With high schools across the country on holiday break for the next two weeks, it’s an opportunity for basketball programs to see how they look going into the New Year. OPRF, Fenwick, and Trinity high schools are all hitting the highways to test themselves against top competition.
“I think playing in holiday tournaments gives you another opportunity to play teams that you may have never gotten a chance to see. I think it also helps with measuring where your team is heading into the second part of the season,” said Fenwick girls coach Lenae Fergerson.
Here are the holiday tournaments OPRF, Fenwick, and Trinity will take part in:
OPRF Boys (4-4)
Where: Pontiac Holiday Tournament, Dec. 29-31
First Game: Joliet West, Dec. 29, at 9 a.m.
Info/Updates: pontiacholidaytournament.com
OPRF started out this season strongly with victories in four of the first five games. But the Huskies enter Pontiac having lost their last three outings, including a 98-59 defeat at Niles North, Dec. 15.
“We caught [Niles North] rolling; they hit 20 threes,” said OPRF coach Phil Gary. “We weren’t ready to play out the gate, and they had one of the best shooting games I’ve ever seen from high school kids.”
Gary said OPRF has placed emphasis on defense during practice as the Huskies attempt to regain the momentum they had earlier this year. But facing Joliet West won’t be easy.
“They’re a good team. They’ve got a couple of good young guys, they’re scrappy and pretty athletic. It’ll be a good matchup for us,” Gary said.
OPRF Girls (2-9)
Where: Loyola Academy Christmas Tournament, Dec. 22-23, 26-27
Info/Updates: Instagram – @lachristmastourney
After an 0-6 season start, OPRF came into Loyola having won two of the past four outings. But in the first round, Dec. 22, the Huskies fell 60-16 to Carmel Catholic.
“We’ve had some great practices lately where we’ve had the opportunity to get back to the basics and fundamentals,” said OPRF coach Renee Brantley. “I understood we’d start off kind of slow, but this is the time of year when I want us to start hitting our stride going into January with confidence and working out the kinks.”
While Brantley realizes the record is not where she’d like it to be, she likes the way the Huskies have developed good chemistry, and she looks forward to seeing how they fare against good competition at Loyola.
“It’s always great to compete and play the game you love so much against high-quality, non-conference opponents. I’m eager to see how our team makes adjustments on the fly, and how well we compete against other great teams,” Brantley said.
Fenwick Boys (4-6)
Where: Jack Tosh Holiday Classic at York, Dec. 26-27, 29-31
First Game: Perspectives-Leadership, Dec. 26, 10:30 a.m.
Info/Updates: jacktosh.godaddysites.com
Fenwick is still working out some kinks, as evidenced by losses in four of its past five games, including a 58-35 defeat at Mount Carmel, Dec. 19.
“Mount Carmel’s a solid program and we didn’t play our best brand of basketball,” Fenwick coach Dave Fergerson said. “We’re still trying to figure things out and we’ll keep putting one foot in front of the other.”
Fergerson thinks the Jack Tosh is one of the best holiday tournaments in the state and says his team is excited to compete.
“We’ll go out there and give everything we have,” he said.
The Friars’ first-round opponent, Perspectives-Leadership, won’t be easy to beat.
“They’re a solid team that’s on the rise, they’re rolling,” Fergerson said. “We’re going to have to be clicking on all cylinders in order to compete.”
Fenwick Girls (3-7)
Where: Komarony Charger Classic at Dundee-Crown, Dec. 26-27, 29-30
First Game: Buffalo Grove, Dec. 26, 1 p.m.
Info/Updates: @dcgballtourney on X (Twitter)
Following a 2-0 season start, the Friars have struggled, losing seven of their past eight games.
“We’ve had a tough beginning. We’re still working to play consistently for four quarters,” Lenae Fergerson said. “We’re still nursing a few injuries … once we get our full team back and continue to gel, I think we’ll be good for the second half of the season.”
Trinity (9-3)
Where: State Farm Holiday Classic, Bloomington-Normal, Dec. 26-27, 29-30
First Game: Springfield, Dec. 26, noon
Info/Updates: theclassic.org
The Blazers come into the State Farm tourney with momentum following a 47-38 victory over Andrean of Indiana at the Marian Catholic Christmas Shootout, Dec. 20. Zaria Goins had 16 points and Keyera Gamble added 12 points and eight rebounds.
“We’re ready,” said Trinity coach Kim Coleman. “We’re excited to get down and compete, see some different teams that we don’t normally get to see, experience some different officiating, and bond as a team.”