HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS

Boys Varsity Basketball Tournaments

Plano Christmas Classic

Opening day of the 62nd annual Plano Christmas Classic tipped off Friday with multiple area teams in action at Plano High School.

Newark dropped a 61-30 decision to No. 8 Timothy Christian. Cody Kulbartz led the Norsemen with 12 points and 11 rebounds in the loss.

Top-seeded Kaneland cruised to a 74-28 win over Parkview Christian. Marshawn Cocroft scored 18 points and handed out seven assists to lead the Knights. Jeffrey Hassan recorded a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds, while Connor Kimme added 11 points and four steals. Parkview Christian had just three players score, led by Christian Mulder with 13 points. Taejon Harris finished with 11 points, and James Jefferson added four.

Kaneland advanced to face Timothy Christian in the championship quarterfinals Saturday afternoon with a 3:30 p.m. tip. Newark and Parkview Christian will meet in the consolation quarterfinals Saturday morning at 10:30.

Yorkville Christian earned a 59-37 win over Morris behind 16 points from Tray Alford. Jayden Riley added 13 points and eight assists, while Jordan Purvis finished with 11 points. Alford and Purvis each recorded four steals in the win.

Hinckley-Big Rock fell 78-53 to No. 7 Mendota. Judah Miceli, Jacob Orin and Luke Badal each scored 11 points for the Royals, while Marshall Ledbetter added 10 points and eight rebounds.

Yorkville Christian moved on to face Mendota in the championship quarterfinals Saturday night at 7 p.m. Hinckley-Big Rock will play Morris in the consolation quarterfinals Saturday afternoon at 12:30.

Plano pulled off the first upset of the tournament with a 63-58 win over No. 6 Streator. Alan Contreras led the Reapers with 27 points and went 12 of 16 from the free-throw line. Ethan Taxis chipped in 13 points.

Sandwich followed with another upset, edging No. 3 Marmion Academy 45-43. Griffin Somlock and Nick Michalek scored 16 points apiece for the Indians. Marmion was led by Ali Tharwani with 17 points, while Jamin Berman recorded five steals.

Plano and Sandwich will meet in the championship quarterfinals Saturday night at 8:30. Streator and Marmion Academy will play in the consolation quarterfinals Saturday afternoon at 2.

Shipyard Showdown

At the 2025 Shipyard Showdown hosted by Seneca High School, No. 3 Indian Creek advanced to the championship with a 55-42 win over No. 2 Hall. Jason Brewer scored 15 points to lead the Timberwolves, while Logan Schrader and Parker Murry added 11 points apiece.

Indian Creek will face top-seeded Lexington in the championship game Saturday night in the new gym, with tipoff set for 7:30. Fans can hear the game live on 103.1 WCSJ, or the game is also available to stream online a wcsjnews.com.

Serena lost 60-49 to No. 7 Reed-Custer in the consolation semifinals. Payton Twait led the Huskers with 15 points, followed by Cash Raikes with 12 and Tucker Whiteaker with 10. Serena will play Gardner-South Wilmington for third place in the consolation championship Saturday afternoon at noon in the new gym.

Somonauk rolled past Earlville 75-20 in consolation play. Landon Johnson led the Bobcats with 18 points, Owen Hopkins added 15 and Landin Stillwell finished with 14. Logan May paced Earlville with eight points, followed by Brayden Leppert with six and Landen Tirevold with five.

Earlville will face DePue for seventh place Saturday morning at 9 in the new gym. Somonauk will play Flanagan-Cornell for fifth place Saturday morning at 10:30, also in the new gym.

Hinsdale Central Holiday Classic

Oswego East opened tournament play with a 61-28 win over St. Charles East. DShaun Bolden led the Wolves with 17 points, while Mason Lockett added 15 points and six rebounds. Jacsen Tucker chipped in 14 points.

Oswego East will face Morgan Park in the championship quarterfinals Saturday night, with tipoff scheduled for 8:30.

Jack Tosh Holiday Classic

At the 51st annual Jack Tosh Holiday Classic hosted by York Community High School, Oswego dropped a 57-53 decision to Downers Grove South. Graham Schwab led the Panthers with 21 points, while Ethan Vahl scored 15 and Brayden Borrowman added 13.

Oswego will take on Highland Park in the consolation bracket Saturday afternoon at 1.

Yorkville also fell in its opener, losing 53-43 to Glenbard West. Graham Martinson led the Foxes with 16 points, followed by Braydon Porter with 15. Alonn Flint recorded five steals, and Joey Jakstys grabbed 11 rebounds.

Yorkville will face Nazareth in the consolation bracket Saturday morning, with tipoff scheduled for 8:30.

Girls Varsity Basketball Tournaments

Fox River Classic

Action continued Friday at the inaugural Fox River Classic, hosted by Geneva and Batavia high schools.

Yorkville opened with a 62-40 win over Morris. Sloane Connell led the Foxes with 12 points, while Ashlyn Peterson added 10. Yorkville will face Rockford Guilford for fifth place in the consolation bracket Saturday morning at 10:30.

Oswego East dropped a 57-47 decision to Lockport. Desiree Merritt led the Wolves with 13 points, followed by Aubrey Lamberti with 12 and Ja’Liyah Shepard with eight. Batavia fell 41-30 to Lake Zurich. Sidney Justice scored nine points to lead the Bulldogs, while Audrey Schwab added six and Ali Thomas chipped in five. Oswego East and Batavia will meet Saturday afternoon in a seventh-place game on the championship side of the bracket, with tipoff scheduled for 1:30.

Geneva defeated Lincoln-Way Central 56-38 to advance to the consolation championship. Geneva will face York Saturday afternoon at 3:30. All Fox River Classic games Saturday will be played at Batavia High School.

Montini Catholic Christmas Tournament

Yorkville Christian suffered a 56-54 loss to Merrillville. The Mustangs will play Bishop Noll for seventh place in the consolation bracket Saturday morning at 9.

St. Bede Christmas Classic

Sandwich split its games Friday, defeating Serena 42-35 before falling 65-27 to Illinois Valley Central. The Indians will face the host school Saturday evening, with tipoff scheduled for 5:35.

Earlville Holiday Tournament

Somonauk/Leland posted a pair of wins Friday to advance to the championship game. The Bobcats opened with a 30-18 win over Henry behind 16 points and four steals from Ashley McCoy.

Somonauk/Leland followed with a 51-25 win over Hinckley-Big Rock. McCoy again led the way with 11 points and four steals.

Somonauk/Leland will play for the championship Saturday afternoon, with tipoff scheduled for 1:30.