Batavia wins twice in Rockford

Batavia 70, Harlem 61; Batavia 49, TF South 42: Senior guard-forward Jayden Johnson scored 11 of his game-high 24 points in the third quarter to help lead the Bulldogs to a victory over Machesney Park Harlem during Saturday's opening round of the J-Hawk MLK Showcase at Rockford Jefferson.

Harlem (7-10) scored the first 4 points of the third quarter to pull into a 33-33 tie before Batavia closed out the period with a 23-9 run to grab a 56-42 lead entering the final quarter.

Johnson, who earned second team All-Showcase Team honors a year ago, knocked down a pair of 3-pointers for the Bulldogs.

Sophomore Kyle Neibch added 15 points, including four 3-pointers, while sophomore Ethan Ivan had 7 points. Tyler Cooper, Trent Tousana and Devin Cheaney finished with 6 points apiece, as the Bulldogs connected on 17 of 20 free-throw attempts.

Batavia outscored the Huskies 27-12 from beyond the arc.

Austin Casteel led Harlem with 13 points.

The Bulldogs (9-8) returned a few hours later to make it a 2-0 day with a win over TF South (11-8) behind Ivan's game-high 16 points. Johnson added 14 points while Neibch finished with 9 points. Both Johnson and Neibch connected on two 3-pointers.

Isaiah Lewis and Marcus Hayes led TF South with 10 points apiece.

Batavia concludes the tournament Monday against Rockford Guilford (11-8) and Rockford Auburn (10-7).

Cary-Grove 51, Lake Zurich 45: Cary-Grove advanced to the championship finals of the Lake Zurich MLK Tournament following Saturday afternoon's hard-fought 6-point victory over the host Bears (6-11).

Guard Beau Frericks and 6-foot-8 forward Frank Jakubicek scored 12 points apiece for the Trojans, who recorded their fifth consecutive victory.

Cary-Grove opened the tourney with a 71-63 victory over Buffalo Grove on Jan. 13.

Joey Lococo paced Lake Zurich with 15 points.

The win sets up a grudge match between a pair of 17-2 teams in Monday's 2:30 p.m. championship clash when Cary-Grove faces Glenbrook South, which outlasted Mundelein 71-63 on Saturday.

Lake Forest Academy 59, Huntley 49; Joliet Central 61, Huntley 57: Huntley got off to a slow start, scoring just 6 first-quarter points during its loss to Lake Forest Academy in the opening round of Saturday's Wheaton Warrenville South MLK Tournament.

Senior guard-forward Uchenna Egekeze paced the Red Raiders with 11 points, while Nikolas Mendoza added 9 points, including a pair of 3-pointers in the third quarter. Ryan Sroka finished with 8 points, all coming in the first half.

Ben Ahmer and Hunter French added 6 points each.

Ryan Vrugt, Ryan Crosby and Ahmer all hit 3-pointers in the fourth quarter for Huntley, which trailed 22-17 at halftime. The loss snapped Huntley's 6-game win streak.

Shaedon Simpson led Lake Forest Academy with 15 points.

Huntley (14-4) suffered its second loss of the day several hours later at WW South against Joliet Central despite 18 points from Sroka, who finished 7 for 7 from the free-throw line. Egekeze and Crosby chipped in with 15 and 13 points, respectively.

Kee Hargrow scored 23 points for Joliet Central, which led 21-6 after one quarter and 30-27 at halftime.

St. Charles East 90, Taft 72: Five players reached double figures during the Saints' nonconference win over Taft (15-7) Saturday in Chicago.

Senior forward Chase Monkemeyer led St. Charles East (10-6) with 28 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals, while Sean Sullivan added 14 points.

Zach Clodi (12 points, 5 steals, 4 assists), Thomas Ditsworth (11 points) and Aidan Sullivan (11 points) also contributed for the Saints, who return home Wednesday to face Wheaton North.

Glenbard South 54, Kaneland 51: Kaneland slipped to 8-8 following Saturday's narrow nonconference loss to Glenbard South (13-4) in Maple Park.

Brett David scored 13 points to lead the Knights, who trailed 11-6 after one quarter and 31-25 at the intermission.

Jamari Meeks added 7 points while Bryce Ebert, Ethan Feiza and Brady Popovich chipped in with 6 points each as the Knights suffered their third straight defeat.

Barrington 51, Dundee-Crown 35: The Chargers (8-9) suffered their second loss in as many nights, dropping a nonconference decision to Barrington Saturday night in Carpentersville.

Dundee-Crown trailed 19-16 at halftime before being outscored 20-11 in the third quarter.

Josh Harris scored 10 points to lead D-C, which played without the services of injured 6-6 forward Justin Prusko.

Dylan Keenan led the Broncos (14-5) with 13 points.