Scouting Northwest Christmas tournaments
Bill Neibch Falcon Classic
Where: Wheaton North High School, Wheaton
When: Dec. 20-23
Format: Four games: winner's bracket, loser's bracket
Seeds: 1. Waubonsie Valley, 2. Hersey, 3. Wheaton North, 4. Glenbard South, 5. Glenbrook South, 6. Downers Grove North. 7. Schaumburg, 8. Elk Grove.
Others: Willowbrook, Elgin, Lyons, Glenbard North, St. Charles East, Hinsdale Central, Jacobs, West Aurora.
Favorite: Waubonsie Valley
Dark horse: Glenbrook South
Local overview: Hersey defeated Waubonsie Valley for the title 61-30 a year ago and the two teams are the top two seeds this time. The No. 2 Huskies, playing for first-place in the MSL East today at 7:30 p.m. against Rolling Meadows, are off to a 6-3 start. All-stater and DePaul recruit Megan Rogowski leads the offense and connected for a school-record 42 points two games ago against Buffalo Grove. Jen Hall runs the point while forward Stefanie Mueller, Eileen Zydek and Maggie Hogen bring strength inside. Huskies coach Mary Fendley has been coming to the tourney every year since her first in which her Huskies won the 1999 Warren tourney. Under Fendley, Hersey has outplayed its seed every year but one. The Huskies are three-time champs at Wheaton (2002, 2004 and 2009) and were second to Hinsdale Central in 2000, the Huskies' first appearance in the tourney. Before that, the Huskies had played in the Warren tournament. “Waubonsie Valley (9-1 with only loss to 11-0 Bartlett) has been playing great,” Fendley said. “I think they deserve the No. 1 seed. If we can get to the championship, I think it would be an exciting game.” Rogowski had 34 points in the title game last year, outscoring the entire Waubonsie Valley team. “They are really good this year, even though they lost their top player,” Fendley added. “They have been very impressive even though they lost her.” Waubonsie is coached by former Schaumburg three-sport standout Kim Connell. Schaumburg drew the No. 7 seed and will open against Lyons Township, which lost to Prospect 39-37 in the Lyons tourney a month ago. Rachel Stuehm, Jennifer Pomagier, Kelly Skorczewski, Jenna Gerber and Alyssa Saklak have all enjoyed double-figure scoring games this season for coach Ashley Berggren's Saxons, who went 3-2 in their own Thanksgiving tourney and stand at 4-4. Elk Grove took second at the Elk Grove-Lake Park-Hoffman Estates Thanksgiving tourney with a 4-1 record and is currently 7-5. Coach Ryan Kirkorsky's squad was third in this tourney last year and meets Jacobs in its opener this year. The Grenadiers have received double-digit scoring from Maggie Fries, Kelly Naughton, Michelle Calmeyn, Diamond Boyd and freshman Melissa Solorio this season. Wheaton North's Fantasia Vine has signed with Bradley.
Blue Devil Classic
Where: Warren High School, Gurnee
When: Dec. 18, 20-23
Teams: Wheeling, Niles North, Palatine, Warren, Carmel, Deerfield, Lake Forest, Grayslake Central
Favorite: Grayslake Central
Dark horse: Palatine
Format: Five games: Four-team round-robin pool, then championships.
Local Overview: Admission charge for each session is $5 for adults, $3 for high school students and $2 for grade school students. A tourney pass is $20 for adults, $12 for high school students and $7 for grade school students. Wheeling and Palatine are the area's two representatives in this eight-team field. They will face each other in the second round of pool play. They will also face Niles North and Warren in pool play action. The Pirates (3-6) lost 45-44 to 10-1 Hoffman Estates in an MSL West game. Katie Scovic and Nia Pappas anchor the backcourt while Wiedemann, Schweikert, Lauren Radtke and Katelyn Mayer have all shown the ability to provide offense for the Pirates. After dropping their first seven games, first-year coach Julissa Hernandez guided the Wildcats (2-8) to back-to-back-wins over Jacobs and Elk Grove. Junior Stephanie Kuzmanic, who started on last year's MSL championship squad, has scored in double figures this season for the Wildcats along with classmate Leah Malsom, senior Kayla Jordan and sophomore Sydney Keith. Favorite Grayslake Central (8-2) defeated Barrington (58-42) and Buffalo Grove (56-47) a month ago at the Bison Classic.
27th Charger Classic
Where: Dundee-Crown High School, Carpentersville
When: Dec. 27-30
Format: Four games, winner's bracket, loser's bracket
Teams (bracket order): Resurrection, St. Charles North, Dundee-Crown, New Trier, Regina, Fenwick, Naperville Central, Mother McAuley, Rockton Hononegah, Buffalo Grove, Fremd, Johnsburg, Evanston, Prospect, Bartlett, Maine West
Favorite: Fenwick
Dark horse: Fremd
Overview: Fenwick (8-1) has been the most dominant team the last decade in this prestigious tournament which started in 1983 (York was the champion). Led by Hall of Fame coach Dave Power (more than 800 career wins), the Frairs won five straight titles until falling 50-45 to coach Teri Rodgers' New Trier Trevians in last year's title match. Fremd, Buffalo Grove, Prospect and Maine West are all area teams making return visits. Fremd will open against Johnsburg, which defeated Prospect for third place last year. The Vikings (9-2) have lost only to Chicago-area ranked Loyola (8-1) and Rolling Meadows (9-1). Coach Dave Yates' offense has 3-point shooters everywhere, led by 6-foot-1 junior Jessi Weidemann, who has hit one in almost every game including 5 against Sandburg (career-high 24 points). Fremd will open against Johnsburg, which defeated Buffalo Grove 66-56 just three days ago. The Bison (1-8) have been very competitive against a tough schedule. And like Fremd, they have a lot of perimeter shooting weapons. Guards Andrea DiPrima (Northwestern) and KC Dunne (Western Illinois) are softball recruits. BG opens against Hononegah. Prospect comes into the tourney after dropping a 38-36 decision to Lake County power Stevenson and coach Tom Dineen, who recently notched his 700th career win. Prospect guard Sarah Winans and her head coach Martha Kelly are making their fourth appearances in Carpentersville. They took fourth place last year. The area's only other coach with 700 career wins, Maine West's Derril Kipp, brings his Warriors (2-10) to the tourney with a freshman leading the way. Brittany Collins has been the Warriors top scoring and rebounding force and was named to the all-tourney team at the Maine West Tip-Off Classic. D-I signees in the field include Johnsburg's Melissa Dixon (Iowa) and Bartlett's Jackie Gulczynski (Wisconsin).
Mundelein Holiday tourney
Where: Mundelein High School, Mundelein
When: Dec. 18, 20-23
Format: Four games, winner's bracket, loser's bracket
Teams: Libertyville, Belvidere, Streamwood, Conant, Huntley, Mundelein, Hoffman Estates, Grant, Cary-Grove, Waukegan, Rolling Meadows, Vernon Hills, Auburn, Prairie Ridge, Zion-Benton, Lake Park
Favorite: Libertyville
Dark horse: Rolling Meadows
Overview: Will either Libertyville or Streamwood remain undefeated at the tournament's end? One will suffer its first loss Saturday because they meet in the 3:30 p.m. quarterfinal. Area teams Rolling Meadows and Hoffman Estates are also still alive for the title of this tourney which began last Saturday. Conant will try to claim the consolation title. Coach Todd Hatfield's surging Mustangs (9-1), who have a big Mid-Suburban League East game against Hersey today (7:30 p.m.), are hardly strangers to the Mundelein gym. They won their first five games of the season on the floor to capture the Mundelein Thanksgiving tourney. Seniors Maddie Conlin and Sara Shumaker lead several talented underclassmen. Freshman Jackie Kemph has had several double-figure scoring games. Sophomore Morgan Keller provides inside punch. Meadows won its first-round game against Vernon Hills and faces Cary-Grove in Saturday's quarterfinals. Hoffman Estates (10-1) won its first game over Grant (50-19) and faces Mundelein in the quarterfinals. The Hawks are flying high, tied for first in the Mid-Suburban West. Junior guard Mary Pettit steers the offense for coach Mike Nocella while Destinee Young, Precious Ogunleye, Jada Stotts (Austin Peay volleyball recruit) and Tanya Skworch round out the starting five. Hoffman already won the Elk Grove-Lake Park-Hoffman Estates Thanksgiving tourney with a 5-0 record. Conant (8-3) lost its tourney opener to undefeated Streamwood and will face Belvidere in the loser's bracket Saturday. Coach Dan Travers' senior-led Cougars have lost three games to teams with a combined record of 31-2 (Waubonsie Valley, Hoffman Estates and Streamwood). Senior Kelly Lomas leads the offense with 14 points per game, including a season-high 19 against Minooka.
Snowflake Winter Classic
Where: St. Viator High School, Arlington Heights
When: Dec 21-23, 27-28
Format: Five games: Round-robin pool play followed by championships.
Teams: Northside Prep, Glenbrook North, St. Viator, Elmwood Park, Guerin Prep, Maine East, Fenton, Leyden.
Favorite: Northside Prep
Dark horse: St. Viator
Overview: St. Viator (4-7) hopes to make a run for the title of its own tourney after finishing second to Highland Park a year ago. But the Lions must overcome three key injuries to starters. First, Mallory Hess was lost three games into the season due to an ACL injury. Then, five games ago, starting forward Emily Leazer suffered a stress fracture in her foot area at Prospect. The all-area volleyball standout is not expected back until mid January. Finally, standout senior Taylor Skala suffered a badly sprained ankle in the first minutes against Hoffman Estates on Monday. Coach Paul Bjerkness does not expectd the Rockhurst University srecruit to play in the Snowflake. Eleven different players have started in the Lions' 11 games. “This tournament will give us a chance to get better,” said Bjerkness, who guided St. Viator to its second regional title (3A) in school history last season. “We are just trying to find our identity.” Northside Prep is off to a 9-2 start.
Chicago Suburban Holiday Showcase
Where: Pool play at Wheaton St. Francis, Stevenson, Lake Zurich, Barrington, Loyola and Proviso East; Semifinals at Niles West (Dec. 28); Finals at Trinity (Dec. 29)
When: Dec. 21-23;-28-29
Format: Five games, round robin, championships
Teams: Wheaton St. Francis, Lake Zurich, Trinity, Loyola, Niles W., Barrington, Stevenson, Proviso E.
Favorite: Trinity
Darkhorse: Barrington
Overview: Coach Babbi Barreiro has a veteran Barrington (6-4) team looking to put it all together. The Fillies have two four-year starters in Sarah Mass and Shelby Whigham while Abby Kirchoff is always capable of a high-scoring game. Brooke Chandor has added more scoring punch to the Fillies' lineup. Barreiro recently won her 300th game and she would love to gain a few more wins in this challenging tourney. The Fillies will meet Niles West (junior Jewell Loyd is one of the top players in the state), Proviso East and Stevenson in pool play. Stevenson coach Tom Dineen has one of the top teams in Lake County. His Patriots (8-2) were 4-1 in the Maine West Tip-Off Classic where he gained career win No. 700 against the host Warriors. Patriots forward Michelle O'Brien is headed to Western Michigan while Anna Morrissey will be a preferred walk-on at Michigan State. Other signees are Loyola's Katie Faught (Loyola University), Proviso East's Ivory Crawford (Illinois). Trinity's Megan Podkowe is an all-stater.