Illinois HS Basketball News: Issue 35
Week of February 14 - Week 2 of the 2021 season
We’re back in the full swing of things, and I’m holding on for dear life as news, scores and stories are coming out by the minute it seems.
The in-season newsletter is a different animal. I could send 50-plus stories a night with all the great coverage around the state. I had to make cuts to most game stories — so go check out your local publication for the latest.
Otherwise, Illinois-Basketball.com has a boys scoreboard and girls scoreboard that are updated each night. I do my best (along with Kaleb Carter) to add livestreams, stats and stories to the game links as well. If I’ve missed games or a score comes in, send them my way!
Let’s get to basketball!
Reminder: You can receive this newsletter in your inbox every week for free by subscribing below.
The Ever-Evolving Season
There’s something new every day. Today it is snow cancellations and a Chicago-area, big school, end-of-season tournament. What will tomorrow bring? Your guess is as good as mine.
“Eight of the area’s elite teams will participate in season-ending high school basketball tournament.” (Michael O’Brien/Chicago Sun-Times)
“With no state playoffs, league races loom large.” (Joe Henricksen/Sun-Times)
“CPS says winter sports, including basketball, can start on Thursday.” (Michael O’Brien/Chicago Sun-Times)
“Finding enough basketball officials is a challenge.” (Brian Weidman/Shaw Media)
“Playing Through Covid: ‘My Motto Is Roll With The Punches.’ Two Chicagoland schools search for normalcy and competition as basketball returns.” (Jon Kerr/The Kerr Report)
LISTEN: First impressions of the season| No Shot Clock, Episode 117
COVID-19 Storylines
This is a season like none other. Here are some stories documenting what' it’s like playing basketball in a pandemic.
“Players, coaches adjusting to new normal of wearing masks on basketball court.” (Jim Benson/The Pantagraph)
“More high schools livestreaming events to offset limits on fans in the stands.” Patricia Babcock McGraw/Daily Herald)
“What it's like viewing high school basketball in 2021.” (Cody Smith/Daily-Journal)
Several teams are quarantined in the NIC-10 (boys and girls). Those teams can still win their conference. (Matt Trowbridge/Rockford Register-Star)
Moments of the Week
I’m on the lookout for records and milestones, monster performances and game-winners. Here’s some moments I found from Week 2.
Indian Creek won the boys Little 10 tournament. (Eddie Carifio/Shaw Media)
Carmel Catholic boys coach Zack Ryan won his 100th career game.
Max Christie Sets Rolling Meadows Scoring Record. (Dick Quagliano/Daily Herald)
“[Wethersfield senior Coltin] Quagliano reaches 2,000-point plateau, chasing school, LTC scoring records.” (Terry Duckett/Dispatch-Argus). “Quagliano on verge of two scoring titles.” (Troy Taylor/Star Courier)
Aurora Christian senior and Virginia commit Anna Griffin reached 1,500 career points.
“Glenbard East's Huber hits 1,000 mark as Rams down Larkin.” (Gregg Voss/Daily Herald)
“[Hinckley-Big Rock’s] Tessa Prellberg scores 26, reaches 1,000-point club.” (Daily Chronicle)
“[Clinton’s Mallory] Cyrulik reaches 1,000 career points.” (Colin Likas/News-Gazette)
Fisher’s Carson Brozenec and Danville’s Nate Hoskins reached 1,000 points. (Matt Daniels/News-Gazette)
Oak Forest junior Robbie Avila scored his 1,000th career point.
Joe Jordan became Wheeling’s all-time rebounding leader. (Dion Martorano/Journal & Topics)
Evanston’s Blake Peters will likely reach the No. 2 scoring mark in program history this week. (Dennis Mahoney/Patch)
5 Peoria-area players of the week. (Stan Morris, Adam Duvall, Johnny Campos/Journal Star)
Team Rankings
Michael O’Brien’s Super 25 high school basketball rankings for Feb. 14, 2021
Illinois Preps Insider’s girls basketball top-20: 2020-21 week one
Season Previews
Boys River Valley Conference. (Mason Schweizer/Daily-Journal)
Girls River Valley Conference. (Cody Smith/Daily-Journal)
Boys SVC/Iroquois County. (Mason Schweizer/Daily-Journal)
Girls SVC/Iroquois County. (Cody Smith/Daily-Journal)
Beverly Review boys and girls previews. (Tim O’Brien)
Boys Features
“Freshman Nolan Sexton has a bright future for Evergreen Park. The present, however, belongs to Kenton Wright and Hillcrest.” (Pat Disabato/Daily Southtown)
“Marian Catholic’s Jeremiah Jones wanted to play Thornton. That chance never came. It made defeating Marist more meaningful.” (Steve Millar/Daily Southtown)
“Tai Walters waited last season. He waited in the offseason. He weighed in with a team-high 17 points to power H-F past Lockport.” (Pat Disabato/Daily Southtown)
“Aidan Kramer couldn’t have imagined this ‘in a million years.’ Pete Kramer wondered, ‘Is this real?’ Father and son are now back on the basketball court for Naperville Central.” (Patrick McGavin/Naperville Sun)
“His two older brothers played at Oswego. He’s one of three sophomore starters. But Max Niesman makes name for himself in win over West Aurora.” (Rick Armstrong/Aurora Beacon-News)
Springfield boys are off to their best start in at least 60 years. (The State Journal-Register)
Girls Features
Altamont freshman Grace Nelson is averaging nearly 40 points per game to start the season. (Kaleb Carter/Illinois-Basketball.com)
“It’s not the way she planned. It’s not how she expected. But wearing a mask, Tara Gugliuzza ready to lead for Lincoln-Way West.” (Tony Baranek/Daily Southtown)
“As a reserve guard last season, Reagan Rodenbostel wrote about the girls basketball team for the Benet Herald. Now, she’s a starter.” (Matt Le Cren/Naperville Sun)
“Kira Chivers came close to missing Marist’s opener last season. It taught her how to keep her chin up. Now, about that ...” (Tony Baranek/Daily Southtown)
“Josie Ness, who ‘never lost complete hope,’ looks to continue Sandwich’s growing string of winning seasons.” (Rick Armstrong/Aurora Beacon-News)
The Ridgeview girls went 6-24 last season. They’re off to 2-1 under a new coach. (Terry Duckett/Dispatch-Argus)
“Youth is served, Nazareth freshman Olivia Austin shows no nerves with big shot in season opener.” (Bob Narang/Shaw Media)
“After leaving Montini, Sophie Sullivan and Taris Thornton settle in at Willowbrook.” (Joshua Welge/Shaw Media)
“Kewanee teams will "play like there’s no tomorrow" in short season.” (Troy Taylor/Star Courier)
Commitments
Jaylin Gibson, a senior who played three years at Evanston before transferring to Texas, committed to D-I Mount St. Mary’s (MD).
Casey-Westfield 2021 point guard Noah Livingston commits to D-III Millikin.
Glenbrook South 2021 big man Justin Leszynski committed to D-III MIT (MA).
Mundelein 2021 point guard Trey Baker committed to D-III Maryville (St. Louis).
List of 2021 girls college commitments and 2021 boys college commitments.
Transfer News
Bloomington 2021 point guard Landon Moore transferred to Western Reserve Academy and reclassified to 2022.
Boys Recruiting News
St. Rita 2024 forward Morez Johnson Jr. received an offer from D-I Providence (RI).
Glenbrook North 2022 forward Nick Martinelli received his first D-I offer, from St. Thomas (MN).
Donald Coats, a 2021 forward who transferred from Thornton to Warren (IN) this year, received an offer from D-II Missouri Southern State.
Mascoutah 2021 point guard Braden Bryant received an offer from Illinois Valley Community College.
Joliet West 2021 wing Jaiden Lee received an offer from juco Highland (Freeport).
Girls Recruiting News
St. Joseph-Ogden 2022 wing Ella Armstrong received an offer from D-III Eureka College.
Coaching Stories and News
Northride Prep assistant Scott Bogumil died Saturday at 52. He won more than 230 games as head coach at Gordon Tech and Libertyville and was a fixture in the Chicago-area basketball community. Go to Twitter and just read story after story about him today. Arrangements can be found here, including a streaming link for services.
Longtime Tilden basketball coach John Schultz, a member of the IBCA and Chicago Public League halls of fame, died at 87. (Madeline Kenney/Sun-Times)
“[First Year Edwardsville Coach] Caty Happe Looks Forward To Something Special With Tigers' Girls Basketball Team.” (Colin Feeney/Riverbender.com)
Illinois Players in the Pros
“[Huntley Graduate Amanze] Egekeze gets called back for Team Nigeria.” (Joe Stevenson/Northwest Herald)
Illinois Players in College
Hersey graduate Claire Gritt eclipsed 1,000 college career points at Denver.
“Taking it seriously: Niles North grad Damaria Franklin grows into new role at Tennessee Tech; ‘Now, it’s a big-boy game.’” (Sam Brief/Pioneer Press)
“Lyons graduate Connor Niego was content at Holy Cross. The allure of playing at Lewis brought him back home. ‘So far, so good.’” (Steve Millar/Daily Southtown)
“Kathryn Schmidt, Burlington Central’s all-time leading scorer, ‘didn’t really expect it.’ She’s already an X-factor as a freshman for Lewis.” (Steve Millar/Daily Southtown)
“Johnny Roeser transferred to Lake Forest College in July. Only now can the Carmel grad and the Foresters’ other Chicago-area products get back on the court.” (Bob Narang/Daily Southtown)
A list of all D1 men’s basketball players from Illinois.
A list of all D1 women’s basketball players from Illinois.
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What is going on with the CPL?? I have not seen where they have played any games