty didn't score many points (8) but showed great leadership. Added 5 rebounds 6 assists 2 steals. Senior center Carter Harris had 11 points 5 rebounds. Rock Island was led by senior guard Lawson Zulu with 17 points 4 steals. Junior Arthur Abbey had 13 points 1 steal. Junior Deven Marshall had 6 steals and 1 block.

Normal Community went to 10-1, Rock Island went to 10-2.