Pontiac Holiday Tournament

PONTIAC -- The first eight possessions for the Warren boys basketball team were worth their weight in gold.

The Devils broke free from a halftime deadlock with Danville in the third-place game at the Pontiac Holiday Tournament with a vengeance Saturday night.

When Brandon Paul nailed a 3-pointer on the right wing four minutes into the second half, the Devils' offensive efficiency surged into overdrive.

The 17-point outburst during the run enabled Warren (8-4) to hold off a late counterattack by the Vikings to emerge with a 58-55 win.

In their afternoon semifinal, the Devils' fourth meeting with Simeon in as many years produced the same result: the two-time defending state champions turned back Warren 48-40.

Still, it was another productive weekend for Warren, which made the final four for a fourth straight time.

"Coming into the tournament we were 5-3 and we weren't playing very well," said Warren coach Chuck Ramsey. "Even the games we won, we didn't play very well. This is a fantastic tournament. It's a great experience for all of our kids."

Paul once again was the main offensive weapon for Warren against Danville, but the junior had able company.

Scott Geske and Eric Williams combined for 19 points against the Vikings to augment the team-high 17-point effort from Paul.

In the Devils' 17-5 run to start the third quarter, Geske had a pair of tip-ins to jump-start the offense, while Williams had a trio of second-half field goals.

Taylor Erbach was also prominently featured as the game plan to become less reliant on Paul paid dividends.

"We came out (after halftime), and they were keying on Brandon," Williams said. "It gave me a chance to drive to the basket, and I took advantage of that opportunity."

"(Ramsey) really emphasizes taking good shots," Geske said. "He also emphasizes better offensive execution."

Geske had consecutive field goals to give Warren its largest lead at 44-30, but Danville answered in kind in the fourth.

The Vikings (5-9), the surprise team of the tournament with their upset over West Aurora in opening-day action, stormed back behind Mikel Brigham and Daveon Allen.

Brigham had game-highs of 25 points, 10 rebounds and 5 steals, and Allen, a sharpshooting guard added 16.

Danville closed to within 3 twice late in the fourth, but Paul iced the Warren victory by sinking 2 free throws with 5.2 seconds left.

Paul a unanimous first-team all-tournament selection.

Against Simeon, 20 turnovers and 40 percent shooting derailed the Devils' chances for a third-straight title appearance.

The Wolverines hounded Paul with a box-and-1 defense, limiting the Devils' standout to 5 points, 31 less than the junior scored Friday night against Oak Park in the double-overtime thriller.

"Chuck Ramsey does a great job with his team," said Simeon coach Rob Smith. "He probably knows our offense better than we do."

"Simeon is not what they have been, but they're still very good," said Ramsey. "We just didn't play well enough to win."

Curie 64, Schaumburg 58:ŒIt was not the way Bob Williams envisioned ending his year.

The long-time Schaumburg boys basketball coach experienced a first of his career during the consolation semifinal game against Curie: he was ejected from the contest.

Williams was assessed a technical foul in the second quarter, meaning he was confined to the bench for the remainder of the game.

In an admittedly reflexive moment early in the fourth quarter -- imploring three team members to corral a loose ball -- Williams was given a second bench technical.

Not only did the call negate a 3-on-none Schaumburg fastbreak, it forced him to leave the gym during the Saxons' 64-58 loss to the Condors at the Pontiac Holiday Tournament on Saturday morning.

"I've always had the utmost respect for officials," said Williams, who will have to miss next Saturday's Rock Falls Shootout game with Rock Island. "I wasn't profane. I wasn't demeaning. It wasn't personal in any way."

Schaumburg (9-5) had been attempting to climb out of an early hole the entire game against Curie.

The Condors (7-3) dominated the early action, building a double-digit lead by the end of the first quarter.

The Saxons finally rebounded with a strong second-quarter-closing run to trail 29-21 at halftime, and the backcourt came alive in the third quarter.

Second team all-tourney pick Cully Payne followed a 4-point play by Perrish Bell with another 3-pointer to forge the first of two ties late in the third quarter.

Payne also did the honors the second time with a slashing drive, but Currie scored the final 6 points of the quarter to lead 45-39 after three.

Williams was ejected 29 seconds later, and Curie used the bonus free throws and Saxons' run of turnovers to restore its double-digit lead with 4:48 remaining.

Payne and backcourt mate Brandon Bolger refused to give in, rallying the team in the final stages with a never-say-die attitude.

Bolger, who led the way for the Saxons with 21 points, scored 2 field goals three seconds apart with less than a minute to play.

Payne fouled out in the waning seconds, but his 19 points, 5 assists and 4 steals were instrumental in the Saxons' comeback attempt.

"We're doing better," said Payne. "We just need to do a better job of finishing. We really turned it back on (in the third quarter). It took a lot of energy, but that's no excuse for losing."

Donovan Foster had 25 points to lead all players for Curie, which went on to defeat Joliet 65-42 in the consolation championship.

"(Foster) is a heck of a player," Williams said.

-- Kevin McGavin