FOOTBALL
Southland still top football region
If there was any doubt to whether the Southland remains the state’s dominant high school football region, Saturday’s showing in Champaign should settle all debates.
Especially to other sections of the state whose residents are plagued with selective memory.
I have a specific number for those questioning the Southland’s pigskin dominance: 34. That’s the number of state championships Joliet Catholic (13), Mount Carmel (12) and Providence (9) have won.
The reality is that it’s a nonstarter discussing which region has built the most storied football history.
Start throwing in Richards, Lockport, Lincoln-Way East, Homewood-Flossmoor and, well, you get the picture.
It’s a history that will add another chapter on Saturday in Champaign with Lemont in Class 6A, Providence in Class 7A and Homewood-Flossmoor in Class 8A competing for state championships.
– Pat Disabato
BOYS BASKETBALL
Stevenson basketball passes first test against Hinsdale Central
In the first two games of the 2014-15 boys basketball season, top-ranked Stevenson won by a combined 76 points.
With the Patriots facing Hinsdale Central — the No. 9 team in the Tribune’s preseason poll — on Friday night, fans at Lyons who expected a more competitive contest got just what they wanted.
Stevenson (3-0) held off the relentless Red Devils (2-1), winning 72-59 in the third round of the Lyons-Hinsdale Central-Glenbard West Thanksgiving tournament. But Hinsdale Central used a 21-11 second-half run to cut a 20-point halftime deficit to 56-46 early in the fourth quarter.
“We knew we’d be challenged as they are very good team. It wasn’t surprising to us,” Patriots coach Pat Ambrose said. “Very proud of our players that they strung together some stops.”
– Jon Kerr
Thornwood falls in Chicago Heights Classic final at Bloom
Thornwood’s Darrion Robinson learned his lesson Friday.
All the Thunderbirds did for that matter.
That lesson came from an early knockout punch delivered courtesy of Hales’ pressing defense.
Committing 12 turnovers in the first quarter and digging itself a huge hole early, Thornwood fell 67-57 to Hales on Friday at Bloom in the Chicago Heights Classic championship game.
“We take away that we’ve got to come out with that intensity right from the start,” Robinson said. “Coming out and playing hard. Anything to get us going for the rest of the game.”
Chelby Frazier’s 18 points led Thornwood (3-1) in the loss with Drew Evans (14 points) and Robinson (10 points, 7 rebounds) contributing.
– Tim O’Brien
Marist wins battle of unbeatens against Eisenhower
Chamar Hawkins and Marist anticipated a wild ride against Eisenhower’s frenetic full-court press and platooning substitutions.
While Marist entered the finals of Friday’s District 218 Thanksgiving Tip-off Classic allowing just 108 points on the season, Eisenhower came in averaging 107 points per game.
“Coach (Gene Nolan) told us since Day 1 that we’d be playing them in the championship,” Hawkins said. “It’s a tough matchup.”
It wasn’t always pretty, but Marist kept its composure after giving up an early lead.
Hawkins finished with a game-high 29 points and Malik Parker added 27 as Marist came from behind in the fourth quarter to snare a 95-85 victory in a clash of unbeaten teams.
“It’s hard to get a lead early and then — when the other team comes back — go back and take the lead again,” Nolan said. “That’s what I was proud of our kids the most.”
– Logan Malloy
