Loyola three-peats

Loyola's losses in the off-season didn't translate to losses on the court in the 30th annual Wheeling Wildcat Hardwood Classic.

"We lost some people (to graduation), and also Marcus (Jordan, a transfer to Whitney Young)," said Ramblers senior guard Rob Belcore, "but we're champs again."

Belcore scored 21 points as Loyola defeated North Chicago 69-54 to win an unprecedented third straight Wheeling championship.

"Third time's a charm," said Belcore, who was named tournament MVP.

Matt Sullivan, a 6-foot-5 junior, led the Ramblers with a game-high 27 points, while sophomore Chance Carter added 10.

Senior Patrick Terrell scored 20 points for North Chicago. DeShawn Chambliss added 10.

"We didn't come out with the same intensity that we had in the first three games," said North Chicago's Kentrall Wilson said.

Loyola (13-2) took an 11-point lead into the break, then roared out of the gate in the third quarter. When Sullivan nailed a 3 at the buzzer, the Ramblers led 55-40.

A tenacious trapping defense brought North Chicago back early in the fourth, but the Warhawks missed Wilson, who fouled out with 55 seconds left in the third.

"It was tough because I help with the rebounding," said Wilson. "That's what I'm there for."

North Chicago (10-2) cut the lead to 10 but could get no closer, and a 3-point play from Sullivan at the 1:38 mark gave Loyola a 15-point lead and put the game on ice.

"We played well," said Belcore, "took care of the basketball, made them pay for the aggressiveness, and did a good job of controlling the boards."

St. Viator 73, Maine W. 52: St. Viator coach Joe Majkowski would love to see more performances like his team's 73-52 victory over Maine West on Saturday for consolation championship of the 30th annual Wheeling Wildcat Hardwood Classic boys basketball tournament.

The Lions finished the tournament with 3 wins after an opening-round loss to third-place Libertyville and head back to East Suburban Catholic Conference play at 6-6.

St. Viator exploded for 23 points in the first quarter and 41 in the first half. Sophomore Alan Aboona scored 10 of his 17, and Michael Landuyt hit 7 of his 17 in the first 16 minutes.

"Scoring more was our focus coming into the tournament," Landuyt said. "When we play unselfishly, we're a lot better."

"The last couple of games, we seemed to have a little more confidence on offense, across the board," said Majkowski.

The Lions led 23-10 after a quarter, 41-26 at halftime and 50-34 after three.

That's when Maine West coach Erik McNeill took a gamble with a smaller lineup and pressured the Lions defensively.

"We tried to make things happen," McNeill said.

The chance-taking on defense allowed the Lions to run out with 3-on-2 and 4-on-2 breaks for several easy baskets, including 3 layups by Landuyt and a pair of fast-break buckets by Aboona.

"Overall, as a team, we didn't have a lot of focus or energy," McNeill said. "The positive out of the tournament is we got 2 wins.

"I was disappointed. I thought the effort wasn't what we needed against a team that brought a lot of energy."

Majkowski sees his team moving in the right direction with a second straight consolation crown.

"We played better each game here," Majkowski said. "Coming out 3-1 is big for us."

The Lions shot 50 percent from the field and were 8-for-17 behind the arc, led by Aboona (3-of-5) and Bryce Hensley (3-of-4). Hensley scored 11 points, Eric Huber 9 and Richard McLoughlin 7 for the Lions.

Jimmy Orlowski was the Warriors' top gun with 16 points, including four 3s. Tommy Solis scored 8 points off the bench for Maine West (4-11), and Stewart Turner-Jackson scored 7.

-- Larry Weindruch

Naperville C. 54, Wheeling 48: Naperville Central had lots of opportunities to give up at Wheeling but didn't.

Despite Wheeling's third-quarter rally, Naperville Central stayed the course, hit some 3s and free throws down the stretch, and finished with a 54-48 win to take fifth place.

"It was a good win," said Naperville Central coach Pete Kramer. "It was an all-out team effort. We did a great job of making some things happen for us."

The Wildcats had many bright spots throughout the game but they just couldn't hold off the Redhawks late in the game.

"I'm a little disappointed -- but the sun will come up tomorrow," said Wheeling coach Lou Wool.

Wheeling (6-8) turned an 8-0 first-quarter deficit into an 11-8 lead thanks to 3s from Machael Barton (11) and all-tourney pick Chris McClellan (17) and a basket by Michael Zimmer.

Later, McClellan sunk three of his five-3-pointers in the third quarter, where the Wildcats outscored the RedHawks 19-8. A pair of free throws by James Kurtz (7) early in the fourth put the Wildcats up 41-32.

"We played a good third quarter," Wool said. "But the fourth quarter was the complete opposite -- we just stopped playing. It's too bad. We were playing really good basketball up until that fourth quarter."

All-tourney pick Alex Chery added 7 for Wheeling.

"Hopefully, we build from this game and learn from the mistakes we made," Wool said. "We'll get better for the second half of the season. I thought we played good basketball in this tournament."

-- Bill Swick

ND 60, Prospect 57: It wasn't about the 3-pointers that Prospect's Jeff Heiden scored in the seventh-place game.

Heiden (15 points) sunk an impressive five from long range, but it was a shot he didn't take that made the difference.

Heiden got into position to shoot a 3 as the final seconds ticked away -- but he couldn't get a clean shot. At the last second, the ball went to teammate Joe LaTulip, but the ball wouldn't fall, and Prospect dropped a 60-57 decision to Notre Dame.

"I'm glad I was able to help my team come back," Heiden said. "But the fact that we came up short -- it doesn't really matter."

Prospect (7-8) was facing a 46-31 deficit after three quarters before really turning it up.

After three Heiden 3's and baskets from Kevin Reed (game-high 21) and Patrick Ziegenfuss (7), the Knights went on a 14-2 run.

They scored 26 in their fourth-quarter rally to cut the Dons' lead to 3 -- the narrowest second-half margin.

"It's frustrating," said Prospect coach John Camardella. "(My team) always has the energy in the fourth. It's my job to figure out why we don't have it in the second and third."

Doug Wollney led Notre Dame (6-6) with 16.

-- Bill Swick

Vernon Hills 41, Carmel 28: Listed at 6 feet 4, shot-swatting Kenny Rideout seems to play taller than that.

That's because he is, he says.

"It's funny," Rideout said. "I laugh every time I see my name in the paper and it says 6-4. I'm really like 6-5½.

"Last year I was just as tall and they listed me at 6-3."

What's important for Vernon Hills is that its 6-5½ center plays big in the post, and Rideout certainly did Saturday morning in final-round action of the 30th Annual Wheeling Wildcat Hardwood Classic.

His game bests of 14 points, 13 rebounds and 6 blocks helped lead the Cougars to a 41-28 win over Carmel.

Exactly one week earlier, Vernon Hills edged Carmel 39-37 at the United Center.

"At halftime I told the kids, 'Nobody's going to fool anybody this game,' " said a smiling coach Matt McCarty, whose Cougars improved to 7-6 by winning their second straight at Wheeling after dropping their first two.

"We tried to call a play and (Carmel) was calling out exactly what was going on."

The Corsairs (3-13, 1-3) couldn't figure out the Cougars in the second half, however.

Vernon Hills outscored Carmel 15-0 to extend a 15-14 halftime edge. While Rideout took over down low on the offensive end, scoring 8 points (2 free throws), the Cougars' defense helped limit the Corsairs to 0-of-11 shooting. Vernon Hills also claimed a 12-5 rebounding edge.

"We had some good looks that didn't fall," Carmel coach Jon Baffico said. "I know Vernon Hills can empathize a little bit because they got shut out (5-0 by Deerfield in the first quarter) on Thursday. I think we're two pretty similar teams. They just played better defensively. We did not shoot the ball very well, and that's attributed to their defense."

Vernon Hills got a big third quarter out of Chris Weaver, who scored all 4 of his points and had all 3 of his steals during the eight minutes. He finished with 6 rebounds, too.

"Defense is what we do," Weaver said. "We're trying to bear down on defense and play some hard 'D.' We've played tough teams. We just got to play hard defense and then the rest will come."

The Cougars also got good production from Jeff Epner, whose season-high 9 points included two 3-pointers and a pull-up jumper and free throw in the fourth quarter to help keep the lead double digits.

"We had some guys step up that have probably been in the back a little bit," McCarty said. " 'Weav' and 'Eps' really did some nice things for us in the second half."

No player affected the game more than Rideout, who frustrated 6-6 Jack Baucus into a rough game shooting and altered several other Carmel shots.

"His wingspan's just really unbelievable," McCarty said. "I've always been a coach that wants post guys to battle and get in front, but Kenny is a kid that can play on the side and play behind because he has such good timing."

Baucus, who was running gingerly due to what Baffico said was general aches and pains and tendinitis in his knees, finished with 8 points and 7 rebounds. David Venegoni also had 8 points.

"(Baucus) is not that much taller than me, but he's got me in weight and strength," Rideout said. "(Weaver) did a great job of doubling down on him. We limited his touches, basically."

-- Joe Aguilar