By Bobby Narang
Glenbard West High School is on an epic run in boys basketball.
The Hilltoppers were among the small handful of teams to win holiday tournament championships in Chicagoland in late December 2021.
The Hilltoppers won the prestigious 47th Jack Tosh Classic, by defeating Lyons in the championship game December 31, 2021 in Elmhurst.
The Hilltoppers rolled through the tourney, culminating with a 60-28 win over the Lions — the program’s fifth over their West Suburban Silver conference rivals in the past 10 months.
Glenbard West, 14-0, beat Rolling Meadows, Leo, and Saint Patrick to win the tournament championship, while ending Lyons’ eight-game winning streak.
The Hilltoppers missed a chance to play Bolingbrook, when the Lions handed the Raiders their first loss of the season in the semifinals.
“We played some pretty difficult teams in the tournament,” Glenbard West senior forward Ryan Renfro said. “We were excited to play Bolingbrook. That would have been a good matchup…We’re learning every game.”
The Hilltoppers hope to keep on learning all the way to Champaign, the site of the Class 4A State tournament. After winning all but one game in the shortened Spring season and returning all five starters, including Gonzaga-bound Braden Huff, the Hilltoppers have been a team in demand. They played Glenbrook South and Yorkville Christian, a welcome sight for their coaches and players after dealing with strict Conference rules in the shortened 2021 season.
The Hilltoppers could play only teams from their Conference last Spring, which forced them to miss out on high-profile games and the end-of-the-season Chipotle tournament. Huff was named the MVP of the Tosh tourney last week after scoring 21 points and grabbing six rebounds in the championship game.
But this season, Glenbard West is opening up its schedule. Thanks to four Division I players on their roster, the Hilltoppers are a team in demand.
“We’re appreciative and thankful for the opportunity to play in such high-profile games,” Glenbard West hea coach Jason Opoka said. “It’s a testament to how hard our players have worked to improve throughout their four years at Glenbard West. Since we were restricted last year, we prioritized creating a memorable schedule. This team is not only playing for themselves, but for last year’s seniors. We must take advantage of the opportunities and cherish every moment.”
The Hilltoppers’ upcoming schedule includes playing host Benet Academy in the Pappas Shootout Saturday, Jan. 8, then the MLK City Suburban Classic against Fenwick Monday, Jan. 17. The Hilltoppers will play Young in a must-see game in the When Sides Collide showdown Saturday, Jan. 22 at Benet and play highly-ranked Kenwood in the GEICO High School Basketball Showcase Saturday, Feb. 5 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago.
Bobby Durkin, in his first year in the program after transferring from Hinsdale South, has been a key addition. The senior guard is headed to Army, along with Renfro, after this season.
“I think as a team we are going to stay focused,” Durkin said. “We’re going to keep taking it game by game and hopefully we are prepared to play our best basketball in March.”