Brackets chosen for Hardwood Classic
The Jordans are gone but Loyola's boys basketball team returns to Wheeling to defend its Hardwood Classic title in the 30th annual tournament Dec. 26-29.
The Ramblers, who are led by Penn-bound Rob Belcore, are in the second of eight first-round games when they face Vernon Hills at 10:30 a.m. on Dec. 26. Host Wheeling, which has traditionally played the next-to-last game at 7:15 p.m., has moved up to 3:45 p.m. against Streamwood this year.
Prospect will finish the first day of games at 8:45 p.m. against Carmel. St. Viator faces Libertyville at 12:15 p.m. and Maine West meets Stevenson at 5:30 p.m.
The other first-round games are Notre Dame-Deerfield at 9 a.m., Naperville Central-Niles North at 2 p.m. and North Chicago-Lake Park at 7:15 p.m. The championship game is at 8:45 p.m. on Dec. 29.
• Conant will look to defend its title at York's Jack Tosh Holiday Classic on Dec. 26-29 in Elmhurst. The Cougars are the third-seed and open with Maine South at 5 p.m. on Dec. 26.
Palatine will play its first-round game against eighth-seed Willowbrook at 12:30 p.m. Lyons received the top seed and opens with Blue Island Eisenhower at 1:30 p.m. with No. 2 Wheaton Warrenville South facing Oswego at 6:30 p.m.
• Schaumburg is back at the state's oldest holiday basketball event, the 76th annual Pontiac Holiday Tournament on Dec. 27-29. The Saxons will open against Peoria Manual at 1 p.m. on Dec. 27.
Football
The IHSA has approved having all Saturday state playoff games played at a mutually agreed-upon time between the two participating schools. If an agreement can't be reached the IHSA will set the game time. The host school had previously determined the Saturday game time.
Boys swimming
Mundelein with tri meet: Mundelein's Kevin Coughlin won the 100-meter freestyle in 57.10 and swam legs of the winning 200 and 400 freestyle relays to help the Mustangs win a triangular meet Monday at Palatine.
Mundelein finished with 131 points to edge Palatine (126) and defeat St. Viator (71).
Adam Heckelsmiller won the 200 IM (2:22.32) and the 100 breaststroke (1:10.98) and also had a leg of Palatine's winning 200 medley relay (2:01.61).