Viator victories few, far between at St. Joe

St. Viator is hardly alone when it comes to a lot of unhappy returns from trips to perennial East Suburban Catholic Conference boys basketball power St. Joseph in Westchester.

Viator coach Joe Majkowski smiled and did admit to one memorable trip as his team heads there at 7:30 p.m. today for its last visit before the Chargers leave the ESCC for the Chicago Catholic League.

That was the 1996-97 team led by Mike Hare and current assistant Mike Howland which won the regular-season finale 55-52 in overtime to give the Lions a share of their only varsity boys basketball conference title.

The Lions have lost eight straight since the 2000-01 team won there 60-47. But that was in a rare 5-20 downturn for the Chargers and the state's winningest all-time boys coach in Gene Pingatore.

Now Viator brings a 4-0 record to face the 1-3 Chargers.

"It's always fun but it's tough," said senior and third-year varsity point guard Alan Aboona. "It's a fun environment.

"I think we have a pretty good shot. We're all experienced and we've all played there before and know what to expect."

Aboona and Richard McLoughlin will be playing for the third time at St. Joseph.

"This was a big confidence booster going into this game," senior guard Brendan King said of the 76-67 win over Conant to claim the Viator Thanksgiving Tournament title. "I don't think we should be intimidated by anybody. We know we can play with just about anybody."

And the Lions believe they can do it in a variety of ways after also grinding out a 47-28 win over Highland Park.

"We can go up and down or we can lock somebody up," Aboona said. "We'll be tough to stop even if we score in the 40s or in the 80s."

Especially since Aboona, King, McLoughlin, senior Jack Etchingham, 6-foot-4 sophomore center Chris Myjak and senior Richard Markovits all scored in double figures in the Lions' tournament.

"Last year we really depended on Alan to get points, but as good as he is he doesn't have to score in bunches for us to win," King said.

"They realize that's the way we're going to be successful," Majkowski said. "One night it might be a particular kid and the next night it might be another kid. It's nice to have that balance where nobody gets down too much when things aren't going their way. That's what you expect of senior, experienced kids."

And Myjak has made a quick transition to the varsity by averaging 11 points and with 14-point games against Conant and Highland Park.

"Chris has come around and started to gain confidence in himself," Majkowski said. "He does a good job on the boards and takes up space in there."

But tonight is just the beginning of a rugged stretch for the Lions as they try to end a four-game losing streak when cross-town rival Hersey visits at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

They also have an ESCC doubleheader next weekend with a visit from Marian Catholic and a trip to St. Patrick and nonconference road games the next two Tuesdays with York and Palatine.

"What a crazy schedule," Majkowski said. "Will we be prepared for all these games?"

With one of the toughest questions answered tonight.

Pirates turn on the power: After averaging only 42.6 points last year and 39.6 in its first three games this year, Palatine broke out in the finale of its inaugural Ed Molitor Thanksgiving Classic with a 63-60 win over Wheaton North.

"We attacked and we were aggressive," Palatine coach Eric Millstone said of his team's 58.5 percent field-goal shooting (24-for-41) which was 30 percent better than its first three games.

"It was important to put up some points on the board," said 6-5 senior Mykyta Cheshko, who scored 25 points in the final two tournament games. "We had some things going for us offensively and maybe it will carry over to the next game against Schaumburg (Mid-Suburban West opener today at home at 8 p.m. after the girls game)."

All-tournament team selection Tommy Galvan also was productive as he averaged 12.5 points and hit 10 3-pointers.

"The first three games we got the jitters out of us," Galvan said. "Now we can get going and we can start making plays."

At 2-2, Palatine already has half as many wins as it did a year ago in 26 games.

"Everyone feels more confident and can trust the offense and coach (Millstone) and what's he's doing with us," Galvan said.

"One year helps a lot," Cheshko said. "We've grown after a rough season last year. We know each other better and have a better feel for the game."

Sophomore and second-year varsity point guard Michael Orris also looked that way in his last two games as he scored 15 and 18 points.

"Michael was really aggressive," Millstone said. "He's starting to scratch the surface of what he can do offensively."

A much better start: Fremd had to dig out of an 0-7 start a year ago where its first two games were against state powers Waukegan and Warren. This year it switched tournaments to Crystal Lake Central and brings a 3-0 record into today's 8 p.m. visit by Conant.

"We feel like our team is really good," said Fremd senior Quinn Williams, "and we have great team chemistry and can do great things this year."

This will be a big early test since Conant has won the last 11 meetings and 21 of 24 since 1994-95.

Knights start title defense: Defending MSL champion Prospect gets a tough start as it tries to duplicate its perfect run through the East last year.

The Knights host Buffalo Grove at 8 p.m. at Jean Walker Field House. It was the site and matchup of their closest game in the division (40-36) last year.

Prospect had a successful first trip to St. Patrick's Max Kurland Tournament as it went 3-0, had the MVP in Joe LaTulip and all-tourney picks in Nsenzi Salasini, Jake Suckow and sophomore guard Mike LaTulip.

Hoffman Estates coat drive: Hoffman Estates, in conjunction with its varsity boys basketball parents, will be holding a coat drive at this weekend's home games. Anyone who donates a coat will receive free admission.

Hoffman has a girls-boys doubleheader starting at 6:30 p.m. today with Barrington and hosts Prospect on Saturday with the sophomore game at 6 p.m. and the varsity at 7:30.

Kids-sized coats will be donated to the District 54 "Community Closet," teen-sized coats will go to the Hoffman Estates High School "Community Closet" and adult-sized coats will go to the Hoffman Estates community.

Barrington fundraising drive: The Barrington boys basketball booster club will hold its inaugural Mustang Drawing at halftime of Saturday's home opener against Moline (7 p.m. tipoff). The grand prize is a 2010 Mustang convertible from Wickstrom Ford or $30,000. Proceeds benefit the Barrington basketball program.

New twist to Skokie Showdown: Niles North's visit to Niles West at 7:30 p.m. Saturday will have an MSL flavor with first-year coaches. Former Rolling Meadows star and Maine East coach Glenn Olson is at Niles North and former Schaumburg coach Bob Williams is at Niles West.

Shamrocks celebration: St. Patrick will begin the celebration of its 150th anniversary Saturday when it hosts Tilden Tech at 7:30 p.m. in Chicago.

There will be a pre-game ceremony at 7 p.m. recognizing the surviving members of the 1949 St. Patrick team which went 16-1 and upset Tilden and Johnny "Red" Kerr in the Chicago city championship game before 17,000 at Chicago Stadium.