DuPage and Fox boys basketball notes: Waubonsie, Neuqua, Kaneland bring home tournament titles

Hail to the champions.

Congratulations to the DuPage and Fox boys basketball teams that captured titles during last week’s holiday tournaments held throughout the state.

At Jacobs, Waubonsie Valley finished the 2023 portion of its schedule unbeaten thanks to its 49-37 championship victory over Lake Zurich.

The Warriors, who head into the new year with a 13-0 record, received a game-high 20 points from senior guard Tre Blissett, while juniors Tyreek Coleman and Moses Wilson added 8 points apiece. All 3 players earned all-tournament honors.

Waubonsie made its way to the championship finals with 3 straight running-clock (30-point leads) victories over Marian Central (73-37), Grant (71-33), and Grayslake Central (62-21).

Another DuPage Valley Conference team, Neuqua Valley (13-3), captured the 45th Wheeling Hardwood Classic crown with a 59-57 triumph over Glenbrook North.

Led by tournament Most Valuable Player Luke Kinkade, the Wildcats defeated Antioch, Oak Forest, and Hampshire on their way to the finals.

Kinkade, who scored 18 points in the semifinals, added a game-high 25 points, including a pair of free throws with 10.8 seconds remaining, against Glenbrook North.

Kaneland (13-3) earned its first Plano Christmas Classic title since 2019 with a 55-53 victory over the host Reapers.

Senior guard Troyer Carlson’s step-back 3-pointer with 3.3 seconds left provided the difference for the Knights, who overcame a 53-46 deficit in the final 2:40.

Tournament MVP Freddy Hassan finished with 15 points and 7 rebounds, while Brad Franck and Carlson each tallied 17 points against Plano.

Other strong area tournament finishers included Benet Academy (14-1), second at Pontiac; Lake Park (12-3), second at Pekin behind senior guard Cam Cerese’s tournament-high 102 points in 4 games; Glenbard South (10-5), second at IC/Westmont; Aurora Christian (13-2), third at the State Farm Classic/Small Schools; Crystal Lake South (14-2), third at Jacobs/Hinkle; Downers Grove North (12-2), third at York/Jack Tosh; Fenton (14-2), third at E.C. Nichols/Marengo; Harvest Christian (12-7), third at Elgin; Aurora Central Catholic (7-9), fourth at Elgin; Hampshire (9-8), fourth at Wheeling; Marmion (7-9), fourth at Plano; and Metea Valley (8-5), fourth at the State Farm Classic/Large Schools.

The holiday tournaments featured several individual highlights, including Nathan Scearce’s career-high 45 points in Bartlett’s 89-81 victory over Marian Central Catholic. The senior guard poured in 111 points in 4 tourney games at Jacobs, as the Hawks finished 3-1.

Junior guard AJ Demirov scored 33 points during Crystal Lake South’s 72-47 victory over Barrington; Cary-Grove’s Jake Hornok netted 26 points in a 54-46 victory over Grant; Jacobs’ Ben Jurzak tallied 25 points in a 63-60 loss to Grant; and Logan Leaver scored 22 points in Larkin’s 59-46 win over South Elgin.

At York, Downers Grove South’s Justin Sveiteris tallied 28 points in the Mustangs’ 75-57 victory over Glenbard East.

At Pontiac, St. Charles North’s Parker Reinke scored 28 points in a 79-72 loss to OPRF, while teammates Jake Furtney and Daniel Connolly had 25 and 22 points, respectively, against Lockport and Plainfield North.

West Aurora’s CJ Savage scored 22 points in the Blackhawks’ 68-64 win over Peoria Manual, while teammate Terrance Smith had 21 points in a 61-48 victory over Joliet West.

At Elgin, St. Edward junior Matthew Morrice scored 25 points in the team’s 68-54 loss to Richards, while senior forward/center Kaden Dawson scored 23 points in the team’s wins over IMSA and Lake View.

Aurora Central Catholic’s Jake Hager scored 21 points in the Chargers’ semifinal loss to Plainfield Central, while senior guard Maddox Hollian totaled 82 points in 4 games for the host Maroons.

Harvest Christian proved it can hang with some of the bigger schools during its third-place showing at Elgin.

“Size doesn’t matter to us,” said senior forward Kaden Meeker. “We don’t care if you’re in 4A or 1A, we’re going to go out and fight. We’re going to play our game and we’re going to play winning basketball.”

Lions coach Lafayette Bell learned some things about his team during the 4-day tourney.

“I found out that we’re pretty darned good,” he said. “I think a lot of people underestimated us. After competing with Waukegan the way we did (in an 85-76 semifinal loss), I’m understanding the type of team we have.”

Aurora Central Catholic first-year coach Josh Izzo also learned a lot about his team during its 4-game split at Elgin.

“We’re starting to play better as a team,” said Izzo. “We’re starting to play for each other, and we’re starting to get what it takes to win games at this level.”

Junior point guard Bernard Fellows filled the stat sheet with 21 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals in the Chargers’ 48-46, third-place loss to Harvest Christian.

“He’s starting to realize how to get his teammates involved,” said Izzo. “The ball will find him when he does that. He’s putting together back-to-back, 20-point games, and he’s making us look like the better team that we are.”

The longstanding tradition of Czerak family members playing basketball at Aurora Central Catholic is still going strong.

Following his older brothers, Matt, Andy, Brett, and Kyle, freshman guard Nick Czerak is beginning to make his presence felt for the Chargers.

Czerak scored 6 points on a pair of 3-pointers in ACC’s loss to Harvest Christian at Elgin last weekend.

“We’re watching Nick grow up before our eyes,” said Izzo. “He’s one of our primary ballhandlers. He helps Bernard (Fellows) at the point and gives him a little bit of a break. They play off each other well.

“He’s going to be a player down the road. We’re halfway through the season now, and he’s starting to be more aggressive.”

The future looks bright for Czerak.

“He’s still growing,” Izzo said of the 5-11 Czerak. “I hope he’s the best one out of all of them.”