Scouting DuPage County boys basketball holiday tournaments

With York’s 40th annual Jack Tosh Holiday Classic expanding to 32 teams — matching Proviso West’s move to 32 last year — watching games will seem like one-stop shopping for boys basketball fans.

York and Proviso West aren’t the only places to see quality action, however. Here’s a look at where all the DuPage County boys basketball teams are headed this holiday season.

York: Dec. 26-28, 30-31The Field: Bremen, Brother Rice, Conant, Elk Grove, Glenbard East, Gordon Tech, Highland Park, Kenwood, Lake Forest, Lane Tech, Lindbloom, Lyons Twp., McHenry, Metea Valley, Minooka, Naperville North, Palatine, Providence, Ridgewood, Riverside-Brookfield, Robeson, Rolling Meadows, St. Ignatius, St. Patrick, Sandburg, Schaumburg, Stagg, Timothy Christian, Waubonsie Valley, Wheaton North, WW South, York.The Favorites: Lake Forest, St. Patrick, York.The Darkhorses: Conant, Riverside-Brookfield.The Scoop: The Tosh may not have the draw of a field filled with state-ranked talent, but the diversity of quality competition makes this must-see basketball for rabid hoops fans. Sixteen different conferences #151; including half the DuPage Valley Conference #151; are represented and a champion could emerge from all four corners of the bracket. The host Dukes, with Air Force-bound center Frank Toohey, are the unbeaten favorites, but they#146;re in a tough part of the bracket with Riverside-Brookfield and Sandburg. Keep an eye on Conant in the upper half. The Cougars traditionally play well at the Tosh and their lone losses are to Prospect, St. Viator and Fremd. Quotable: #147;We didn#146;t have much trouble getting to 32 teams,#148; said York coach Vince Doran. #147;We were able to get a few teams in and word just spread.#148;Proviso West: Dec. 21, 23, 26-28, 30-31The Field: Auburn, Benet, Bogan, Downers Grove South, Dunbar, Fenwick, Foreman, Gage Park, Glenbrook North, Hillcrest, Hinsdale Central, Homewood-Flossmoor, Libertyville, Lincoln Park, Morgan Park, Morton, Nazareth, New Trier, Providence St. Mel, Proviso East, Proviso West, St. Charles East, St. Joseph, Stevenson, TF South, Uplift, Urban Prep West, Von Stueben, Westinghouse, Wheaton Academy.The Favorites: Morgan Park, Proviso East, St. Joseph, Stevenson.The Darkhorses: Benet, Bogan.The Scoop: Even with 32 teams, there is no place to hide in this bracket. A Benet-Bogan quarterfinal game is certainly no guarantee, but if it happens it#146;d be a clear signal of which team is looking to make a surprise run at the title. Xavier-bound Sean O#146;Mara and the Redwings are four-year veterans at Proviso West. Folks may envision a Proviso East-St. Joseph quarterfinal but don#146;t overlook Hinsdale Central, which knocked off Oak Park and Naperville Central last week. If you attend, make sure you don#146;t miss seeing Stevenson and electric junior guard Jalen Brunson. Quotable: #147;Every year it#146;s been an outstanding field, and this year is no different,#148; said Benet coach Gene Heidkamp. #147;It has to be right up there with just about anywhere else.#148;Glenbard West: Dec. 23, 26-28The Field: Fenton, Glenbard West, Hoffman Estates, Leyden, Montini, Northridge Prep, St. Francis, Willowbrook.The Favorites: Glenbard West, St. Francis.The Darkhorse: Hoffman Estates.The Scoop: The 12th annual event gets another jolt with the addition of Hoffman Estates, Montini and Northridge Prep. The host Hilltoppers have been slow out of the gate, but returning guard Corey Davis and Co. traditionally thrive on their home court in this event. If Willowbrook can beat Hoffman Estates on Monday, the Warriors will give St. Francis a run for its money in the White Pool.Quotable: #147;We#146;ve got a few new teams, but it#146;s going to be just as competitive,#148; said Glenbard West coach Tim Hoder.Wheeling: Dec. 23, 26-28The Field: Alcott, Clark, Deerfield, Fremd, Glenbrook South, Hope Academy, Lake Park, Maine West, Naperville Central, Niles North, Notre Dame, Prospect, St. Viator, Streamwood, Vernon Hills, Wheeling.The Favorite: St. Viator.The Darkhorses: Fremd, Naperville Central, Prospect.The Scoop: Everyone#146;s chasing St. Viator and Drake-bound Ore Arogundade, but the talent#146;s there for teams to pull an upset. Nick Czarnowski-led Naperville Central wouldn#146;t face Fremd until the semifinals, while Prospect sits in the upper bracket with St. Viator. The Redhawks like playing at night, and being in the bottom bracket allows them to play the late game as long as they keep winning. Quotable: #147;I like where we#146;re at,#148; said Naperville Central coach Pete Kramer. #147;Overall I#146;m pleased with how we#146;ve played lately.#148;East Aurora: Dec. 26-28, 30The Field: Aurora Central, East Aurora, Geneva, Hubbard, Milwaukee North, Neuqua Valley, Oak Lawn, Prosser. Elgin: Dec. 23, 26-28The Field: Batavia, Buffalo Grove, Corliss, Dundee-Crown, Elgin, FW Parker, Glenbard North, Harlan, Huntley, Phillips, Rockford East, Rockford Guilford, St. Francis de Sales, South Shore, TEAM Englewood, Walther Christian.Centralia: Dec. 26-28The Field: Addison Trail, Alton, Belleville West, Centralia, Champaign Central, Christian County, Ky., Jacksonville, Madison Prep, Mo., Marist, Memphis Kirby, O#146;Fallon, Raleigh Egypt, Tenn., Salem, St. Laurence. Romeoville: Dec. 26-28, 30The Field: Argo, Chicago Christian, Glenbard South, Joliet Catholic, LaSalle-Peru, Lemont, Lincoln-Way East, Lincoln-Way West, Little Village, Oak Forest, Oswego East, Plainfield Central, Reavis, Romeoville, Shepard, Urban Prep.DeKalb: Dec. 21, 23, 26-27The Field: Belvidere, Belvidere North, DeKalb, DuSable, Geneseo, Hampshire, Harlem, Hinsdale South, Marmion, Moline, Rochelle, Schurz, Sterling, Thornridge, West Chicago, Winnebago. IC Catholic Prep/ Westmont: Dec. 26-28, 30The Field: Elmwood Park, Evergreen Park, IC Catholic Prep, Latin, Morgan Park Academy, Perspectives, St. Edward, Westmont. Plano: Dec. 23, 26-28, 30The Field: Aurora Christian, Burlington Central, Coal City, Dixon, Forreston, Genoa-Kingston, Hinckley-Big Rock, Indian Creek, Kaneland, Lisle, Mendota, Morris, Newark, Ottawa, Plano, Princeton, Rockford Christian, St. Bede, Sandwich, Seneca, Somonauk, Streator, Wilmington, Yorkville.