The best holiday basketball tourneys
Thanksgiving basketball tournaments merely serve as an appetizer. After a month of sprinting up and down the court the fall sports athletes are back in shape and teams are ready for the challenge of a conference race and the push toward the state playoffs.
First, though, it's time to make a statement. Holiday tournaments offer that opportunity. Here's where fans of DuPage teams can get a preview of the hottest teams before the coldest months.
1) Charger Classic Christmas Tournament at Dundee-Crown
Started in 1983, the Charger Classic girls tournament has featured six teams that have gone on to win a state title. With the exception of Marshall and Loyola it's featured all the biggies since the first girls state champion was crowned in 1977: York, Maine West, Stevenson, Fenwick, Naperville Central. In fact, this is the site of one of the most famous moments in girls basketball history when in the 2001 tournament Naperville Central's Candace Parker dunked for the first time in a game.
2) Elgin Holiday Tournament
Tradition can be essential in determining a quality tournament. This boys tourney debuted in 1975 when the man who coached the host Maroons, Hall of Famer Bill Chesbrough, was still six seasons away from retirement. The site is now the called the Chesbrough Fieldhouse. Few teams own greater history than the Maroons, who began playing ball at the start of the 20th century. The Elgin Holiday Tournament has been infused by electric talent from, among others, Batavia, Hoffman Estates, Wheaton North and Neuqua Valley.
3) The Jack Tosh Holiday Classic at York
Host Al Biancalana, a coaches' coach himself, called this a "coaches' tournament." See locals such as Benet's Marty Gaughan, Wheaton Warrenville South's Mike Healy and Downers Grove South's Paul Runyon match wits against the likes of Brother Rice's Pat Richardson and Conant's Tom McCormack. Honoring York's former athletic director, the Tosh celebrates its 35th year as a defensive crucible that forges better teams. Think defense is dull? You missed Conant's 56-53 thriller over the host Dukes for the 2006 title.
Runners-up
Bill Neibch Falcon Holiday Basketball Classic, Wheaton North: The Hinsdale Central girls seek their second three-peat.
Wheeling Hardcourt Classic: This boys confab offering Naperville Central and Lake Park has one of the best Web sites of the holidays.
Benet/Naperville North Holiday Tournament: One girls tournament, two local schools hosting. What's not to like?
Lemont Christmas Classic: A unique format in this well-organized boys tournament - small-school and big-school brackets meet for the overall title.
State Farm Holiday Classic: A 64-team, coed, two-class tournament. Driscoll boys and Neuqua girls are invited.
Warriors' Matt Laurich Holiday Classic, Waubonsie Valley: For selfish reasons, i.e., a hospitality room stocked with homemade cookies and desserts.
Glenbard West Holiday Tournament: Which larger boys team can St. Francis and Timothy Christian knock off?