Plenty of positive impressions in first week of the basketball season

Someone please get me a seat cushion.

After watching 12 high school boys basketball games during a five-day span last week, let's just say I lost some feeling in my lower half over Thanksgiving break.

But I don't want to sound like I'm complaining, either.

I've spent the better part of the last 25 years watching high school basketball tournament action during Thanksgiving week.

Outside of an all-expense paid trip to Bermuda or Hawaii, there's no place I'd rather be during Thanksgiving week than sitting in a noisy high school gymnasium watching some of the most talented prep basketball players from across the state soar above the rim for a slam-dunk or dive on the floor for a loose ball.

Since I saw five area teams in action -- I'm going to reserve my comments for those teams only. Sorry, Aurora Central Catholic, Geneva, Marmion and West Aurora.

Batavia coach Jim Roberts is a traditionalist who takes the history of the Bulldogs' program seriously and likes to share that knowledge with his players.

Lately, the Bulldogs have turned capturing their own Ken Peddy Windmill City Classic tournament title into a tradition.

Led by two-time Most Valuable Player Nick Fruendt, Batavia (3-0) sealed its seventh consecutive tournament crown with a convincing 63-41 victory over Aurora Christian (1-2) last Saturday.

Fruendt, who scored 26 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in the title contest, and the Bulldogs certainly made believers out of longtime Aurora Christian coach Don Davidson.

"Nick played like a four-year starter should," said Davidson. "They've got a very good team."

While the Eagles' Bill Rutherford, Joe Redmond and T.J. McNelis showed the ability to knock down 3-pointers, Davidson remains concerned with his front line.

"We only got eight points out of the 4-5 spot all night long," Davidson said. "This tournament really shows you your weaknesses after three games."

Meanwhile, the Northwestern-bound Fruendt admittedly felt nostalgic after completing his fourth Thanksgiving tournament with an unblemished 12-0 career mark.

"It's sort of bittersweet knowing this was my last Thanksgiving tournament here," said Fruendt.

With an average victory margin of 18 points, the Bulldogs served notice that they'll be a formidable foe once again this season.

"It was a fun three games to start with," said Fruendt, who figures to have more fun as his senior season progresses.

Despite its 1-2 tourney mark in Sycamore, Kaneland showed signs of things to come with sophomore starters Ryley Bailey, Steve Colombe and 6-foot, 9-inch center Dave Dudzinski.

Dudzinski recorded his second double-double in four varsity games with 15 points and 10 rebounds during the Knights' 52-47 victory over Glenbard South Tuesday night.

First-time participant St. Charles North and tournament host St. Charles East finished with identical 1-3 records last week.

"We were just four or five possessions away from being 4-0," Saints coach Brian Clodi said after watching his team lose three games by 6, 8 and 3 points, respectively. "But you've got to finish games."

Led by all-tournament selection Collin Pryor, the Saints were seven seconds away from knocking off state-ranked and eventual champion St. Joseph last Friday before losing 66-58 in overtime.

"This group believes it can win every game," said Clodi.

They'll get a chance to turn their fortunes around this weekend with home games against Neuqua Valley and Naperville North.

After facing East Aurora, Wheaton North, Proviso East and Proviso West, North Stars coach Tom Poulin felt his team got just what it wanted -- despite posting just one victory.

"It was not a winning experience in terms of the won-loss column, but we're a much better basketball team now than when we started (last Monday)," said Poulin, a St. Charles High School graduate.

"It was nothing but a winning experience as a program. This (tournament) is where we want to be as long as I'm coaching here."

While football players Tim Janeway, Jake Juriga, Jonathon DeMoss, Nic Higgins and Nick Neari returned to basketball shape last week, the North Stars received a boost from baseball players Danny Jimenez, Jake Thornton and Zach Hirsch. Jimenez and Thornton didn't play basketball last season.

With the return of DeMoss, Neari, Juriga, Hirsch and Mike Kastel, the North Stars may contend for the Thanksgiving tournament title at St. Charles East in 2008.

But first things first -- the Upstate Eight Conference campaign begins this weekend.

As for that seat cushion…