With high schools around the state on holiday break, there are plenty of boys basketball tournaments starting the day after Christmas.
Locally, Oak Park and River Forest High makes its annual pilgrimage to downstate Pontiac, while Fenwick stays close to home to participate in the Jack Tosh Holiday Classic at York High School in Elmhurst.
Here’s how the Friars and Huskies are looking as they head into the holidays:
Fenwick
The Friars are off to a great start with a 9-2 record. Fenwick had an impressive week, facing three high-quality teams and handing two of them their first losses.
On Dec. 17, Nate Marshall’s 19 points and seven rebounds paced the Friars to a 71-58 Chicago Catholic League Blue victory over visiting Mount Carmel, which entered the game unbeaten. Ty Macariola added 16 points and Dominick Ducree 11.
“We’ve lost to Mount Carmel the last three years so this was personal for us,” Marshall said. “We brought it to them.”
“I don’t know if this was a statement win.” said Fenwick coach David Fergerson, “We just played Friar basketball. We like our chances when we come out and guard people the way we do.”
At St. Laurence, Dec. 20, Ducree poured in 19 points and Macariola added 17, but it wasn’t enough in a 60-48 defeat by the Vikings. However, the following day in the Coaches United Invitational at Whitney Young, the Friars responded in fine fashion with a 42-28 victory over previously unbeaten Peoria. Ducree had a game-high 20 points and Macariola eight as Fenwick allowed the Lions just five second-half points.
What made the Friars’ successful stretch even more remarkable was that it came during semester final exam week, which presented more challenges to the student-athletes. Fergerson was happy with how his team handled things.
“Two of out three isn’t bad considering who we played,” he said. “Mentally, my guys are exhausted, but I’m so proud of them.”
After taking a few days to relax and recharge, Fenwick meets Andrew in the opening round of the Jack Tosh Holiday Classic at York, Dec. 26, at 10:30 a.m. A truly unique event, the tournament takes place over five days (Dec. 26-28, 30-31) and has 32 participants, including Chicago-area powers Bolingbrook, Glenbard West, St. Ignatius, St. Laurence, and St. Patrick as well as downstate power Metamora.
Tickets are $5 per day and allows admission to all the games, which take place in two gymnasiums on York’s campus. Games can also be viewed live on YouTube for free; type in “York Sports Network.” For more information, visit jacktosh.godaddysites.com.
OPRF
The Huskies (3-4) have not played since Dec. 14, a 48-31 home loss to Downers Grove North.
But coach Phil Gary isn’t overly concerned about the long layoff, which came while OPRF students were taking final exams last week.
“I wanted to get one game in before Pontiac,” he said, “but with the way the schedule was set up, it wasn’t doable. That’s why we have practice, so it’s fine.”
The loss to DGN snapped a two-game winning streak for OPRF.
“We caught Downers at a bad time,” Gary said. “We went real cold in the third quarter and they were able to extend their lead. It didn’t help that Big Al (Alex Vincent) got into foul trouble, but we played them good for three quarters. Still, you can’t have a bad quarter against really good teams like Downers.”
Gary believes the Huskies have gradually improved the last two weeks, and he’s looking forward to the Pontiac Holiday Tournament (Dec. 26-28).
OPRF’s first-round game comes against Chicago Public League power Curie, Dec. 26, at 6 p.m.
“They’re a tough team,” Gary said. “They play hard and compete. But we’ll make sure our guys are ready to play. We’ve just got to take care of the basketball.”
Every year, one of the goals for the Huskies’ program is to be playing on the final day at Pontiac, which this year has several great teams: Benet, Bloom, Curie, DePaul Prep, New Trier, and Simeon.
“You’re doing something good if you get to the final day,” Gary said. “We want to play four games at Pontiac. We want to go into the new year on a winning note and try to be better every day.”
For more information and updates, visit pontiacholidaytournament.com.