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Warren surprises Peoria Manual

Warren’s boys basketball team is onto the semifinals of the Pontiac Holiday Tournament.

The Blue Devils, unseeded going into the prestigious tourney, upset No. 2 seed Peoria Manual 65-40 Friday, as Aarias Austin scored a game-high 17 points, including a pair of 3-pointers.

Adrian Deere added 13 for the winners.

Warren (8-5) will play Aurora West at 1 p.m. today. The winner will play in the championship game at 9 p.m.

Peoria Manual led Warren 14-8 early in the second quarter, but the Blue Devils closed the half with a 21-7 run to take a 29-21 advantage into the locker room. Austin had 8 points in the final two minutes of the half.

Warren was up 43-31 after three and then outscored the Rams 22-9 in the fourth.

Warren also received 8 points apiece from Dre’Von Hill and Arthell Rosquist. Three Blue Devils — James Betori, Mitch Cygan and Derek Mason — had 6 points.

Wauconda 63, Marengo 33: At Marengo, Kodey Thomas scored 20 points, as the Bulldogs knocked off the host school to advance to today’s 7:30 p.m. championship game of the E.C. Nichols tournament against Sycamore, a 57-41 winner over Woodstock North.

Wauconda (8-6, 3-1 tourney) also received 12 points apiece from Ricky Sidlowski and Dion Head. Keith Blomberg contributed 5 assists, 4 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 points for the Bulldogs, who led 22-7 after one quarter and 39-14 at halftime.

The win was Wauconda’s seventh in its last eight games.

Lake Zurich 45, Brooks 40: At Pekin, the Bears snapped a four-game losing streak in their first of two games Friday, as Brad Kruse scored 18 points and grabbed 6 rebounds.

Sophomore Jack O’Neill added 10 points, which included a pair of 3-pointers. Lake Zurich played without sophomore and leading scorer Mike Travlos (ankle), who missed both Friday games.

Normal West 47, Lake Zurich 38: Playing their second game of the day at Pekin, the Bears’ rally fell short.

Sophomore Will McClaughry started in place of the injured Mike Travlos and scored 18 points while hauling down 7 rebounds. John Repplinger had 10 points and “numerous hustle plays integral to our comeback.” coach Billy Pitcher said.

Lake Zurich (5-9) was down 19-4 after the first quarter and 29-16 at halftime. The Bears cut their deficit to 5 and had the ball in fourth after a technical by Normal West, but too many turnovers proved costly.

“I’m very proud of our effort and not giving up,” Pitcher said. “I feel like we are really getting better and bonding as a team on this trip.”

Libertyville 73, Wheeling 62: In the Hardwood Classic’s Friday morning opener at Wheeling, Jack Deichl’s double-double of 19 points (season high) and 10 rebounds helped Libertyville snap a 10-game losing streak.

Libertyville (2-11, 1-2 tournament) trailed 13-8 after one quarter, but outscored Wheeling (0-3 tournament) 24-9 in the second. Jack Lipp added 18 points — hiking his tournament total to 70 in three games — and added 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks. Libertyville also got double-digit points from Joe Borcia (14) and Matt Reed (13).

Wheeling’s Jeremy Stephani led all scorers with 21 points, including four 3-pointers. Nick Ricciardi had 12 points, and Kameron Hill (9 points, 8 rebounds) just missed posting a double-double.

Maine West 54, Vernon Hills 41: Sophomore Joel Ferreren made 8 of 10 shots from the field and scored a game-high 16 points to give the Warriors their second straight win and a spot in the Wheeling Hardwood Classic consolation championship game at 5:30 p.m. Saturday against Lake Park.

Tom Kukec canned a pair of 3s and finished with 15 points for Maine West, which finished 9-for-9 at the foul line thanks to Kukec (3-for-3), Allante Bates (4-for-4) and Tony Volk (2-for-2).

Stephen Curry had a team-best 13 points and 7 rebounds for Vernon Hills (7-8, 1-2), which meets Prospect in Saturday’s consolation bracket third-place game at 2 p.m. Saturday. Trenton Fulton finished with 12 points on 6-for-10 shooting from the field for the Cougars.

Plainfield South 53, Grayslake Central 49: At Normal Community West, the Rams wrapped up the State Farm Holiday Classic with a tough loss.

Danny Reed and Alex Lennartz scored 14 and 10 points, respectively, for Grayslake Central (2-10, 1-3).

The Rams trailed 18-13 after one quarter and 30-23 at halftime. They got within 38-35 after three, but were outscored 15-14 in the fourth. Joey Mudd sank a pair of 3-pointers for Grayslake Central.

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