Productive trip west for Mundelein
It was a productive holiday break for the Mundelein boys basketball team.
Not only did the Mustangs get a championship trophy, they also got great tans.
As is tradition now, Mundelein again left the region for the holidays. The Mustangs have been to Arizona, Washington D.C. and California for tournaments in the past and returned to California again this year during the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day.
While in the San Diego area for eight days, the Mustangs toured the world-famous San Diego Zoo as well as the legendary Midway aircraft carrier. They also soaked in the rays at the beach and managed to squeeze in four victories in four games to win the Granite Hills Holiday Classic in El Cajon.
According to the Mustangs’ blog, “Buhach (Mundelein’s opponent in the championship game) tried to do everything they could to slow us down, but their press was ineffective against our fast break.”
Mundelein defeated Buhach 110-77 in the title game, highlighted by a 41-point performance from junior guard Robert Knar. Knar also rolled up 8 rebounds and 6 assists.
Junior guard Quinn Pokora added 13 points and 5 assists.
Mundelein also got an earlier win over Buhach (86-54), as well as victories over Calexico (77-34) and Foothills Christian (75-42).
In the first game against Buhach, junior forward Sean O’Brien recorded his first career triple-double. He had 27 points, 11 rebounds and 11 blocks.
Meanwhile, the girls varsity team from Mundelein was playing in its own tournament in the San Diego area.
The girls went 3-1 at the Southern California Classic.
On their last day in California, each player recorded a video excerpt of her favorite part of the trip.
The Mustangs had not only toured parts of San Diego with the boys, but they also took a jaunt up to Los Angeles where they saw the famous Chinese Theatre, window-shopped on Rodeo Drive and visited Santa Monica Beach.
“This was quite the trip with many memorable and unforgettable experiences,” Jessica Schultz and Kiana Suhling wrote in their blog. “We grew as a team and are sad to leave.”
Groovy games: Bust out your bell-bottoms and platform shoes.
It will feel a bit like the 1970s at Lake Zurich on Saturday as the girls and boys varsity basketball teams will be hosting their “Turn Back the Clock” alumni event.
The teams will stage a doubleheader in the school’s old main gym and fans have been asked to dress in 70s attire. The “Turn Back the Clock” theme will also include the introduction at halftime of the boys game of any former Lake Zurich basketball players in attendance.
The girls game against North Chicago tips off at 5:30 p.m. with the boys game against Stevenson slated for a 7 p.m. start.
On the boys side, former starters and standouts Marko Grcic, Drake Orser, Austin Scott, Alex Rathe, Matt Poklop, Mike Kolze and John O’Brien are among those planning to be on hand. In addition, longtime and former boys varsity coach John Zarr and current freshman coach Bud Zasadil are both alums who will participate.
“We are having a 3-point contest for all fans at halftime for $1,” Lake Zurich boys coach Billy Pitcher said. “If you make the shot, you get to pick through some old Lake Zurich uniforms.”
Granny (and grandpa) shots: There might be more silver-haired fans than usual in the stands at an upcoming Libertyville boys game.
The Wildcats have partnered with their feeder program, the JCats, to host another Senior Citizens Night. This year’s event will occur at a home game on Jan. 14 against Round Lake. Like last year, players and fans are encouraged to bring their grandparents to the game.
JCats, an organization that coordinates basketball games for fifth through eighth graders in the district, is one of the few feeder programs in the area that incorporates a community affairs element.
“We are making every effort to give our JCat boys as much exposure to competitive basketball and to giving back to the community,” said Scott Schwerman, a JCats advisory board member and coach of the fifth grade boys team.
Recently, the JCats finished up a holiday donation drive for Winchester House, a nursing home in Libertyville, in which they collected food and supplies.