Viator reloads; Elk Grove, Palatine showing progress
St. Viator appeared as if it might be in a rebuilding mode after losing four starters from its most successful boys basketball team in history.
But it may be reloading instead from a 24-win team that won the program's first sectional title and lost to Marshall in the Class 3A supersectional.
The Lions are off to a 4-0 start after winning their third straight title in their 34th annual Thanksgiving Tournament. After having last weekend off, they open East Suburban Catholic Conference play with 7:30 p.m. home games against St. Patrick on Friday and Carmel on Saturday.
"It's like our coach (Joe Majkowski) said, everyone flows and can hit shots and knock down big shots," said Viator point guard D.J. Morris after scoring 26 points in the 60-59 title-clinching win over Conant. "It hurts us to lose (Alan) Aboona and (Richard) McLoughlin and the other guys, but (6-foot-5 junior) Chris Myjak is back and doing great. He's great at catching the ball and finishing in the lane.
"I think we can pick up where we left off. Everyone can knock down the '3-ball.'"
Morris is one of four junior starters with Myjak, Kevin Walsh and Danny Forde. Morris averaged 18.5 points and hit 13 3s in four tourney games.
Myjak (10.8) ppg showed his expanded range by hitting a pair of 3s. Walsh had a 22-point game with six 3s against Highland Park and Forde (6.8 ppg), a transfer from Loyola, hit three 3s.
Majkowski thinks this was only a start.
"There are still a little nerves with some of the younger guys," Majkowski said. "As the year goes on and they get more time on the floor you can see potentially even better performances.
"Forde isn't shooting the ball well right now but he's going to do that. (Brian) Wilhite is going to shoot better and then, who knows?"
It won't be easy in the ESCC even with the departure of perennial power St. Joseph to the Chicago Catholic League. But Viator hopes it has the ingredients to mix it up with defending champion Benet, unbeaten Notre Dame and St. Patrick.
"We're flowing really well together in games," Morris said. "We're all getting used to each other but the chemistry is great right now."
Grenadiers grow up quickly: Even though Elk Grove also suffered major graduation losses it has jelled quickly and improved to 3-3 after fourth-quarter comeback wins over Wheeling and Hoffman Estates last weekend.
"We talk about what do we stand for, just being part of a team or part of a team that really trusts what we can do," said Elk Grove coach Anthony Furman, whose team visits three-time defending Mid-Suburban East champion Prospect at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. "What we're trying to build on is standing for something as a team every time we step on the floor and step on the practice floor."
That teamwork has been vital where senior guard John Lorenz is the only returnee with significant varsity experience. Sophomores Austin Amann and Devin Neill have been key parts to the mix.
"Ever since the summer we've been really close," Lorenz said.
Furman said a variety of rotations and roles have clicked for the Grenadiers. Matt and Sean Gordon alternate time on the floor and Amann and Neill provided a weekend spark off the bench. Jeff Miceli, Peter Kinsella, Zach Solorio are also part of a versatile group.
"There is a little bit more of a clear understanding of who fits what role and it's showing," Furman said.
"We have lots of role players," Neill said. "We have small people who can play big guys and we play aggressively. We know how to fight over screens and we play with more heart.
"The seniors and two sophomores have really put it together and shown something."
Palatine passes road test: Palatine passed the first in a series of road tests Saturday with its 65-55 comeback win at Prospect.
The next one for the Pirates is at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Barrington. After a Saturday home game with Glenbrook South (6 p.m.), they have trips to St. Viator and Fremd before heading to York for the Jack Tosh Holiday Classic.
The Pirates lost their entire starting lineup from last year and had a large group of late starters from their Class 8A football quarterfinalist.
But they're off to a 3-3 start that includes Friday's 55-40 win over Hoffman Estates. Tom Hauert, Egan Malley, Peter Bony, John Millin and Jeremy Driggers have had double-figure scoring games.
"It's a work in progress, but there are a lot of good parts to be working with and they're doing a nice job of playing together," said Palatine coach Eric Millstone. "They understand we won't wow anybody with our star power but the strength of our team is it's a team."
Millstone said Malley, Bony and Driggers have been at the forefront of providing solid senior leadership.
Elgin tourney pairings: Two-time defending Elgin Holiday Tournament champion Neuqua Valley, Elgin, Rockford Auburn and Wheaton North received the top four seeds for the event which runs Dec. 20-23.
First-round matchups for Mid-Suburban League teams are Rolling Meadows vs. Glenbrook South (10:15 a.m.), Buffalo Grove vs. Batavia (1:30 p.m.), Fremd vs. Rockford Guilford (3:15 p.m.) and Hoffman Estates vs. Elgin (6:30 p.m.).
Other first-round matchups are Dundee-Crown vs. Auburn (8:45 a.m.), Wheaton North vs. Highland Park (noon), Neuqua vs. Willowbrook (5 p.m.) and Larkin vs. Las Vegas Centennial (8 p.m.).
Jacobs tourney pairings: Barrington and Elk Grove are back in the 16-team Jacobs Golden Eagle Classic that starts with three rounds of pool play. The tourney begins Dec. 18 and runs Dec. 20-23.
Barrington plays Crystal Lake South (9 a.m. on Dec. 18), St. Charles North (3 p.m. on Dec. 20) and Prairie Ridge (1:30 p.m. on Dec. 21). Elk Grove plays Mundelein (4:30 p.m. on Dec. 18), Jacobs (7:30 p.m. on Dec. 20) and Tilden (4:30 p.m. on Dec. 21).
Matchups the last two days are based on results in pool play.
Wheeling pairings: Pairings for the 33rd annual Wheeling Wildcat Hardwood Classic are expected to be released early next week. The tournament runs Dec. 27-30.