HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS

Boys’ Varsity Basketball

The 62nd annual Plano Christmas Classic tips off today at Plano High School with six opening-round games scheduled. Newark will face No. 8 Timothy Christian at 9 a.m., followed by Parkview Christian taking on top-seeded Kaneland at 10:30 a.m. No. 2 Yorkville Christian will play Morris at 3:30 p.m., Hinckley-Big Rock meets No. 7 Mendota at 5:30 p.m., and host Plano will face No. 6 Streator at 7 p.m., with a tribute to Jim Teckenbrock scheduled prior to tipoff. Sandwich closes the day against No. 3 Marmion Academy at 8:30 p.m. WSPY will broadcast all six games live on 107.1 FM, with streaming available at wspynews.com. Tournament play continues Saturday, Dec. 27, and resumes Monday, Dec. 29, and Tuesday, Dec. 30.

The 2025 Shipyard Showdown, a tournament hosted by Seneca High School, picks back up today. No. 3 Indian Creek will face No. 2 Hall tonight in the championship semifinals. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in the new gym. Indian Creek enters the matchup with a 2-0 tournament record after defeating Flanagan-Cornell 76-58 and No. 6 Woodland 49-41. Serena will play No. 7 Reed-Custer this afternoon in the consolation semifinals at the Shipyard Showdown. Tipoff is set for 1:30 p.m. in the new gym. The Huskers are 1-1 in the tournament, falling 66-63 to Woodland before edging Flanagan-Cornell 54-53. But first, Earlville and Somonauk will meet this morning in the consolation bracket at the Shipyard Showdown, with tipoff scheduled for 9 a.m. in the new gym. Both teams are 0-2 in the tournament. Earlville lost to No. 1 Lexington 86-25 and to Coal City 68-20, while Somonauk fell 70-40 to No. 5 Marquette and 59-46 to Gardner-South Wilmington.

Yorkville will also open play today in the Jack Tosh Holiday Classic, a boys varsity basketball tournament hosted by York Community High School. The Foxes will face Glenbard West at 4:30 p.m. 

Girls’ Varsity Basketball

The Montini Catholic Christmas Tournament, hosted by Montini Catholic High School, resumes today. Yorkville Christian will face Merrillville this morning with tipoff scheduled for 10:30 a.m. The Mustangs are 0-2 in the tournament after losses to Marist, 65-25, and to host Montini, 51-45.

The inaugural Fox River Classic, hosted by Geneva and Batavia high schools, is back in action today. Yorkville will play Morris this morning in the consolation fifth-place bracket. Tipoff is set for 9 a.m. The Foxes are 0-2 in the tournament after losses to Lake Zurich, 48-37, and York, 48-25. Oswego East will face Lockport tonight in the championship fifth-place bracket at the Fox River Classic. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. The Wolves are 1-1 in the tournament after a 62-52 win over Rockford Guilford and a 36-35 loss to St. Ignatius. Geneva will take on Lincoln-Way Central this afternoon in the consolation semifinals with tipoff set for 1:30 p.m. The Vikings are 1-1 at the tournament after a 44-38 loss to Peoria Notre Dame and a 42-29 win over DeKalb. Batavia will face Lake Zurich this afternoon in the championship fifth-place bracket with tipoff scheduled for 3:30 p.m. The Bulldogs are 1-1 in the tournament after defeating Naperville North 36-33 and falling to Glenbard West 52-34. All remaining Fox River Classic games today and Saturday will be played at Batavia High School.

Sandwich is at St. Bede Academy’s Christmas Classic today and tomorrow. The Indians take on Serena this morning at 9 a.m., followed by Illinois Valley Central at 1:15 p.m. 

Community News

The area sports community is mourning the passing of longtime basketball coach and educator Chris Nelson, who died Dec. 20 at the age of 85. Nelson, a Batavia resident and former Oswego coach, spent decades in education and coaching and impacted generations of students across Sandwich, Oswego and Yorkville. He was known for his kindness, steady leadership and love for the game and the community, and was a familiar presence at the Sandwich Fair. Nelson was a devoted family man, lifelong sports fan and active member of Cross Lutheran Church. The visitation will be held Friday, Jan. 2, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Nelson Larson Funeral Home in Yorkville. Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 3, at 10 a.m. at Cross Lutheran Church, with the burial to follow.

PROFESSIONAL SPORTS

NBA (Christmas Day)

The New York Knicks defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 126-124. San Antonio beat Oklahoma City 117-102, Golden State topped Dallas 126-116, Houston defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 119-96, and Denver edged Minnesota 142-138 in overtime.

NFL (Christmas Day)

Denver beat Kansas City 20-13, Minnesota defeated Detroit 23-10, and Dallas topped Washington 30-23.