Scouting Fox Valley area boys holiday tournaments

E.C. Nichols Tournament at Marengo

When: Dec. 26-29

Pools: A: Marengo , Sycamore, Chicago Manley; B: Kaneland, Harvard, Chicago Harper; C: Hampshire, Winnebago, Rockford Christian; D: Westminster Christian, Alden-Hebron, North Boone

Outlook: This tournament expands to 12 teams and four pools this year. It includes an eclectic grouping of teams ranging from Class 1A Westminster Christian (enrollment 184) to Class 3A schools like Sycamore (1,184) and Chicago Harper (1,309). Unbeaten Winnebago and Sycamore, the latter of which won its own Thanksgiving tournament by handing Burlington Central its only loss, are the favorites. This tournament includes Hampshire (3-5), which will play away from home for the holidays this season in the wake of what Whip-Purs coach Bob Barnett hopes is just a temporary hiatus for the Hampshire Lions Club tournament. "It's going to be different," Barnett said of holiday basketball on the road. "It's a shame that it's come to an end, but we're going to do everything we can to get it back next year, especially with the new facility. We've had some interest and some people have said yes, but that's up to the athletic director. I have to do my job and go where we're supposed to go." Hampshire won at Harvard Tuesday, but the Whips will use the Marengo tournament to figure some things out. "I'd like to see the light come on," Barnett said. "Right now the game is going too fast for us for our younger players. Once the game slows down in their eyes, they'll be able to see the things a lot better and they'll get a lot better. That's what I mean by the light coming on. We're a third of the way through the season, so hopefully it happens soon." Westminster Christian is in a manageable pool with teams of relatively similar size, but the Warriors won't be intimidated against a bigger school should they face one after pool play. The Warriors (5-2) regularly play teams in the Private School League three times their size. And win. "It's something we would look forward to," Westminster coach Bruce Firchau said. "Playing any 2A or 3A teams would only help us as far as the state tournament is concerned."

80th Chuck Dayton Tournament at DeKalb

When: Dec. 22, 26-29

Pools: A: Huntley, Belvidere, DeKalb, Kelly; B: Chicago Senn, LaSalle Peru, St. Martin de Porres, Rockford Jefferson; C: Burlington Central, Geneva, Harlem, Hyde Park; D: Rockford Guilford, Rochelle, Belvidere North, North Grand

Outlook: Burlington Central (5-1) returns to one of the state's longest-running holiday hoops get-together after a two-year absence. "We're happy to be back at DeKalb," said Rockets coach Chris Payne, who took his last two teams to Pekin over the holiday break. "It's closer to home and we can get more of our fans out there, so we're excited about being back in that tournament." The Rockets like to get up and down the floor, a pace that has contributed to their 66-points-per-game scoring average. In half-court sets the Rockets spread the floor and either shoot from the outside or allow senior Mike McCurdy room to drive. He leads all area scorers at 27 points per game. The Rockets allow 61 ppg. as a team. "That's a little high," Payne said. "We know we're going to give up some points because of our style, but we'd like to get that average below 60. We think it's a good tournament to help us prepare for the second half of the season, when we really get into our conference games. It's always a goal to win the conference, and this tournament will help prepare us to do that." Huntley (6-3) is trying to get everyone on the same page on the same night. "I'm still waiting for us to click offensively," Red Raiders coach Marty Manning said. "Two guys will have a good night and a couple of guys will just go brain dead on us and not play the way they're capable. I'm still waiting for it all to click, but they're getting there." Huntley's scoring is balanced; Its top six scorers average between 10.5 ppg. (Zac Boster) and 5.6 points per game (Diego Quintero).

Wheeling Hardwood Classic

When: Dec. 26-29

First-day pairings: Game 1) Deerfield vs. Notre Dame, 9 a.m.; Game 2) Loyola Academy vs. Vernon Hills, 10:30 a.m.; Game 3) Libertyville vs. St. Viator, 12:15 p.m.; Game 4) Naperville Central vs. Niles North, 2 p.m.; Game 5) Wheeling vs. Streamwood, 3:45 p.m.; Game 6) Stevenson vs. Maine West, 5:30 p.m.; Game 7) North Chicago vs. Lake Park, 7:15 p.m.; Game 8) Prospect vs. Carmel, 8:45 p.m.

Outlook: Coach Tim Jones became very familiar with this tournament as an assistant coach at Lake Park the last four years. He hopes his Sabres, who were 3-6 entering Wednesday's game against Oak Park-River Forest, can enjoy similar success. The Sabres draw the host school next Wednesday at 3:45 p.m. "Wheeling is pretty good. I saw them a couple of times already and they are actually really good. We'll have to play well to play with them," Jones said. The Sabres are led by junior guard Tem Esikiel (21.8 ppg.), 6-5 senior forward T.J. Enno (15.1) and 6-4 senior forward Kyle Holder (8.7). The Sabres had lost 3 of their last 4 games entering Wednesday's game with talented Neuqua Valley looming Friday. The goal at Wheeling? "If we can get to .500 or even a little better in that tournament, that'll be sign we're moving in the right direction," Jones said. "It'll be tough. I don't think it's the cream-of-the-crop tournament that it used to be, but there's still a good Loyola team, a good Stevenson team, North Chicago has a good year going on right now, Prospect has been tough and Naperville Central always represents itself well."

Jack Tosh Holiday Classic at York

When: Dec. 26-29

Pools: Game 1) St. Ignatius vs. Riverside Brookfield, 9 a.m.; Game 2) Brother Rice vs. Glenbard South, 10:30 a.m.; Game 3) Willowbrook vs. Palatine, noon; Game 4) Lyons Township vs. Eisenhower, 1:30 p.m.; Game 5) Downers South vs. St. Charles East, 3:30 p.m.; Game 6) Conant vs. Maine South, 5 p.m.; Game 7) Wheaton South vs. Oswego, 6:30 p.m.; Game 8) York vs. South Elgin, 8 p.m.

Outlook: South Elgin (5-5) is already within spitting distance of last year's total for wins (8). The Storm draws a tough assignment against the host team in prime time the night after Christmas, but it's exactly the type of challenge South Elgin coach Chaz Taft relishes to toughen up his team. "They are a very good team," Taft said of York (6-2). They're a little bit better than what people are going to give them. They beat Neuqua (Valley), they beat Oak Park and they're very well coached. Every team in the York Tournament is very well coached. We have to pay attention to scouting reports, we have to pay attention to tendencies. Hopefully, we come out with a better record than last year. Last year we were 1-3. We want to be better this year."

Durand Holiday Classic

When: Dec. 22, 28-29

Pools: White: Elgin Academy, Kirkland, Orangeville; Blue: Durand, Paw Paw, Keith Country Day.

Outlook: The Hilltoppers have two problems to overcome at the Durand Classic: shooting and attendance. Elgin Academy (1-7) is missing the pure scorer it has enjoyed in recent seasons, so coach Everette Stephens plans to press the issue. "They've been playing hard, now I'm asking them to get the ball out and push it downcourt because we've been struggling with scoring," Stephens said. "We've been able to play well with teams for about two quarters. After that it's a struggle to score. I'm looking to focus on getting easy baskets and push the ball." Stephens said seniors Dan Vecchiola (6-2) and Jeff Moller (6-2) and junior guard Cory Ebert (5-10) are all playing well heading into the tournament

-- Compiled by Jerry Fitzpatrick