The high school Christmas holiday basketball tournaments have passed into history and various teams are in the shakeout process. Savoring success gives way to conference confrontations.
In boys tournaments, Waubonsie Valley captured the Jacobs championship and DeKalb won its venerable and historic DeKalb tournament championship. Waubonsie Valley’s closest score in the five tournament games at Jacobs was 13 points, a 78-65 victory against competent Cary-Grove in the championship game. DeKalb defeated Naperville Central, 52-48, in the championship game in DeKalb. Waubonsie Valley, 14-1 overall through Monday, and 2-1 in the DuPage Valley, Friday will play at Naperville Central, 10-2 overall and 3-0 in the DuPage. DeKalb, in its first school year in the DuPage Valley, owns victories over both teams. The Barbs beat Waubonsie Valley, 66-57, shortly before Christmas.
“Naperville Central is huge,” said Jason Mead, head coach at Waubonsie Valley. “They have an entire starting lineup of players who can shoot the perimeter shots in addition to their size advantage. Central seniors Chris Conway, 6-10, and guard/forward, Cameron Dougherty, 6-6, are among the bigs who pose threats.
Waubonsie Valley’s Marcus Skeet and Ben Schwieger were all-tournament selections at Jacobs and they scored the most points in the tournament for the Warriors. Waubonsie found contributions from Adri Malushi, Isaiah Smith, Mason Marinelli, Carter Langendorf, Justin Starks, and Caleb Brackett.
• East Aurora head coach Rick Robinson, said of his team, 2-2 at the East Aurora tournament, 8-7 overall and 3-2 in the Upstate Eight Conference: “We keep playing hard, but it is amazing we keep trying find ways to beat ourselves. We have been in every game, but the only team to actually beat us is Waubonsie Valley. The other games we found ways to beat us. We are nine to 10 deep.”
East Aurora players who have led the way lately, include Amarion Savage, a 6-1 guard; Jashaun Hurston, a 6-0 guard; Jacques Kelly, a 6-3 forward; and Julian Acosta, a 6-2 guard/forward. Hurston is the only senior. The other three are juniors. East Aurora was set for a Tuesday game at Larkin and will play at Fenton Friday. Fenton was 4-1 in the Upstate Eight, one game behind Conference leader, Glenbard East, 5-0.
• Wheaton North is one of the quality girls holiday tournaments each year and annually draws quality teams from the immediate area. Upsets prevailed this year. No. 1 Downers Grove North fell, 37-34, to No. 8 Elk Grove in the second round; No. 2 West Aurora lost to No. 7 Glenbard South, 33-31, in the second round, No. 3 Bartlett fell to host Wheaton North, 45-31, in the second round.
• In the solid girls tournament among smaller schools in Lisle, Timothy Christian defeated Rosary of Aurora in the championship game, 61-37. Addison Trail took fourth place after its defeat against Walther Christian, 48-35, Lisle was sixth place and Plano was eighth place.
• Boys tournament championship teams included: Neuqua Valley at East Aurora; Homewood-Flossmoor at Hinsdale Central; Bolingbrook at York; Aurora Christian in Bloomington/Normal in the small class; Glenbard West at Glenbard West; Peoria Notre Dame in Plano; Lake Park, with a 56-55 championship victory over Springfield Lanphier in Pekin; and Hampshire with a 57-53 victory over host Marengo.
• Lake Park returned to second-year DuKane Conference play after its success in Pekin and fell to St. Charles, 55-48, Saturday, Jan. 4. St. Charles North played in the rugged Pontiac Holiday Tournament and sustained two defeats. North was 4-0 in DuKane and 11-3 overall earlier this week. All teams except Glenbard North were above .500 in the DuKane. All teams in the DuPage Valley were above .500, except Metea Valley.
• Other boys conference leaders in earlier January include: Kaneland and Sycamore, each 3-0 in the newly-configured Interstate Eight; Lisle, 4-0, in the first-year Illinois Central Eight; Joliet West, 6-0, in the Southwest Prairie West, ahead of Oswego East and Plainfield North, each 5-1; Hinsdale South, 3-0, and Leyden, 2-0, in the West Suburban Gold; York and Oak Park-River Forest, each 2-0, in the West Suburban Silver; and Hampshire and Cary-Grove, each 5-0 in the Fox Valley Conference.