When all is said & done, D-C still the best at Christmas
There are many good things about Christmas tournaments, but still none better than Dundee-Crown.
I should admit I missed the last two days of the 25th annual Charger Classic, thanks to a nasty bout with the flu. But being around D-C the first two days did nothing to change my mind -- D-C is still the place to be for the best competition and the most well-run girls basketball tournament of the Christmas season.
This Charger Classic was special because it was the 25th, and because tournament officials were able to honor two of the classiest guys the tournament has had in its midst -- D-C coach Joe Komaromy and Buffalo Grove coach Tom Dineen.
Dineen's Bison were denied their first-ever D-C title by Fenwick, and Komaromy's D-C team went 0-4, but the recognition these two fine coaches and people received is proof that coaching success goes well beyond championships and wins in the scorebook.
As the season kicks back into full gear this weekend, and as we prepare for Sports Extra's return next Friday, we thought it would be good today to offer a Christmas break-ending look at how teams in our area conferences fared over the holidays and what's ahead.
Upstate Eight: The five U-46 schools didn't fare great over the holidays and, with the exception of South Elgin, continue to struggle. The Storm posted a nice 3-1 showing at the Oswego East tournament, losing to Andrew by 4 points in the opener then coming back to beat Aurora Central, West Chicago and Kaneland.
Elgin, Larkin, Bartlett and Streamwood had rough tournaments. Elgin went 0-4 at Wheaton North and remains winless, Larkin did manage to go 2-2 at Oswego East, but Bartlett was 1-3 at Dundee-Crown and Streamwood was 1-4 at Mundelein.
Elsewhere around the conference St. Charles North, which is at South Elgin tonight, went 2-2 and played for the consolation championship in its first trip to the Dundee-Crown tournament, while St. Charles East was 2-2 at Wheaton North. SCN and SCE, along with Waubonsie Valley and Lake Park, are undefeated in UEC play.
Waubonsie Valley finished third at Wheaton North, suffering its first loss of the season to Hinsdale Central in the semifinals. Lake Park was 3-2 in the Chicagoland Challenge tournament, losing to top teams Loyola and Trinity.
Neuqua Valley, 2-2 in the UEC, also had a good holiday, going 3-1 in the State Farm Classic in Bloomington-Normal.
The UEC returns to conference play with a full round of games tonight.
Fox Valley (Valley): Cary-Grove continued its hot start to the season and now stands 12-3 after nipping Conant in overtime for third place at Mundelein. And while Dundee-Crown was 0-4 at its own tournament, the Chargers have shown potential this season and it's a safe bet Komaromy will have them ready for the start of division play next week.
Jacobs had a decent run at Wheaton North, going 2-2 and falling to West Aurora in the consolation championship game by a point.
Crystal Lake South, Woodstock and McHenry and Grayslake North have all had longer layoffs, having played in pre-Christmas tournaments.
Fox Valley (Fox): Huntley went 3-2 at the Mundelein tournament, with the losses coming to quality teams in Waukegan and Mundelein, both by 10-points plus. Prairie Ridge was 1-4 at Mundelein while Grayslake Central went winless at Warren and Johnsburg was 2-2 at Dundee-Crown.
FVC teams finish up their crossover play tonight and divisional play kicks off next week.
Big Northern East: All BN-E teams played their Christmas tournaments prior to last week and have had significant layoffs. Defending league champion Burlington Central is 10-4 overall and hosts North Boone tonight while Hampshire stands at 7-6 and travels to Richmond tonight and Marengo Saturday.
Suburban Catholic: St. Edward had a disappointing Lisle tournament, beating only lowly St. Francis de Sales and losing to Antioch, Timothy Christian and Lisle. The Green Wave don't have time to dwell on it though as powerful Montini comes to town tonight. All the Broncos did over Christmas was go 5-0 at the Chicagoland Classic, beating Stevenson, Barrington, Lake Zurich, Trinity and Loyola.
Driscoll also had a good Christmas, taking second at Lisle after losing to Oak Park-River Forest in overtime in the championship game. The upstart Highlanders are now 13-2 for the season.
That's it. A whole ton of holiday hoops now over, enjoy the rest of the season.