Oak Park and River Forest High School senior Jay Heininger knows a thing or two about good rivalries. As the starting center on the Huskies’ football team which went 9-2 in the fall, he loved mixing it up along the line of scrimmage against the likes of conference rivals Glenbard West, Hinsdale Central and Lyons Township.
No school however gets Heininger more fired up than crosstown rival Fenwick.
The Huskies and Friars will play against each other in the leadoff game of the prestigious Chicago Elite Classic on Friday, Dec. 4 (6 p.m.) at University of Illinois Chicago.
The Chicago Elite Classic (www.chicagoeliteclassic.com) is one of the premier boys high school boys basketball events in the country, featuring top teams and players from both the Chicago area and the entire country.
OPRF is off to a 2-2 start this season, highlighted by a championship game appearance at the Bill VandeMerkt Thanksgiving Classic at Riverside-Brookfield High School. The Huskies have tremendous length, athleticism, versatility and speed with standout players like Breshawn Wilkerson, Connor Fuller, Cameron Gross and Jared Scott.
“Being a part of the Chicago Elite Classic is a huge honor,” Fuller said. “Playing on a huge stage like this event with so much support from our school is amazing. We have to live up to the hype.
“Fenwick has beaten us the past few years so this game is personal. This game will be a battle of who wants it more. Whichever team goes out there and plays 100 percent will come out with the victory. Fenwick is ranked higher than us so we have to prove people wrong.”
The Friars are 4-0 after winning their own John Malone Thanksgiving Tournament. Seniors Mike Smith and St. Giles product Mike Ballard, commonly referred to as the “Mike and Mike Show” by Fenwick boys basketball announcer Dave Power, headline the Friars’ high-scoring attack. Jamal Nixon and Jacob Keller are the team’s other top players.
Both teams have solid benches with great upside. OPRF guard Dashon Enoch is regarded as one of the best freshman in the state.
Head coaches Matt Maloney (OPRF) and Rick Malnari (Fenwick) are both outstanding as well with proven track records of success.
While both squads have room for improvement, the Huskies and Friars have the personnel to be serious contenders in both conference play and the state playoffs.
Tonight’s matchup offers everything, save I guess an Iman Shumpert vs. Corey Maggette game of 1-on-1 at halftime.
Although Heininger won’t be on the court, he’s ostensibly become a key role player for the Huskies in promoting the highly anticipated showdown between OPRF and Fenwick. Heininger and his friends Jacob Wierdak and Will Zimbler (also OPRF students) have helped sell tickets and t-shirts by posting information on social media and selling these items at school.
Tickets are $10 for general admission ($15 at the door). OPRF t-shirts are $10 and the money goes to the Huskie Spirit Council.
The t-shirts are orange long sleeve shirts with an OP logo on the front with the word “Huskies” under it. The back of the shirt has the words, “This Is Our Town.”
“Coach Maloney asked us to return this year to help sell tickets to the game,” Heininger said. “OPRF and Fenwick played each other last year in the Chicago Elite Classic as well and it really reignited the basketball crosstown rivalry.
“Every athlete at OPRF waits for the day that they can face Fenwick and win, whether it’s girls field hockey, boys swimming or any other sport.”
While it’s a heated but good-natured and respectful rivalry, both schools definitely circle the calendar when they face each other in any sport. Considering the talent on both teams, this year’s meeting in boys basketball is particularly compelling.
“Last year (at the Chicago Elite Classic), we had over 450 OPRF students all wearing orange and chanting against the Fenwick student section,” Heininger said. “Even if you are not a student, people should come out to support our community and watch quality basketball.”
Heiniger also mentioned OPRF students are encouraged to meet at the Oak Park Blue Line CTA train stop at 4:45 p.m.
“We want to all take the train down together in a sea of orange on the ‘L,'” Heininger said. “Because I play football, this is the most exciting school spirit event all year. Can’t wait to support my friends, community, school, and student section.”
On the court, the Friars have held the advantage recently over OPRF. Fenwick defeated the Huskies 47-40 last season and has won the last three meetings overall. The Huskies’ last victory against Fenwick was a 57-45 victory during the 2011-2012 season.
Fenwick Nation also comes out en masse to support their beloved Friars. Last year, the Fenwick student body rocked Christmas sweaters to counteract all the OPRF orange and blue in the crowd at UIC.
“We’re the first game to kick off the Chicago Elite Classic so it’s a blessing,” Nixon said. “The overall atmosphere of the Chicago Elite Classic is great. You have great teams there, elite high school basketball players from all over the nation. Both crowds from each high school come out. It’s a great time, a great rivalry.”
Regardless of the sport, OPRF vs. Fenwick is undeniably one of the best rivalries in the state.
Now if we can just do something about them playing each other in football. Heininger would certainly support that as well.