CHICAGO ELITE CLASSIC AT UIC PAVILION

CHICAGO ELITE CLASSIC AT UIC PAVILION

Friday Night, December 2

                Loyola Academy 42             Niles Notre Dame 44           OT

The two favorable North Suburban Schools squared off in the opening game of the Classic.  Early in the game the prognosis had a resemblance of both squads just sizing one another up.  The slow and discipline pace was kinda like a replica of some of our down state clashes between the likes of Anna Jonesboro & A Shawnee game.  Blah, Blah, Blah; Loyola Academy’s six-foot point guard Ramar Evans, a Maryville College signee had his usual stellar floor game, Notre Dame’s Senior trio of Jeameril Wilson, Chris Heinchen and underrated guard Matt Stritzer were the features players, but the game kind of left onlooker’s yearning for more artillery.

                Chicago Curie 63                 East St Louis 53

Defending State Champions, Curie’s 17-3 run out in the third quarter sparked by a barrage of three pointer’s help them cruise pass the flyers for a ten-point victory.  Arguably the No. 1 player in the state and Illini recruit 6’11” Jeremiah Tilmon wasn’t a factor much of the contest, and his lackluster performance in the Chicago area certainly didn’t leave the locals with a rasping impression.  Tilmon was saddled early with some fouls that bordered on ridiculous, still and all Tilmon must become more effective patrolling the paint with rebounding and shot-blocking.  East St. Louis six foot six Sophomore Terrence Hargrove, demonstrated he was a wiry leaper with a wealth of potential, which is why we at the Spot-Lite have him listed as a top 12-15 prospect in Illinois, Curie’s Senior Trio of Allante Pickens 17, Terry Smith Jr 15, and Elijah Joiner’s 11 were their leading scorers.

                Fenwick 63                         OPRF  57 OT

Senior guard Jacob Keller managed 20 points, six rebounds and three steals, while fellow Senior Jamal Nixon recorded 17 points and nine rebounds pushing the Friar’s by their neighboring rivals before a boisterous crowd, who made the track from the Western Burbs to witness a hard-fought thriller.  Fenwick pretty much sliced up Oak Park’s defense in the opening half (25-20).  But the second half saw much more intense play from both teams.  Oak Park finally knotted it up 49-49 with under two minutes remaining in regulation on a three-point play by Junior guard Isaiah Fuller, another basket by Fuller (13) gave the huskies a short-lived 2-point lead at 1:35.  But Senior forward Jared Scott’s two missed free throws with 40 seconds left seem to take the wind out of OPRF.  In OT Fenwick took advantage of retrieving every loose ball and rebound to seal the victory.  Too many gaffe’s plagued OPRF at both ends of the floor, defensive lapses, ill-advised shot selection, married by flat-out frenzy style of play, which most of the time leads to an L against a program like Fenwick.  OPRF never understood climate and how to utilize its talent in such an early big game setting.  Jared Scott finished with 14 for OPRF.  Cam Gross fouled out with 5 points, he had a tough night!