When Sides Collide 2026 Review!!!!

Once agaoin thanks to Joe Hendirickson of the Chicago Sun Times who put the matchups together. Also a thanks to Benet Academy (Lisle) staff, workers, concessions and facility for putting on a class event as suaual. A great atmosphere with the last three games packed to the gills and big time buzz. The four favored teams won but still very entertaining, and possibly a state champ will come out of these group of teams. Here we go:

DANNY HOULIHAN (#10) SHOW AS THE HIGH POINT COMMIT PUT ON A SHOOTING DISPLAY IN NEW TRIER'S BLOWOUT OF EAST (OSWEGO):

Class of 2026 6'4" combo guard was scoring from mid range and from three in the blowout win as his team shot a high percentage from three and from the floor. He ended up with 28 points (5/7 2PT, 5/8 three, 3/3 free throw) and added two steals. The lefty scored off the bounce, catch, and fallaway jumpers from mid range.

DENYM WALLACE (#34) OF NEW TRIER (WINNETKA) IS GETTING MORE COMFORTABLE IN HIS FRESHMAN YEAR:

Class of 2029 6'7" forward can step out and shoot threes, but didn't take on in this game. He was scoring on the block, through and around contact as well as crashing the glass. Strong built young man for his first year in high school, is getting more confident with the physicality of the high school game. He's not afraid to take and give contact in the paint, as well as a mid range jump shot. Scored 13 points (6/11 FG, 1/2 free throw) 6 rebounds and 1 block.

New Trier (Winnetka) passed the ball well as they had 25 assists on 32 field goal makes in blowout win.

MASON LOCKETT IV (#23) HAD A GOOD PERFORMANCE VS NEW TRIER BUT NO HELP:

6'5" combo guard DePaul commit totaled 24 points (7/12 2 PT, 2/5 three, 4/5 free throw) and 2 steals. Had 2 assists but had at least 5 other potential ones dropped because of missed layups, or dropped passes at the doorstep of the basket. Good vision as a passer which could be seen in the game. Had 2 steals and one block in the game.

SOPHOMORE MATCHUP HAD EVERYTHING BUT NEUQUA VALLEY HAD A COMEBACK WIN AS JUNIOR ILLINOIS COMMIT MASON MARTIN WAS TOO MUCH FOR THE BROOK:

Two of the top 40 sophomores in the country matched up. 5 star (6'4" combo guard) Brady Pettigrew of Bolingbrook had the better of 4 star (6'7" wing) Cole Kelly (#32) of Neuqua Valley (Naperville) in the first half. Pettigrew had 13 in the half and Kelly had 7 points and 6 rebounds. Meanwhile Martin (6'5" combo guard) (#30) was a steady burn with 13 in the first half, 15 in the second half for 28 total in the game. Quick release on catch and shoot opportunities from three (6/10 three), and showed two dribble mid range pull-up ability with (9/10 2 PT). He was on fire most of the game. Kelly had 22 second half points mostly on drives to the rim, and drew fouls for free throw opportunites (5/9 free throw) driving left. Had 11 rebounds for a double/double. Pettigrew had to work hard to score off dribble opportunites to the rim and mid range scoring 12 in second half. Senior (6’8” forward) Elijah Anderson (#40) had a double/double of 10 points and 10 rebounds for Bolingbrook. Senior (6’3” combo guard) TJ Williams (#3) had 17 points 4 rebounds 6 steals for Bolingbrook.

MARIST (CHICAGO) SHOWED PROMISE IN THE FIRST QUARTER, THEN DEPAUL COLLEGE PREP METHODICALLY TOOK OVER THE REST OF THE GAME:

Marist (Chicago) is a talented team that was missing senior Karson Thomas. Brown commit (6'2" senior combo guard) Rykan Woo (#4) got off to a slow start because of two fouls. Game was close at halftime and throughout the third quarter, but DePaul College Prep got a working margin in the fourth quarter. Woo had 15 of his 23 points in the second half. They started getting (6'7" senior forward) Toledo commit Rashaun Porter (#24) open on cross screens, and he went to work in the paint. Totals were 13 points 7 rebounds 3 assists. Senior (6'2" point guard) Michigan Tech commit AJ Chambers had some key baskets and assists, had 11 points 5 assists and 1 steal. Marist senior (6'6" wing) Charles "Chuckii" Barnes (#14) continued his outstanding senior season with 15 points 7 rebounds 1 steal and 1 block. Senior (6'1" point guard) Adoni Vassilakis (#0) had 14 points for Marist (Chicago).

REMATCH OF LAST YEARS CLASS 4A STATE TITLE GAME WAS AS GOOD AS ADVERTISED:

Benet Academy (Lisle) beat Warren Township (Gurnee) by 1 in the state title game last year. Game was not as close this time but great environment. Senior Eastern Illinois commit (6'0" point guard) Jayden Wright (#3) of Benet Academy went toe to toe with Mr Basketball junior (6'1" point guard) Jaxson Davis. He attacked the rim, made good passes to his twin tower big men of North Dakota commit senior (7'1" center) Colin Stack and junior (6'8" forward) Edvardas Stasys (#23).

Davis had a big first half of 17 points (4/10 three), but was slowed down scoring in the second half, by a shoe issue, and Benet's defense. He ended up with 26 points 4 rebounds 6 assists 3 steals and 1 block. Wright meanwhile almost matched him with 21 points 4 rebounds 4 assists. He was assistsed by some big threes from senior (6'3" combo guard Ethan Macdermot (10 points on 3 threes). Stack ended up with a double/double of 11 points 14 rebounds. Stasys had 11 points. Junior Perry Tchiegne (#5) (6'3" combo guard) had 10 points 9 rebounds and used his length guarding Davis to make him work. Senior Braylon Walker had 13 points (7/7 free throw) 1 steal for Warren Township (Gurnee)