Girls holiday basketball tourneys didn't disappoint

The 12 days of Christmas took on a new meaning for me this year.

Eleven girls basketball games in 12 days, only interrupted by Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Sundays.

I wasn't exactly whistling the tune of "Frosty the Snowman" driving through sleet and snow to Roselle, but the basketball didn't disappoint.

Before we peek ahead to the rest of the season, let's take a last look at the best holiday goodies.

Best player: You can't play a better point guard than Hinsdale Central's Toni Kokenis did at Wheaton North's Bill Neibch Falcon Classic. She accounted for 40 of the Red Devils' 42 points in a semifinal win over Hersey with 25 points and 7 assists, then came back with 21 points, 8 rebounds and 5 steals in the championship against Waubonsie Valley. All without taking a rest. And you thought Santa Claus was busy this time of year.

Best team performance: Down 21-15 at half to Trinity at the Suburban Holiday Showcase, Lake Park blitzed its visitors with 44 points in the second half to win 59-43. It made driving through that sleet on I-355 worth it.

Best shooting: Benet's Danielle Canulli nailed five 3-point attempts in the second quarter of a 65-31 win over York. Good night to see Benet for the first time.

Best freshman: Tami Morice has been great since Day One for Waubonsie Valley this year, but how about Keiera Ray? The 5-foot-9 forward seems to get better every time I see the Warriors play. She has a nose for the ball and a knack for scoring in traffic you don't see in most seniors. Where would Waubonsie be without its freshmen?

Most bizarre moment: Hinsdale Central had just turned the ball over during its game against Waubonsie Valley, both teams going the other way, when a shoe came flying down the court a good 50 feet. We in the media never did get the scoop on the size 6s, but the guilty half-grin on a Red Devil said it all.

Best turnaround: A night after shooting just 9 for 27 in Wheaton Academy's first loss of the season, junior Alexa Sharkey came back with 28 points, 10 rebounds and 7 steals, and limited St. Edward's Katie Yohn to a season-low 13 points at the third-place game of the Lisle Holiday Cage Classic.

Best-run tournament: Forty games over five days at Wheaton North, and the championship game started at 7:30 p.m. on the dot. Trust me, writers with a deadline appreciate North Pole-efficient operations like that one.

For good measure, here are the top three story lines I'll be looking forward to the next several weeks:

Montini vs. Driscoll, times two: My fellow writer Dave Oberhelman is treated to seeing these two rivals on the gridiron every fall. The grudge match on the hardwood will be no less compelling Jan. 9 at Driscoll and the return date at Montini Feb. 3. In a top-heavy Suburban Catholic Conference, the champion will get decided here. Unbeaten Driscoll will get by far its stiffest test to date. Montini sophomore point guard Whitney Holloway has been dynamite in leading the Broncos to a 14-2 start, but she needs more help. I get a sense that the best basketball of Marquette recruit Courtney Thomas, a junior transfer from Loyola, is yet to come. It should be a hot night in Addison's small gym next Friday.

Who emerges in the DVC?: Former NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle would be proud of the parity in the DuPage Valley Conference. Defending champ Wheaton Warrenville South has struggled this year and Naperville Central has 7 losses by a combined 23 points. Glenbard East and West Chicago are pleasant surprises. Wheaton North did finish strong at its holiday tournament, and its 3-1 DVC start will be put to the test this week against Glenbard East and Naperville Central. If there's a team that could break out of the pack, the Falcons would be my pick.

Waubonsie Valley's health: At full strength the Warriors may have the most talented roster top to bottom in DuPage County. But the injury bug has bitten the team for the second straight year. Rachel Bostick is back, if not quite 100 percent, from a dislocated shoulder. Point guard Jessica Morice's return from a broken bone above her ankle isn't so certain. Add those two to guards Kiki McClellan and Brittany Upshaw and fantastic freshmen Tami Morice and Keiera Ray, and you have a formidable lineup. Warriors coach Kris Kalivas would love to have the older Morice back when they host Lake Park on Jan. 23 and travel to St. Charles North on Feb. 6.