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Bartlett-Jacobs matchup highlights tournament openers

Every pool-play game matters for boys basketball squads hoping to advance at the Hinkle Holiday Classic at Jacobs, which makes Saturday's opening-night showdown between red-hot Bartlett and the host Golden Eagles critical to the title hopes of each.

Bartlett first plays East Aurora on Friday. The Hawks enter that Upstate Eight Valley matchup with a 7-1 record, a mark that includes quality wins over West Aurora (in triple overtime) and Neuqua Valley (7-1). Their only loss came at Glenbard East (4-4).

Bartlett is led by 6-foot-3 senior shooting guard Ryan DiCanio (17.6 ppg), though the Hawks have been getting production from multiple scorers. Junior Tyler Pauletti (6-2) tallied 15 points in the 59-54 win at Neuqua last weekend, 6-4 junior Robbie Jimenez scored a career-best 23 points in the West Aurora victory and 6-4 junior Jason Hasenberg paced the Hawks with 13 points in a November rout of Streamwood.

"The kids are working real hard to do what we ask them to do," Bartlett coach Jim Wolfsmith said Thursday. "They're playing great defense and knocking down shots. Sometimes they surprise me by how well they are playing this early in the season."

Bartlett faces a well-rested team in Jacobs (5-3). The Golden Eagles haven't taken the court since last Saturday, when guard Kenton Mack's buzzer-beating 3-pointer from NBA range downed Barrington 51-48.

The winner gains a leg up in Pool I, which is rounded out by Carmel (2-4) and Grant (0-7).

"You have to plan on going 3-0 if you want to get out of any pool," Jacobs coach Jimmy Roberts said. "Without any disrespect to the other teams in our pool, just looking at records early on this year it seems us and Bartlett are the teams to beat."

Another compelling back story surrounding the Jacobs-Bartlett matchup? It could be a playoff preview. Both teams are assigned to the predetermined Class 4A Bartlett regional, which also includes Larkin (7-3) and 2013 sectional finalist South Elgin (4-4).

Pool II should be competitive with Barrington (6-3), Cary-Grove (4-3) and South Elgin (4-4) joined by Johnsburg (1-6).

Barrington suffered a last-second defeat on the same floor a week ago despite the solid play of senior forward Chris Lester and junior forward Ben Weber. The Broncos and leading scorer Rapolas Ivanauskas will be challenged by Cary-Grove's Jason Gregoire, who scored 128 points in 5 games at the 2013 Hinkle Classic to earn all-tournament recognition. Injury depleted South Elgin has won 2 in a row heading into Friday's UEC Valley matchup with Metea Valley after dropping 3 straight.

Pool III could boil down to the matchup between Larkin (7-3) and Marian Central (5-2), which takes place Tuesday at 6 p.m., though Prairie Ridge (3-4) and Huntley (1-5) hope to have a say in things.

Larkin's quick guards like to penetrate and dish to Christian Negron - an above-the-rim, 6-foot-6 sophomore with offers from DePaul and Bradley - and 6-foot-5 senior Daniel McFadden. Or as Batavia coach Jim Nazos called the duo Wednesday night after they combined for 29 points: "long and strong."

Larkin must find a way to slow Marian guards Adam Pischke and Wyatt Lindell, who have combined to sink 50 3-pointers.

"I'm excited because I like their tournament, I like their format," Larkin coach Deryn Carter said. "It ends up being 5 games in eight days, and I kind of like that to see how our guys respond. Our guys are excited. They fell short of winning the Thanksgiving tournament (in Rockford) so we've got a goal of winning the Christmas tournament. We'll see how it goes."

Pool IV is a tough one. Crystal Lake South's 7-1 record will be put to the test against a pair of Thanksgiving tournament champions.

Zion-Benton (5-2) defeated Wauconda to win the Richmond-Burton/Johnsburg tournament. Rockford Jefferson (7-0) topped Hampshire to win the title at Sycamore.

The Zee-Bees, led by Tennessee recruit Admiral Schofield, are the defending Hinkle Classic champions. They beat Carmel 61-49 last season for the title.

"This will be our third straight year facing Zion and they've killed us every year,"CL South senior Kyle Bartusch said. "We really want to play well against them."

Pool play takes place all day on Saturday, Monday and Tuesday. The tournament concludes with crossover play Dec. 26 and 27.

The full Saturday schedule at Jacobs: Carmel vs Grant, 9 a.m.; Cary-Grove vs. Johnsburg, 10:30 a.m.; Lakes vs Jefferson, noon; Zion-Benton vs. CL South, 1:30 p.m.; Prairie Ridge vs. Larkin, 3 p.m.; Barrington vs. South Elgin, 4:30 p.m., Huntley vs. Marian Central, 6 p.m.; Bartlett vs. Jacobs, 7:30 p.m.

At DeKalb: Already off to a great start, Hampshire (7-1) looks to make another strong tournament showing. The Whip-Purs finished second to Rockford Jefferson at Sycamore's Thanksgiving tournament, led by all-tournament selections Matt Bridges and Drew Doran.

Hampshire opens play at the 87th Annual Chuck Dayton Holiday Classic against Harlem on Monday at 5 p.m. Bracket play continues on Tuesday and Dec. 26 and 27. Other contenders include St. Charles East (7-1) and Glenbrook North (6-2).

At Wheeling: Dundee-Crown (2-6) and Streamwood (0-8) aim to make progress at the Wheeling Hardwood Classic. The Chargers have dropped 4 straight. Streamwood's 8 losses have come by an average margin of 23.1 ppg.

At Marengo: A new era begins as Elgin (2-6) plays a holiday tournament game on the road for the first time in 40 years.

Citing financial losses and lukewarm interest from participants, the Elgin administration announced last February it would discontinue the program's 39-year tradition of hosting the Elgin Holiday Tournament. Instead, Elgin will participate in the E.C. Nichols Holiday Tournament, which offers a mix of competition ranging from Class 1A through 4A.

The Maroons will have to sleep fast on Friday night. They open tournament play against Wauconda (6-3) on Saturday at 10:30 a.m., approximately 13 hours after the conclusion of Friday's Upstate Eight River contest at Batavia.

Westminster Christian (6-2) and Harvest Christian (2-4) also begin tournament play at Marengo on Saturday. Westminster Christian faces Woodstock North (1-6) at noon while Harvest Christian follows against Richmond-Burton (5-2) at 1:30 p.m.

If Elgin ends up facing either Westminster or Harvest at Marengo, it would mark the first time the Class 4A Maroons have played either Elgin Class 1A private school in boys basketball.

At Plano: Burlington Central (6-3) nabbed the No. 3 overall seed and a bye at the 52nd Annual Plano Christmas Classic. The Rockets open tournament play on Dec. 26 at 5:30 p.m. against the winner of Tuesday's contest between Indian Creek and No. 14 Kaneland (2-5), which has lost 5 straight. The tournament continues on Dec. 27, 29-30.

At Westmont/ICCP: St. Edward (8-2) vies for its second holiday tournament title this season. The Green Wave won the Westminster Christian Thanksgiving Tournament with a 77-61 win over Luther North.

St. Edward has pool play games against Westmont on Dec. 26 at 7:30 p.m., Perspectives MSA on Dec. 27 at 6 p.m. and Walther Christian on Dec. 29 at 6 p.m., all at Westmont High School. Crossovers and the championship game are scheduled for Dec. 30, also at Westmont.

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