The OPRF boys basketball team can be thankful for numbers as the Huskies spent the Thanksgiving holiday break grinding out their third straight St. Patrick Tournament title.
Although OPRF fell to the host 55-52 in the final game on Saturday night and two other teams — Hyde Park and St. Pat’s — also went 3-1 in the tournament, the Huskies claimed the title based on least amount of points allowed. The team gave up just 169 total points in the four games.
Erick Locke, a junior who transferred from Brooks in Chicago this season, led the Huskies in the loss to St. Patrick with 23 points. Locke played the entire 32 minutes, as did Alex Gustafson who finished with 10 points. TK Mattox chipped in eight points and eight rebounds.
Locke was selected tournament MVP, while Gustafson, Mattox and Jakari Cammon were named all-tournament selections.
St. Patrick had three players score in double digits, including Elijah Watson, who finished with a game-high 24 points.
In the third round, the Huskies scored at will against Phillips. Twelve players made the score sheet in their 64-37 rout. Locke led the scoring with 16 points, while Virgil Allen and Darius Williams added eight apiece.
The Huskies also had no trouble dispatching Mather and Hyde Park in the early rounds. Gustafson scored 13 points and Cammon pocketed four steals to go along with his nine points in OPRF’s 61-28 thrashing of Mather, who was held to just nine points in the first half.
Head coach Matt Maloney said Cammon is still working on making the transition from the gridiron to the hardwood.
“He is still trying to get his legs and shot back after a long break with football in the fall,” said Maloney of his point guard. “We expect him to be back to his old form shortly.”
The Huskies travel to Walther Lutheran on Friday (7:30 p.m.) before hosting cross-town rival Fenwick on Saturday (6 p.m.). The Friars are a different team than the one the Huskies defeated 57-45 last season.
“We know Fenwick has their best squad in years,” said Maloney. “We have seen them play several times and we realize that they can play multiple lineups with their length, quickness and depth,” he said. “They are playing with confidence with all of their experienced veterans.”
During summer league play, the Huskies downed Fenwick 55-44.
Saturday’s game will also feature the second annual Coaches vs. Cancer event, a fundraiser organized by OPRF grad and cancer survivor Danielle Swets (Villari) for the American Cancer Society.
OPRF begins West Suburban (Silver) Conference play at Hinsdale Central on Dec. 7.