Senior stars will tip off April 15 at College of Lake County
March Madness is in its final stages for Illinois basketball.
But if you're still craving some high school basketball in April, the seventh annual Lake County Senior Shootout can satisfy your appetite.
The high school all-star basketball game will take place on Friday, April 15 on the campus of the College of Lake County in Grayslake.
The games will consist of the top high school senior boys and girls basketball players in Lake County.
"This year's game is expected to be another great and exciting one," says event coordinator Fred Fleming. "We have a lot of talent in this year's senior class which made it difficult selecting teams this year."
Teams and rosters are expected to be released soon.
Men's basketball
Augustana seniors Griffin Pils (Libertyville) and Brandon Motzel (Carmel) wrapped up their careers on one of the finest teams in school history.
The Vikings went 29-2 record, equaling the most wins in school history (matching the 1972-73 team).
It is the best record posted by a College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin program, ending with a 86-76 loss to St. Thomas in the NCAA D-III final four.
Pils and Motzel helped lead the program to a record of 95-23 (. 805) in the four years, two CCIW regular season championships, two conference tournament titles and three NCAA Tournament appearances, including a second-place finish in 2015.
The 56 wins in 2014-15 (27) and 2015-16 (29) are the most in consecutive seasons at Augustana.
Pils has played in the most games in school history with 113 and he also ranks 10th with a career mark of .829 from the free throw line.
Motzel ended up fourth in school history in career field goal percentage (. 582) and blocked shots (86), which have been compiled since the 1979-80 season.
Women's lacrosse
Augustana senior Emily Handrahan (Lake Zurich) has 9 goals and 11 assists for 20 points while junior teammate Olivia Mayer (Libertyville) has 8 goals and 2 assists. The Vikings are 4-1 and will be in action again on Friday with a 1 p.m. home game against Aurora.
Baseball
Concordia-Chicago sophomore Brent Spohr (Grant) was honored as the school's male athlete of the week.
Spohr hammered out 4 hits in the Cougars' 11-10 win over Coe College in the first game of the annual Florida trip. His biggest hit came with the Cougars trailing 10-9 in the 10th inning; with two outs and two strikes, Spohr singled to left to tie the game and give CUC the opportunity to win the game in the following inning.
Men's tennis
Carthage junior Pawel Jaworski (Stevenson) was named men's tennis player of the week in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin.
Jaworski, an exercise and sport science major, won both of his matches in Carthage's 5-4 win over UW-Eau Claire as the Blugolds came into the match with a 9-1 record.
Jaworski and teammate Chris Conley won at No. 1 doubles 8-6 over Kyle Hoffman and Michael Mauthe and followed with a 6-0, 7-6 (11-9) win over Will Weyerberg at No. 3 singles.
Men's lacrosse
Augustana freshman Brian Hinsberger (Lake Zurich) has a team-leading 6 caused turnovers for the Vikings who (2-4), who have won two straight heading into Wednesday's game in Mount Vernon, Iowa against Cornell.
Men's swimming
Michigan State senior Ian Rodriguez (Buffalo Grove) competed in the 2016 Big Ten championships at Purdue University.
He was part of three relays that set new Michigan State records: the 200 medley relay, 200 free relay and 400 medley relay.
Rodriguez also swam a 48.18 in the 100 backstroke, which is a personal-best time and the second-fastest time in MSU history. He swam a lifetime best in his 200 IM, third fastest time in MSU history, and a personal best in his 200 backstroke.
"Ian was a part of several records this week and did a nice job," said Spartans coach Matt Gianiodis on the MSU website. "I've never had a person at MSU who has grown more and matured more than he has. He took it on himself and has done a nice job."
Rodriguez competed in a time trial following the Big Ten championship and swam a 57.10 in the 100-meter backstroke to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Trials in Omaha this June.
• Former Buffalo Grove High School (2009 grad) and University of Illinois swimmer Erin Rodriguez - and the sister of Ian Rodriguez from the preceding item - is an assistant coach for the Lyons Township boys swimming and diving team which won the state championship in February at Evanston High School.
In addition, Rodriguez coaches for Glenbrook Aquatics and is a sixth-grade teacher in the LaGrange school district. Erin Rodriguez is BG's record holder in the 200IM, 100 butterfly, 500 freestyle and 200 freestyle.
Please email Sports Notes items to jleusch@dailyherald.com.