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Jacobs, Marengo kick off holiday tournament season

The boys basketball holiday tournament season starts with a flurry this weekend and hits with the full force of a winter storm the day after Christmas.

The action begins Saturday with eight consecutive games at Marengo beginning at 9 a.m.

The Hinkle Holiday Classic at Jacobs tips off Saturday at 3 p.m. with eight games in two gyms.

Just about everybody gets in on the act on Wednesday the 26th, and the fun continues through New Year's Eve.

Here's a look at where teams from the Fox Valley area are headed for the holidays.

At Bloomington: Aurora Christian (11-1) is the No. 1 seed in the small-school division of the 40th State Farm Holiday Classic, which will be competed at four venues in the Bloomington-Normal area Dec. 26-29.

Led by juniors Will Wolfe and Taaj Davis and sophomore Jaehshon Thomas, the Eagles open bracket play against No. 16 Peoria Christian at the Shirk Center at Illinois Wesleyan on Dec. 26 at 9:30 p.m. The title game is at the same venue on Dec. 29 at 5:15 p.m.

Other top seeds include No. 2 Rock Falls (11-0), Providence St. Mel (5-4) and Quincy Notre Dame (5-4).

At Christian Liberty Academy: Westminster Christian (2-7) will play four games in two days at the CLA Shootout in Arlington Heights Dec. 27-28.

On the 27th, the Warriors play Chicago Waldorf at 9:30 a.m. and Sullivan at 5 p.m. They conclude pool play on the 28th against North Shore Country Day at 10:30 a.m. and await a second game against an opponent to be determined.

At DeKalb: Huntley (6-3) and Dundee-Crown (8-1) are among 16 teams entered in the 91st Annual Chuck Dayton Holiday Classic. The four-day event begins Dec. 26 and concludes with the title game on Dec. 29 at 8 p.m.

Both Fox Valley Conference teams spring into action on the 26th. Dundee-Crown plays Byron at 9 a.m. Huntley plays Gary Comer Prep at 3:15 p.m.

The rivals are on opposite sides of the bracket and would not meet until the championship game. Huntley saddled the Chargers their only loss, 56-39, on Dec. 1 after D-C won the Sycamore Thanksgiving Tournament.

Others in the field include defending champion Naperville Central, West Chicago, IMSA, Oswego, Yorkville and host DeKalb, coached by Al Biancalana.

"Al and everyone at DeKalb do a great job hosting that tournament and it's always a competitive field so we're looking forward to going back," Huntley coach Will Benson said.

at East Aurora: Marmion (5-8) and Aurora Central Catholic (2-6) will take part in the 53rd Annual East Aurora Holiday Tournament, a four-day, pool-play tournament featuring eight teams.

Marmion opens against the host Tomcats on the 26th at 6:15 p.m. The Cadets play Neuqua Valley on the 27th at 4:30 p.m. and Wheaton Academy on the 28th at 4:30 p.m.

ACC plays Plainfield Central on the 26th at 7 p.m. The Chargers conclude pool play on the 28th against Downers Grove North at 8:45 p.m.

At ICCP/Westmont: St. Edward (7-5) is among 16 Class 3A and Class 2A teams competing at this dual-venue, four-day tournament, which begins Dec. 26 and concludes with the championship at Westmont on Dec. 29 at 7:30 p.m.

The Green Wave play all their games at Westmont. St. Edward opens against the Phoenix Military Academy of Chicago on Dec. 26 at 6 p.m.

ICCP defeated Montini for the title a year ago. The Broncos return to challenge the hosts along with Fenton, Elmwood Park, Tinley Park and the Latin School, among others.

At Hinsdale Central: St. Charles East (6-4) returns to the Hinsdale Central Holiday Classic, a 16-team event held Dec. 26-29.

The Saints draw Stevenson (8-2) in the opening game of bracket play on the 26th at 2:30 p.m., followed by a game on the 27th against either DePaul Prep or Urban Prep Englewood.

St. Rita is back to defend its 2017 title against the likes of Willowbrook, Richards, Marian Catholic, Glenbrook North, Rockford Auburn, Oswego East, Westinghouse, Homewood-Flossmoor, Lincoln Park and Maine South.

At Jacobs: South Elgin (8-2), Waubonsie Valley (7-1) and Chicago King (7-4) join a 16-team Hinkle Holiday Classic field that also includes Barrington (7-2), Bartlett (7-2), Cary-Grove (6-3), Crystal Lake South (7-3), Marian Central (1-9), Streamwood (3-7) and Prairie Ridge (0-10).

"We're always trying to improve our field and I think we have a good one," Jacobs coach Jimmy Roberts said. "Waubonsie Valley is off to a great start and it's nice to have South Elgin back. They were a tournament staple here for a long time."

The title game is scheduled for Dec. 29 at 7:30 p.m. The five-day extravaganza tips Saturday at 3 p.m. with two pool-play matchups, including a game between South Elgin and Cary-Grove.

"Cary-Grove is going to be tough," South Elgin coach Brett Johnson said. "They are one of the teams in our subsectional, so it's a true test for us."

Jacobs (4-6) is the two-time defending tournament champion. The Golden Eagles defeated Barrington 74-48 in last year's final. They begin tournament play against Grant (6-5) on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

At Marengo: Elgin (2-7), Hampshire (5-4) and Harvest Christian (6-2) join the fray at the 69th Annual E.C. Nichols Tournament.

Fox Valley Conference leader Crystal Lake Central (6-4) returns to defend its 2017 title against a field that includes Rockford Christian (9-2).

The action runs Dec. 26-29. Harvest Christian opens bracket play against Richmond-Burton on the 26th at 10:30 a.m., followed by Genoa-Kingston vs. Elgin at noon. Hampshire takes on Woodstock North at 4 p.m.

At Plano: Defending tournament champion Burlington Central (6-3) begins bracket play at the 56th Plano Christmas Classic against Kaneland (1-9) on Dec. 26 at 10:30 a.m.

The Rockets aim for a title-game return on Dec. 29 at 8 p.m. Central is the No. 3 seed behind No. 1 Ottawa (9-0) and No. 2 Peoria Notre Dame.

The field also includes No. 4 Newark, No. 5 Northridge Prep, No. 6 Coal City and No. 7 Lisle.

The Rockets are led by 6-foot-5 Patrick Mayfield. The senior needs 19 points in Friday's home game against Antioch for 1,000 career points. He averages 29.6.

The Rockets were buoyed by the recent return from injury of 6-foot-3 Jake Lenschow. The junior guard is averaging 11.5 points and 2.5 rebounds in two wins since his return.

"I think we're starting to piece the puzzle together now with Jake back," Central coach Brett Porto said. "We'd like to be competitive. We always love going down there and competing. There are solid teams down there and different teams than what we normally see."

At Pontiac: West Aurora (8-2) and St. Charles North (4-5) will face the best at the 88th Pontiac Holiday Tournament, which includes Curie (10-0), Bloomington (8-2), Bloom (11-0), Danville (10-0) and Benet Academy (10-1), all ranked in the top 10 in the most recent Class 4A Associated Press poll.

"It's one of the best tournaments in the state if not the nation," West Aurora coach Brian Johnson said. "The field is loaded. We have Curie and Bloom, the top two teams, according to some area polls. Then you throw in Danville, who is undefeated downstate and Bloomington and Benet. It's unbelievable."

The three-day tournament runs Dec. 27-29. St. Charles North opens bracket play on the 27th against Danville. West Aurora plays the late game against Oak Park-River Forest at 9 p.m.

At Proviso West: Larkin (4-8) returns to the 58th Annual Proviso West Holiday Basketball Invitational, a 16-team event held Dec. 26-29

The Royals open against Chicago Uplift on the 26th at 11 a.m. Other teams in the field include Leo, Bogan, Hillcrest, Whitney Young and St. Joseph.

At Wheeling: Geneva (8-0) is a title contender at the 41st Wheeling Hardwood Classic.

Led by seniors Mitch Mascari and Jack McDonald, the DuKane Conference leaders will attempt to navigate the Wheeling field: Waukegan, Grayslake Central, Fremd, Libertyville, Notre Dame, Prospect, Glenbrook South, Taft, St. Viator, Ridgewood, Buffalo Grove, Deerfield, Maine West, Wheeling and 2017 champion Niles North.

Geneva starts bracket play against Wheeling (3-6) on the 26th at 7:15 p.m. The championship game is Dec. 29 at 8:45 p.m.

at York: Batavia (6-2) is one of 32 teams entered in the 45th Annual Jack Tosh Classic, which runs Dec. 26-29 and concludes on New Year's Eve with a 3 p.m. championship game.

The Bulldogs open bracket play against Elk Grove (2-8) on the 26th at 6 p.m.

Conant (5-5) is the two-time defending tournament champion. The Cougars begin the quest for a three-peat against Minooka (3-5) on the 26th at 10:30 a.m.

The massive York field includes Palatine, Metea Valley, Naperville North, Timothy Christian, Wheaton North, St. Francis, Downers Grove South, Hinsdale South, Nazareth, Schaumburg, Glenbard East, and Rolling Meadows.

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