St. Charles East claims Chuck Dayton title
St. Charles East did everything possible to impress this week at the 87th annual Chuck Dayton Tournament, flashing its high-octane offense and turnover-forcing defense against one overwhelmed opponent after another.
Everything except play a game with any suspense in the second half - anything more than whether the Saints would reach triple digits.
The Saints entered Saturday night's championship game against host DeKalb having won their first three tournament games by an average of 37 points.
The championship game proved more of the same, played in front of a large and lively crowd. The Saints were pushed for almost a half, their star in foul trouble - and they still ended up winning by 24.
St. Charles East (12-1) completed a highlight-filled first half of the season with a 76-52 win over DeKalb, claiming its first Chuck Dayton title since winning four straight from 1994-97.
"It feels awesome, it just shows how well we all play together," said senior Jake Clodi who continued his hot shooting off the bench with 10 points.
DeKalb (8-2) stayed with the Saints for almost a half. The Barbs never led, falling behind 10-5 when Cole Gentry found Jack Bronec rolling on a pick-and-roll for a two-hand jam. Gentry capped the opening quarter with a 12-foot runner for an 18-12 lead.
The Saints were still in control in the second quarter, leading 31-20 when Gentry picked up his second foul and went to the bench with 3:22 left in the half.
The Barbs immediately went to work, a Luke Davis basket inside sandwiched by 3s from Mike Pollack and Rudy Lopez in just 65 seconds to trim the Saints' lead to 31-28.
St. Charles East coach Patrick Woods called timeout and called a perfect play for a penetrating Jake Asquini to kick to a wide-open Clodi who knocked down the 3.
"We've got the next man up mentality," Clodi said. "They call your name you step up."
Clodi's 3 started a 15-2 Saints run in that final 2:17, putting them up 46-30 at halftime even with Gentry on the bench. James McQuillan drove for a basket, made a pair of free throws and capped the half with a 3-pointer from the top of the key that hit the front of the rim before softly falling in.
Asquini also came up with a big play, getting a steal near midcourt, saving the ball in bounds, then getting the ball back on the other end and swishing a 3.
"I'll be honest, I'm glad Cole was in foul trouble because we need to do things without him on the floor," Woods said. "We got a little flustered for about 45 seconds but we regrouped and went on a 9-, 10-point run, hit some 3s."
Gentry picked up his third foul just 19 seconds into the third quarter and didn't come back until the fourth. The Barbs could get no closer, tying the Saints 14-14 in the third.
Gentry returned in the fourth and the Saints quickly blew the game open. Asquini nailed a 3, Gentry took a defensive rebound from one end into a layup on the other, and Asquini made two more 3s before Woods started taking his starters out up 73-46.
First-year coach Al Biancalana has revived DeKalb basketball this year yet the Barbs became the latest Saints victim.
"I thought DeKalb did a great job challenging us, made some runs at us and we responded, and we've responded all year," Woods said. "I thought it was a good test and almost a playoff-type environment tonight. I was pleased."
Asquini led the Saints with 20 points with six 3s and McQuillan scored 18. McQuillan made the all-tournament team along with Bronec and MVP Gentry.
"We knew they were going to go on a run," Bronec said. "We responded great. It's good to get a couple good wins here going into the conference."