Fenwick High School boys basketball coach David Fergerson finds himself in an unusual situation. He’s missing seven players, all of whom are on the football team that faced East St. Louis this week for the IHSA Class 6A title. That’s why he’s putting his team’s fourth-place finish at the 21st annual Bill VandeMerkt Tournament, hosted by Riverside-Brookfield, in perspective.
“For me, it looks very promising,” Fergerson said. “We’ll be good. I’ve got freshmen out here. We’ll take it for what it’s worth and it is what it is.”
After defeating Hinsdale South 46-38 in the tournament opener, Nov. 25, and Golder 90-24, Nov. 26, Fenwick faced the host Bulldogs in the Pool B finale, Nov. 28. The Friars had a rough first half and trailed 36-21 at halftime.
“We looked like a young team in the first half. I got on them, and some of my seniors, they answered the call and got on the guys,” Fergerson said. “I thought we grew up a little bit.”
Fenwick (2-2) scored the first 12 points of the third quarter to climb back into the contest, but RB went on a 16-3 run to take a 52-36 lead going into the fourth. The Friars then went on a 15-0 run to start the final quarter and had a chance to tie the game with 3:43 left as junior Luke Vonglukiat scored and was fouled on the play. But he missed the ensuing free throw, and RB quickly scored the next five points to get breathing room. Fenwick could get no closer than four the rest of the way as the Bulldogs went 4-for-4 from the free-throw line in the final minute to secure a 64-57 victory.
Sophomore Kayonta Williams, named to the All-Tournament team, led Fenwick against RB with 25 points. Freshman Gaelle Shangoon scored 11 points, and classmate Corey Griffin had nine points, six rebounds, and two blocks. Vonglukiat finished with eight points and senior Garrett McNally grabbed 14 rebounds for the Friars.
“We don’t want any moral victories,” Fergerson said after the RB game, “but I think we learned more from this because had we won, we’d think we can turn it off and on, and that’s not the way it goes, especially [against] the (Chicago) Catholic League teams we’re playing. That effort is just not good enough to get a win against them.”
In its final game at RB, Nov. 29, Fenwick played one of those CCL teams, Brother Rice, and lost 46-28. Given that the Friars were shorthanded, Fergerson thought the overall tournament performance wasn’t bad. He also knows that once the football players return, his team will get better.
Fenwick’s Luke Vonglukiat (12) works towards the basket against Riverside-Brookfield’s Noah VanTholen (23) during the RBHS Vandemerkt Tournament Friday, Nov. 28, 2025 in Riverside, IL. (Steve Johnston/Riverside-Brookfield Landmark) 
Fenwick’s Dae’lon Wofford (1) drives to the basket against Riverside-Brookfield during the RBHS Vandemerkt Tournament Friday, Nov. 28, 2025 in Riverside, IL. (Steve Johnston/Riverside-Brookfield Landmark) 
Riverside-Brookfield’s Colin Cimino (21) makes a pass against Fenwick during the RBHS Vandemerkt Tournament Friday, Nov. 28, 2025 in Riverside, IL. (Steve Johnston/Riverside-Brookfield Landmark) 
Fenwick’s Garrett McNally (14) tries to block the shot by Riverside-Brookfield’s Benjamin Biskupic (22) during the RBHS Vandemerkt Tournament Friday, Nov. 28, 2025 in Riverside, IL. (Steve Johnston/Riverside-Brookfield Landmark) 
Riverside-Brookfield’s Cameron Mercer (5) puts up a hook shot over Fenwick’s Luke Vonglukiat (12) during the RBHS Vandemerkt Tournament Friday, Nov. 28, 2025 in Riverside, IL. (Steve Johnston/Riverside-Brookfield Landmark)
“With those seven guys added to the other guys we have, I’ve got a really balanced team, guys who are going to come in and play hard,” Fergerson said. “I haven’t had my full team the entire time. I still don’t have [all] my guys and won’t for another week or two, but looking ahead, we’ll be OK.”
Fenwick faces OPRF in the annual East Avenue Showdown at the Chicago Elite Classic, Dec. 5. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. at University of Illinois Chicago’s Credit Union One Arena.
Bill Stone contributed to this story.