Geneva hopes to continue momentum in DeKalb
The boys basketball teams in the Tri-Cities Area are all over the place this year for their holiday tournaments. From Aurora to Elmhurst to Pontiac to Marengo, eight of the nine teams are heading somewhere different.
Here's a look at who is going where and when:
DeKalb's 80th annual Chuck Dayton Basketball Tournament: Geneva has participated in this tournament since 2001. The Vikings went 3-2 last year.
The 16 teams are divided into 4 pools -- Pool A has the hosts, Huntley, Belvidere and Kelly.
Pool B has Chicago's Senn, LaSalle-Peru, St. Martin de Porres and Rockford Jefferson. Pool C has Burlington Central, Geneva, Harlem and Hyde Park and Pool D has Rockford Guilford, Rochelle, Belvidere North and North Grand.
The Vikings kick off pool play Dec. 21 at 2 p.m. against Harlem, followed by Hyde Park at 9 a.m. Dec. 26, then Burlington Central Dec. 27 at 8:30 p.m. The next two days of games are to be determined.
"It's a great tournament for us," Geneva coach Tim Pease said. "It's five games in a short amount of time, it's a 25-minute drive and it works out well for us."
The Vikings are led by Max Cary (17.8 ppg, 4.5 apg), Alex Turnowchyk (13 ppg), Jeremy D'Amico (12.3 ppg) and Chris Jordan (11.5 ppg, 7.2 rpg).
The 77th Pontiac Holiday Tournament: How much longer will West Aurora play at this tournament?
"As long as I'm coaching," Blackhawks coach Gordie Kerkman said. "It's very good competition, they treat us right and it's a good atmosphere."
Since 1970, West Aurora has played in this tournament, which features 16 teams who will play in a 3-day span, starting Dec. 27.
Defending champion Simeon was given the top seed, followed by Lockport and the Blackhawks, who begin play at 10:30 a.m. against Danville. The next two days of play are to be determined.
West Aurora placed third last year. Tyler Thompson was leading the Blackhawks with his 13.3 points per game before he broke a finger. His status for playing in this tournament is to be determined.
Marquis Stewart is averaging 12.2 points a game, followed by Corbin Spearman (11.2 ppg) and Markus Cocroft (8.8 ppg).
Elgin's 33rd Annual Pepsi-Daily Herald Holiday Tournament: Batavia is the No. 1 seed of 16 teams featured in this 4-day tournament, which begins Dec. 26 and ends Dec. 29.
This is the second consecutive year the Bulldogs were given the top seed. They placed third last year and suffered their first loss of last season here to Highland Park.
In addition to Batavia and the hosts, participating teams are Buffalo Grove (No. 4 seed), Chicago Military Academy, Downers Grove North, Dundee-Crown, Fremd, Glenbrook South, Highland Park (No. 3 seed), Hoffman Estates, Larkin, Neuqua Valley, Rockford Auburn, Rolling Meadows, Waukegan and Wheaton North, the No. 2 seed.
"I think it's one of the deepest tournaments since we've been going there in the mid-90's," Batavia coach Jim Roberts said. "It gives us a chance to see teams we don't usually get to see."
The Bulldogs have to wait until 8 p.m. to play Larkin Dec. 26. The rest of the tournament is to be determined with a winner's and loser's bracket.
Northwestern-bound Nick Fruendt leads the Bulldogs with his 20.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.6 steals a game, but he is out with mono. Jordan Smith (11.6 points a game), David Bryant (10.9 ppg) and Phil Albrecht (6.7 ppg) are next in line.
Marengo's E.C. Nichols Tournament: This is the first year Kaneland is heading to this tournament, which has 4 pools of 3 teams.
Pool A has Chicago's Manley, Sycamore and Marengo; Pool B has Chicago's Harper, Kaneland and Harvard; Pool C has Hampshire, Winnebago and Rockford Christian and Pool D featured North Boone, Alden Hebron and Westminster.
Kaneland begins play Dec. 26 at 7 p.m. against Harvard and plays again Dec. 28 at 4 p.m. against Harper. On Dec. 29, the Knights will play a pair of to-be-determined games.
"The competition is good, but not overwhelming," Kaneland coach Dennis Hansen said. "It should be a good opportunity for us."
The Knights decided not to return to Grant's tournament because it took at least an hour and a half to get there.
"We wanted something closer," Hansen said.
Nick Wagner leads the Knights this season with his 14 points and 7 rebounds a game, followed by Dave Dudzinski (13.4 points, 6.9 rebounds a game) and Kevin Green (9.2 ppg).
York's Jack Tosh Holiday Classic: In St. Charles East coach Brian Clodi's search for the best tournaments around, he doesn't have to go much further than this one.
"We try to get the best schedule we can," Clodi said. "Come (postseason) tournament time, it will only make us stronger."
Sixteen teams are participating in York's tournament, which begins Dec. 26 and runs until Dec. 29. This is the sixth year the Saints have played here.
The top eight seeds are: Lyons Township, Wheaton Warrenville South, Conant, Brother Rice, St. Ignatius, Downers Grove South, York and Willowbrook.
The other teams are South Elgin, Oswego, Maine South, Eisenhower, Palatine, Glenbard South, Riverside-Brookfield and St. Charles East, which tips off against Downers Grove South at 3:30 p.m. on the 26th.
"We are excited to get going," said Clodi, whose Saints placed seventh last year.
Collin Pryor leads the Saints with his 17.8 points a game, along with Kevin Senechalle (10.2 ppg), Ryan Suits (8.7 ppg) and Zack Scott (8.2 ppg).
Jacobs Tournament: This five-day tournament starts Dec. 22 for St. Charles North, which takes on Woodstock at 9 a.m. Play resumes at 3 p.m. Dec. 26 against Prairie Ridge then the next day at 1:30 p.m. against Marian Central.
The final two days of play are to be determined. The teams are divided into 4 pools of 4 teams.
Other teams participating are St. Edward, Lindbloom, Bartlett, Cary-Grove, Johnsburg, Barrington, Elk Grove, Mundelein, Crystal Lake South, Wauconda and Crystal Lake Central.
Jonathon DeMoss leads the way for St. Charles North with his 12.5 points a game, followed by Tim Janeway (10 ppg), Danny Jiminez (9.8 ppg) and Nick Neari (9.3 ppg).
The 24th annual Matt Laurich Memorial Warrior Christmas Classic: Aurora Central Catholic and Marmion are staying in their home town for Waubonsie Valley's tournament. The two Suburban Catholic Conference schools are not scheduled to play each another.
Ever since Nate Drye has been coach, ACC has played in two different holiday tournaments. Instead of going to Plano and Waubonsie Valley like they did last year, the Chargers and the fourth-year coach chose Waubonsie Valley over Plano's tournament, which is being held at the same time.
"We had to upgrade," Drye said. "Waubonsie is tough, but this year, we are in (Class) 3A. Most of the teams at Plano are 2A. Plano is still great, but we have to face the reality that we are a bigger school now."
Eight teams are divided into two divisions. The Green Division has the hosts, Oswego East, Glenbard North and ACC. The Gold has Naperville North, Al Raby, Hinsdale Central and Marmion.
Marmion used to play at this tournament but left and played at Hampshire's tournament the last couple years.
"We are excited to go," said first-year coach Rashon Burno, who had nothing to do with the switching of the tournaments. "It's one of the better tournaments around."
All teams begin pool play Wed., Dec. 26 with the final games taking place Dec. 29.
On the first day, Marmion takes on Hinsdale Central at 5;45 p.m., followed by Waubonsie Valley against ACC at 7:30 p.m.
On Thursday, Naperville North and Marmion face off at 4 p.m. and ACC plays Glenbard North at 5:45 p.m.
Al Raby and Marmion plays at 2:30 p.m. Friday and ACC faces Oswego East at 4 p.m. right after that.
The championship game is at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Third place plays at 5:45 p.m., fifth place at 4 p.m. and seventh starts the day at 2 p.m.
ACC, which placed sixth last year at Waubonsie Valley, is led by Nick Czaja (16.1 points, 4.3 rebounds a game), Mark Adams (16 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3 steals a game) and Mike Adams (9.4 points, 2.8 steals, 5.5 rebounds per game).
Plano's 45th annual Christmas Classic: Aurora Christian drew the No. 3 seed at this tournament, where it finished fifth last year.
Spring Valley Hall got the top seed, followed by Genoa-Kingston. Seneca was given the No. 4 slot. Hinckley-Big Rock, Newark, Indian Creek, Somonauk and Sandwich are also at this tournament, which kicks off Dec. 26 and goes through Dec. 29.
The Eagles are slated to play Plano at 7 p.m. in the first game of the 16-team tournament.
"I think we will be one of the favorites," Aurora Christian coach Don Davidson said. "I think its good competition with (Class) 1A and 2A schools."
The Eagles are guided by Joe Redmond (11.8 ppg, 4.6 apg), T.J. McNelis (10.4 ppg) and Phil Rutherford (7.6 ppg).
Mary Beth Nolan/mnolan@dailyherald.com
Sophomore Ricky Clopton is one of the players who will have to step up if Nick Fruendt remains out at the Elgin Holiday Tournament, while Aurora Christian's T.J. McNelis and Eric Andersen head to the Plano Tournament next week.
Mary Beth Nolan/mnolan@dailyherald.com
Jake Thornton and the St. Charles North North Stars start play in the Jacobs tournament Saturday and then continue there all next week.