Wheeling Hardwood Classic first round wrap-up!!!!! Another freshman enters the chat!!! Donny Williams shows three level scoring, another Fridman shows out, game winning shot!!!!

Big Tim's Express took first trip to Wheeling Hardwood Classic in years. Schedule usually doesn't permit me to make it here, but the way the schedule fell I was able to make it this year. Some good first round matchups, and some blowouts. Overtime game ended the night.

Stevenson (Lincolshire) 63 Wauconda 47:

9am had a hot start as both teams shot the cover off the ball in the first quarter which ended up tied at 20. Cooled off a bit in the second quarter but senior guard Donny Williams (#14) of Stevenson was on fire. He scored 18 of his 23 points in the first half. Hit 3 threes, a couple of fast break layups, and nice two dribble mid range jump shots. Senior Tonty Salemi (#10) of Wauconda had 13 of his 15 in the first half. Stevenson led 34-33 aty half. Game was still close at the end of third quarter as Stevenson led 44-41 at end of three. A 10-0 run in the fourth opened the game up for Stevenson. Senior Rocco Pagliocca (#5) is dealing with a rare disease (dysautomomia), a disorder of the nervous system that disrupts body processes (source Steve Reaven of Lake County News Sun) with no cure, but is playing through it, and look in very good shape on the court. It's been a long road back for the young man, but he had 12 points 5 rebounds and 1 steal. Junior Quinton Frakes had 10 points 10 rebounds (double/double) 1 steal. Wauconda was led by junior Austin Carlsen with 18 points 6 rebounds and 1 steal.

St Viator (Arlington Heights) 61 Buffalo Grove 50:

St Viator is a young team with only two seniors on the squad, but they were able to puyll this one out. Junior Dawson Charles (#2) is a King of Bounce with big time athletic ability. Showed it with a couple of two handed dunks off consecutive steals in the first half. Viator led the entire first half leading 17-12 after one quarter and 34-19 at the half. Charles had 20 of his 27 points in first half. Totaled 4 threes for the game. Buffalo Grove made it a game in the third quarter as sophmore Edwin Karnauchovas (#3) (12 points 4 assists 1 steal) got it going cutting lead to one at the end of the third quarter 42-41. It stayed close till the last two minutes of the game when St Viator put the game away with some free throws for the final margin. Senior Isaiah Kenny (#3) had 12 points 4 rebounds and sophomore Jacob Only (#5) had 11 points 4 rebounds and 1 steal. Charles addded 4 steals and 2 blocks for St Viator. Junior big man Alex Sirbu (#21) had a double/double of 24 points 16 rebounds 1 steal and 2 blocks for Buffalo Grove.

Deerfield 62 Streamwood 22:

This was a blowout from the start as an experienced Deerfield team jumped out to 19-5 lead at the end of first quarter and ran away from there to a running clock game in fourth quarter. Senior Dartmouth commit Jake Pollack (#11) dominated in the paint with 16 points 5 rebounds 3 steals and 1 block. Senior Case Reserve Western commit Evan Nagler (#5) had 13 points 6 rebounds 4 assists 4 steals. Freshman Zach Newman (#34) came off the bench to score 10 points 3 rebounds 1 steal. Streamwood was led by senior Jaelin Tate's 5 points.

Prospect (Mount Prospect) 53 Hampshire 32:

Another blowout but it took awhile to get there. Prospect led 12-8 at end of first quarter, 26-16 at halftime, and 39-27 after third quarter. Game was put away in the fourth quarter as Hampshire only managed 5 points in the quarter. Prospect was led by senior Will Stratigos (#10) with 13 points 2 steals. Senior Anderson Neach (#4) came off the bench to score 10 points 4 rebounds and 4 steals. Hampshire was led by sophomore Tyler Johnson with 9 points (3 threes) off the bench.

Glenbrook North (Northbrook) 71 Maine West (Des Plaines) 57:

Another Fridman is coming through Glenbrook North. This one is Nate (#0) and he's a junior point guard. Plays a lot like his older brother Josh who was a two time Big Tim All-Area player a few years ago at the school. Doing well at Division III Illinois Wesleyan. Nate plays well with change of pace, quicker off the dribble than he looks at 5'10". Lefty hits threes and finishes through contact at the rim. Had a double/double with 11 points and 11 assists along with 3 rebounds. Game was tied at end of first quarter, then Glenbrook North took control of the game in second quarter leading 37-24 at halftime. Run coincided with junior star Davion Tate of Maine West getting into foul trouble with 2 fouls. Tate came out and hit two threes in a row to help get his team back in the game, but Glenbrook North took control again when Tate picked up his third foul and fourth fouls and went to the bench. Teams ended up tied at 19 for the third quarter which helped keep Glenbrook North with a 13 point lead. Maine West got as close as 7 but Glenbrook North held on. Sophomore Mason Markman led with 18 points 5 rebounds 4 steals. Senior Abel Poothurail (#4) had 17 points 6 rebounds and 2 steals. Maine West was led by sophomore DeAngelo Rodriguez with 15 points (3 threes) 6 rebounds 2 steals. Junior Adrian Kleszczewski had 13 points 6 rebounds and 3 blocks. He's a big time volleyball recruit. Junior Baker Blevins had 10 points 10 rebounds (double/double). Tate ended up with 9 points 5 rebounds 4 assists and 1 steal.

Oak Forest 45 South (Downers Grove) 43:

South (Downers Grove) controlled the tempo and stayed in zone most of the game. Oak Forest did not shoot well from three but got the last word. Senior Gary Manso (#0) hit a long three with 11 seconds left. South scored a layup in last seconds that tied it, but was wiped off as South called a timeout with 1.2 seconds left. They still had a chance. Inbounds pass to the rim, had a tip in opportunity but shot missed. Manso ended up with 12 points (7 in the 4th quarter) and Junior Neko Leflore (#2) had 11 points 5 rebounds 4 assists 2 steals. Oak Forest shot 5 for 18 from three. South was led by senior Jack Romsey with 11 points 4 rebounds. Junior Colin Doyle with 10 points 7 rebounds and 1 block.

Fremd (Palatine) 72 Wheeling 47:

The host team was in the game through one quarter, then Fremd took over in second quarter to lead 37-23 at half then blew it open in the third quarter to advance. Fremd was led by senior Tommy Moffett (#5) with 17 points 12 rebounds (double/double) 1 steal 1 block. Senior Illinois State commit Jordan Williams had 15 points 5 rebounds. Senior Richardo Requens Zambrano had 12 points 1 steal. Wheeling was led by junior Luke Papiaoannou with 12 points (4 threes) off the bench. Senior Peter Kulig had 11 points 2 steals.

Libertyville 61 Notre Dame College Prep (Niles) 60 Overtime:

Saved the best for last. Last game of the night was the best one. Tip in by senior Carmen Meccia (#12) tied the game at 52 to send game into overtime. Senior Trevor Wallace hit four key free throws in overtime and Libertyville led 61-59. Meccia was fouled with 0.4 seconds left in overtime with chance to tie the game. Made the first, missed the second, ball was tipped around and clock ran out. Senior Winona State commit Bryce Wegrzyn showed inside/out game and scored 28 points 7 rebounds 1 steal and 2 blocks. Wallace ended up with 10 points 1 steal. Senior Ben Christopher ended up with 13 points 8 rebounds 1 steal. Meccia ended up with 13 points 4 assists 2 steals. Sophomore Luke Letvin had 13 points (3 threes). Freshman Emran Alispahic (#32) had 14 points 7 rebounds.

NOTE: Freshman Emran Alispahic of Notre Dame College Prep (Niles) showed three level scoring ability hitting a three, attacking the rim, and scored in the mid range. Was effective when on the court before fouling out in overtime. 6'3" wing has a bright future.