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 We learned two things after watching the holiday basketball tournaments around the area. First, in boys’ basketball, there is no dominant team this season—although Chicago’s Young (10-5) might be the state’s most talented team. On the girls’ side, Fenwick (13-2), Young (17-1), and Bolingbrook (8-3) are the leading contenders to win the Class 4A state title in Illinois.
Morton (11-1) emerged as a team to watch after winning the prestigious Proviso West Tournament. The Mustangs beat Young and host Proviso West (8-5)for the title. It’s hard to say what was more impressive: Morton’s 20-point win over Marcus Jordan and the Dolphins in the semifinals that featured 18 blocked shots by the Mustangs? Or beating the host school on its own floor in the finals? The win over Young gets my vote, since they beat the state’s most talented team. The Mustangs, led by Joe Belcaster, Luke Scarlata, and Raul Guzman, will now have a bullseye on their back.
The state’s best player might be Waukegan’s Jereme Richmond, who is only a junior. The Bulldogs (9-2) were stunned by Plainfield North (13-2) in the semifinals of the Pontiac Tournament. Waukegan’s success in postseason play will depend on the supporting cast.
Another talented player is Schaumburg junior Cully Payne. The Saxons (13-1) lost at Pontiac to Plainfield North in the finals. Like Richmond, his success or failure will depend on the supporting cast. Bob Williams is a fine coach who guided his team past Eddy Curry and Thornwood in the 2001 Class AA Championship. Curry scored a game-high 32 points, but it wasn’t enough to offset the team play of Schaumburg.
The Public League in Chicago will be wide open, as evinced by the recent holiday tournament. Simeon went home early in the quarterfinals while Marshall (9-4), who won the Class 3A title, lost in the semifinals.
North Lawndale (11-2), who won Class 2A last year, prevailed in the finals over Foreman (8-4).
Players to watch in the Public League are Young’s Anthony Johnson, Marshall’s Darius Smith, Foreman’s Lavonte Dority, and Simeon’s Jeremy Jones.
The Public League Championship is Saturday, February 21 at the United Center home of former Simeon star Derrick Rose, now with the Bulls.
Other teams to watch are Plainfield North, Rich East (11-3), Thornton (11-1), Warren (10-1), Zion-Benton (10-3), Richards (11-2), and TF North (8-2), and Hyde Park (11-2).
Things went more to form on the girls’ side, where there isn’t as much parity.
Young and Bolingbrook appear on a collision course for a rematch in Class 4A. Both schools played well at the Nike Tournament in Phoenix. Young won its division, while Bolingbrook finished second in its bracket. Could fab freshman Morgan Tuck be the difference for Bolingbrook this season?
Fenwick (13-2) showed they can’t be ignored as Tricia Liston led the Friars to the championship at Dundee-Crown for the fifth straight year.
Wheeling (17-0), Geneva (15-0), and TF North (18-1) will reveal themselves as contenders or pretenders, while established programs like Marshall (13-3), Hinsdale Central (15-0), and Marian Catholic (14-2) will attempt to add to their pile of wins.
Hoops fans will see the results when Young plays Wheeling later this month at Willowbrook.
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