Brown, Vernon Hills win at Wheeling
Junior guard Tony Brown scored 16 points, and Vernon Hills' boys basketball rallied in the fourth quarter to beat Dundee-Crown 47-41 Thursday morning, earning its first win in the Wheeling Hardwood Classic in two years.
A.J. Stacy added 9 points for the Cougars, while Payton Foster had seven. Luke Perlin and Derrick Jones (6 rebounds, 4 assists) each had 7 points. Brown hit two 3-pointers.
Vernon Hills (4-8, 1-1 tourney) trailed 31-29 after three quarters before outscoring the Chargers 18-10 in the fourth. The Cougars had lost six straight games in the tournament dating back to 2015. Foster and Jones were sophomores on the squad that also beat Dundee-Crown on Day-3 action of the tourney two years ago.
Vernon Hills plays Maine West at 12:15 p.m. Friday.
Wheeling 68, Grayslake Central 67: At Wheeling, the hosts got 31 points from junior guard Michael Best, who was 6 of 7 from three-point range, and held off the Rams.
Grayslake Central (5-6, 0-2 tourney) was led by Jack Spalding's season-high 20 points and Alex Novak's 18 (four 3-pointers). Antonio Crews had 13 points, and Coby Moe finished with nine.
Grayslake Central plays Deerfield at 10:30 a.m. Friday.
Mundelein 47, DeKalb 38: At DeKalb, the Mustangs improved to 2-0 in the 90th annual Chuck Dayton Holiday Classic, as James Willman and Jeff Bikus each scored 11 points.
Andrew Silva added 10 points and Tommy Marcotte contributed nine
Mundelein (8-3, 2-0 tourney) advances to the semifinals and will play Lemont at 6:30 p.m. Friday.
Carmel 50, Mt. Vernon 47: At Centralia, Johnny Roeser had 16 points, 4 rebounds and 2 blocks, and the Corsairs rallied in the fourth quarter to win their opening game in the 75th annual holiday tournament.
Kimahri Wilson added 12 points, going 8 of 9 from the foul line, for Carmel (7-3), which trailed 33-29 after three quarters. DaMone Williams-Gray had 11 points and 6 rebounds, as the Corsairs advanced to Friday's 12:30 p.m. game against Alton.
Streamwood 61, Lakes 42: At Jacobs, the Eagles lost the Consolation C championship game to finish 1-4 in the Hinkle Holiday Classic.
Brad Cherry and Logan McCann led Lakes (4-9) with 10 and 9 points, respectively.
Johnsburg 73, Grant 71: At Jacobs, the Bulldogs suffered another tough loss in the Hinkle Holiday Classic, this time in the Consolation B championship.
Torren Curry scored a career-high 26 points, including four 3-pointers, for Grant (4-8), which went 2-3 in the tournament playing without leading scorer Michael Huff (school decision). The Bulldogs' 3 losses were by a combined 7 points.
Henry Kusiak added 21 points against Johnsburg, which got 32 points (seven 3-pointers) from guard Zach Toussaint.
Wauconda 53, Geneseo 47: At Marengo, Donovan Carter scored 14 points, including two 3-pointers, and the Bulldogs rallied in the fourth quarter to win their consolation-bracket game in the E.C. Nichols Holiday Classic.
Wauconda (4-8, 2-1 tourney) outscored Geneseo 17-7 in the final quarter to erase a 40-36 deficit after three and win for the second day in a row. Jimmy Ott and Connor Brannick added 12 and 11 points, respectively, for the Bulldogs. Andrew Nolan had 8 points and 7 rebounds.
Wauconda plays Elgin for the consolation championship at 1:30 p.m. Friday.
Woodstock North 60, Round Lake 49: At Marengo, Chris Pierre scored 13 points for the Panthers, who fell to 0-3 in the E.C. Nichols Holiday Classic.
Round Lake (0-12) also got 10 points from Lucas Hollingsworth. The Panthers wrap up the tournament at 9 a.m. Friday against Woodstock.
Lake Zurich 60, Richwoods 56: At Pekin, Peter DiCerbo scored 21 points, Ryan Kutsor added 16 points and 7 rebounds, and the Bears won their second of two games Thursday.
J.R. Cison and Will Tucker (three 3-pointers) each had 9 points for Lake Zurich (8-4), which wraps up the tournament Friday at 12:30 p.m. against the winner of Thursday's late game between Pekin and Washington.
Normal West 60, Lake Zurich 51: At Pekin, the Bears dropped their first game of the day, despite Ryan Kutsor's 14 points, 9 rebounds and 2 assists.
J.R. Cison (13 points) and Will Tucker (11 points) each hit three 3-pointers for the Bears, who fell to 7-4 and 1-1 in the tournament. Peter DiCerbo had 4 points and 9 rebounds.