By Drake Skleba
For the Bugle
PONTIAC
Redwings escape Peoria Manal to win Pontiac opener
Leading only 37-33 against Peoria Manual (4-5) at the end of three quarters, the Redwings were in a battle with another unseeded team. All day and night, the tournament featured the tournament top-seeds getting pushed to the end to pick up opening-round game victories. In the tournament’s second game, St. Charles North (5-6) beat up previously undefeated Danville (11-1) by a 62-48 margin.
Behind Kendrick Tchua (19 points), Colin Crothers (15 points, seven rebounds) and Will Engels (9 points, seven rebounds, the 12-1 Redwings pulled away from the Rams, for a 57-46 win.
Porters fall in OT to Simeon in Pontiac opener
Everyone in the area has witnessed the tremendous improvement in Lockport. At Pontiac, in the Porters’ opening-round game, versus the six-time IHSA State Champion Simeon, the Porters pushed the Wolverines into overtime before falling 46-44.
Senior Jake Karli led the Porters with 17 points, including three long-range three pointers. Matt Hatzopoulos nailed a pair of triples and had 10 points. 6-foot-8 Tommy Halatek just missed a double-double for the Porters scoring 12 points and hauling down nine rebounds.
Lockport (7-3) jumped out to a 14-9 lead after one quarter. Simeon (4-6) closed to within 25-23 at the half, before blitzing the Porters with a 14-2 third quarter to take the lead 37-27 after three quarters.
Karli and the Porters turned the tables on the Wolverines outscoring Simeon 17-9 in the fourth quarter, to send the game into OT.
The Porters could only score two pints in the four-minute OT and fell 46-44.
Plainfield North Tigers fall in OT, to New Trier in Pontiac Opener
In the Tigers 88th Pontiac Holiday Tournament they trailed No. 2 seed New Trier 31-25 at half and 39-34 as the game entered the fourth quarter. The Tigers’ furious fourth quarter rally forced overtime at 47-47 at the end of regulation.
New Trier (12-1), outscored Plainfield North 12-8 in the extra session to advance with the 59-55 overtime victory.
The Tigers (5-6), were led by senior Carter Thurman, who scored 13 points. Cooper Bridges added 12 points while Colin O’Rourke chipped in 10 points.
Undefeated Chicago Curie destroys Joliet West Tigers in Pontiac opener
Curie (11-0) jumped out to 24-4 first quarter lead and never looked back streaking past the Tigers 62-28 in Joliet West’s (2-9) opener on Thursday. Jamere Hill led the Tigers with seven points.
PEKIN
Bengals, Shumate rally past Richwoods 69-63 in State Farm opener
Trailing 57-49 with 5:15 remaining in Plainfield East’s State Farm opener with Peoria Richwoods, the Bengals mounted a furious fourth quarter rally.
Three consecutive baskets by junior Christian Shumate, cut the Richwoods lead to 57-54 with 4:25 left. Senior Noah Woulard (14 points), nailed a free throw and Richwoods (8-4) Cortez Martin, answered with a free-throw for a 58-55 Knight lead with four minutes remaining.
With 3:37 left, Bengal senior Yamari Shareef (15 points), hit from downtown to tie the game at 58, only to have Martin (28 points) bury a three of his own to give Richwoods a 61-58 lead 15 seconds later.
Consecutive Bengal hoops by Josh Humphrey and Shumate gave the Bengals a 62-61 lead they would not relinquish. Woulard and Shumate nailed four consecutive free throws to give the Bengals a 66-62 lead with 27 seconds left. Kyrell Daniel (seven points) finished off the Knights with three crucial free throws, to wrap up the Bengals’ win.
Shumate scored 26 points, on 10-of-13 shooting and grabbed eight rebounds, to lead the Bengals.
YORK JACK TOSH
Mustangs, Eagins, Roll Past Batavia, 48-40! Wheaton North next!
In the Mustangs’ second round game with Batavia (7-4), DGS senior Justin Eagins missed six of his seven three-point attempts in the game. After burying six treys against Highland Park, Eagins struggled from the arc against the Bulldogs.
Eagins didn’t struggle anywhere else, scoring 23 points, hauling down six rebounds and picking up four steals to lead the Mustangs (7-4) to victory. Timmeon Gamble scored 11 Mustang points, while senior Wes Hooker chipped in with eight points.
RICH SOUTH
Spartans slip past Rich Central in Big Dipper Quarterfinals
Romeoville (11-1) slipped past Rich Central (3-7) in the Spartans Big Dipper quarterfinal on Thursday in Richton Park.
EAST AURORA
Wildcats slip past DGN in Tomcat Tournament
Plainfield Central (6-6) moved one step closer to a East Aurora Tomcat Holiday Tournament Championship Game, with the 62-58 win over Downers Grove North (8-4). A win over Joliet Catholic (3-12) will put Plainfield Central in the 6:15 p.m. Championship Game on Saturday night.
Hilltoppers Crush ACC
Joliet Catholic (3-12) hammered the Chargers (2-10) 66-44 in Aurora.
WESTMONT
Sentinels roll on at Westmont Tourney over St. Ed’s
Westmont improved to 13-2 with the 56-53 win over St. Edward (9-6).
Raiders win in Ocala Florida Tournament
Bolingbrook (7-2) rolled past Martin County 79-62 in their first-round Tournament of the Sun, played in Ocala, Florida on Thursday night.
Blue Demons slip past Lincoln-Way West 49-48 in Maine East quarterfinals
Maine East (7-6), slipped past Lincoln-Way West (2-10) in a Maine East tourney contest on Thursday in Park Ridge.