By Drake Skleba
For the Bugle
The turkey. stuffing, cranberry sauce and sweet potatoes have all been devoured and while most were feasting, four of area boys basketball teams were bringing home Thanksgiving tournament championships.
On Thanksgiving Eve in the final of the John Malone Thanksgiving Tournament, Benet Academy (3-0) devoured the host Fenwick 65-46.
Six-foot-7, Gaithersburg, MD, transfer Declan Kendrick Tchoua dropped 27 points on the Friars leading the Redwings to the tournament championship.
Bolingbrook traveled to Decatur for the holiday and came away with another Decatur Turkey Classic championship. In an instant classic of a championship game, Bolingbrook (3-0) trailed highly-ranked Springfield Southeast (2-1) 73-58 with 6:30 remaining in the contest. Bolingbrook head coach Rob Brost brought out the Raider’s full-court pressure defense.
Numerous Raider three-points bombs and several Raider steals resulted in an 88-88 tie with 2.6 seconds left in regulation.
The Raider inbound pass was caught by senior Anthony Thompson who fired a strike to the streaking Jordan Myrick, who’s lay-up beat the buzzer and gave the Raiders the 90-88 win.
It was the third consecutive Decatur Turkey Classic title for “The Brook”. 5-foot-10, Drake-bound, Joseph Yesufu. led the Raiders with 32 points.
For the second consecutive year, Romeoville (4-0) and the Joliet Central (3-1) met on Saturday afternoon for the 23rd Annual WJOL Thanksgiving Classic championship game.
Romeoville repeated as WJOL champs with a 77-72 OT win over the valiant Steelmen.
Downers Grove North (4-0) defeated Wheaton Academy (3-1), 53-52, to take home the Wheaton Academy Thanksgiving Tournament Championship at the Warrior Dome Saturday night.
Westmont (3-1) defeated Timothy Christian (3-1) last Tuesday, 59-56, in what proved to be the Lisle Thanksgiving Tournament championship game.
The Sentinels jumped out to a 19-10 lead after one quarter and held a 31-25 lead at the half. The Trojans rallied in the third quarter to knot the contest up at 31 after three quarters. The Sentinels outscored the Trojans 19-16 in the fourth quarter to come away with the win and the championship.
On Friday the host Lions (2-2), destroyed their archrival Westmont 64-35, giving the Sentinels their first loss of the tournament. On Saturday Westmont wrapped up the title with a 61-52 win over Evergreen Park (1-3). Westmont and Timothy Christian both went 3-1, in the five-team tourney and the Sentinels were awarded the title based on their head-to-head win over the Trojans.
Central Suburban North Report
Blue Demons take second at Ridgewood
Maine East (3-1) fell to Leyden for its only loss and Highland Park (3-1) beat Leyden (2-2) to take home the Ridgewood Thanksgiving Tournament Title.
In the loss to Leyden, the Blue Demons fell behind 34-23 after three quarters before falling to the Eagles 50-43.
Central Suburban South Report
Wolves fall to De La Salle for Glenbrook North Title
After beating the host Spartans from Glenbrook North 52-47 Wednesday, Niles West (3-1) squared off with De La Salle (3-1) for the Glenbrook North Thanksgiving title Friday. The Meteors, routed the Wolves 70-42 to win the tournament championship.
In the 52-47 win over Glenbrook North, the Wolves were led by seniors Kevin Guillaume and Richie Noparstak.
East Suburban Catholic Report
Dons split at De Paul
Notre Dame (2-2) fell to Niles North (3-1) in the fifth-place game of the DePaul/Lane Thanksgiving Tournament on Saturday.
Hilltoppers winless at WJOL
Joliet Catholic Academy (0-4) fell to Lincoln-Way West 58-55 in the seventh-place game at the WJOL tournament Saturday.
Southwest Prairie Report
Bengals take third at St. Charles East behind Shumate
After winning and losing in overtime in the Bengals first two games of the 60th Ron Johnson Thanksgiving Tournament to St. Joseph and Willowbrook, Plainfield East (3-1) finished the tourney with a pair of wins. The Bengals blasted East Aurora 72-40 Friday.
After winning and losing in overtime in the Bengals first two games of the 60th Ron Johnson Thanksgiving Tournament to St. Joseph and Willowbrook, Plainfield East (3-1) finished the tourney with a pair of wins. The Bengals blasted East Aurora 72-40 Friday.
In a tightly contested St. Charles East Tournament third-place game Plainfield East prevailed 73-68 over Proviso East (2-2) Saturday.
The Bengals, were led by All-Tournament selections, junior Chris Shumate and senior Yamani Shareef. Shumate led the Bengals with 27 points, while Shareef chipped in with 15.
The Bengals led 17-16 after one quarter and the game was tied at 31-31 at halftime.
The Bengals outscored the Pirates 20-10 in the third quarter to put the game away
Cougars, West Tigers win once at Joliet West Tourney
Plainfield South (1-3) and the hosts from Joliet West (1-3) both won one game in the Joliet West Thanksgiving Tournament. Joliet West beat Plainfield South and the Cougars picked up an 88-85 win over Crete-Monee Friday.
Plainfield South (1-3) and the hosts from Joliet West (1-3) both won one game in the Joliet West Thanksgiving Tournament. Joliet West beat Plainfield South and the Cougars picked up an 88-85 win over Crete-Monee Friday.
Wildcats split at WJOL
Plainfield Central (2-2) nipped Providence (1-3) to take fifth place in the WJOL Saturday.
Plainfield Central (2-2) nipped Providence (1-3) to take fifth place in the WJOL Saturday.
Indians winless at Rock Island
Minooka (0-4) lost to St. Charles North, Phillips, Rock Island and Bogan at the Rock Island Thanksgiving Tournament
Southwest Suburban Blue
Porters take 3rd at WJOL
Lockport (3-1) slipped past Lemont 63-61 in the third place game of the WJOL tournament Saturday.
West Suburban Gold Report
Mustangs win once in Hoops for Healing Tourney
Downers Grove South (1-3) defeated Hinsdale Central (0-4) for the Mustangs only win in the Hoops for Healing Tournament at Naperville North.
Matthew Now and Jack Gleason of Chicago Area High School Basketball (www.hsball.com) contributed to this roundup