Illinois HS Basketball News: Issue 36
Week of February 28, 2021 - Week 4 of the 2021 Season
We’re in full swing of the basketball season. So much so that I couldn’t get a newsletter up last week, my first miss since the inception.
It’s back.
Most of the state is getting to the place where conference standings are starting to take shape. I’m working to get those live on the site. Thus far we have CSL South boys and girls, CSL North boys and girls, and DuKane boys and girls. These update automatically when a game is recorded at Illinois-Basketball.com. Many more coming this week.
Reminder you can also see our boys scoreboard and girls scoreboard every night, and send scores to me that are missing (I know there are many, this weekend was nuts basketball- and life-wise).
Let’s get to basketball!
Reminder: You can receive this newsletter in your inbox every week for free by subscribing below.
Season Updates
Podcast: “The surprise teams | No Shot Clock, Episode 119” (Michael O’Brien and Joe Henricksen/Sun-Times)
“High School Athletes Adapt to Wearing Masks.” (Jay Taft/Rockford Register Star)
Rankings
Sun-Times (2/28) - Chicago area, boys only
AP (02/23) - Boys and Girls, all classes
Illinois Prep Insider (2/28) - Chicago area, girls only
Top Moments
Belleville East’s Ethyn Brown hit a half-court buzzer-beater to beat Edwardsville on Saturday. VIDEO; Story: Colin Feeney/River Bender
Batavia junior Trent Tousana banked a three-pointer at the buzzer to beat St. Charles North. VIDEO of the shot; video of him talking about the play; Story: Jacob Bartelson/Kane County Chronicle
Mitch Landis hit a buzzer-beating three to give Beecher a 46-43 win over Donovan. VIDEO
Niles Notre Dame had a game-winner for the second-straight weekend. This time it was Troy D’Amico with the tip-in in overtime. VIDEO
Elmwood Park’s Julian Davila hit a half-court three to beat Westmont at the buzzer. VIDEO
Okawville boys with a steal and coast-to-coast layup to beat Columbia. VIDEO
Brother Rice (Chicago) sophomore Ahmad Henderson hit a three with seconds remaining to hand Fenwick its second heartbreaking loss in a week. (VIDEO; Story: Jeff Vorva/Daily Southtown). The Friars also had their own crazy win, scoring five points in the last eight seconds of regulation against St. Ignatius to force overtime, where Fenwick ultimately won. (VIDEO)
Mahomet-Seymour capped a 15-point comeback with a last-second, go-ahead bucket by Cayla Koerner to beat Mattoon. Story: Fred Kroner/Mahomet Daily
Plano’s boys team beat Kaneland on a Mason Accidentale-to-Kam Williams last-second three. VIDEO; Story: Joshua Welge/Daily Chronicle
Joliet West’s sophomore boys team won on a half-court buzzer-beater. VIDEO
Milestones and Awards
Tons of student-athletes reaching great milestones and setting school records this week. There’s no way I caught them all, so send over any missed.
For all the awesome basketball this week, nothing was better than this:
Players
Two seniors were named to the final McDonald’s All-American rosters: Rolling Meadows’ Max Christie on the boys side; Naperville North’s Greta Kampschroeder on the girls. Matt Le Cren spoke to Kampschroeder for the Naperville Sun.
Christie also crossed the 2,000-point mark. (Dick Quagliano/Daily Herald)
Indian Creek Brook Heiman became the leading scorer in program history.
Burlington Central senior Elana Wells scored her 1,500th career point. (Jacob Bartelson/Kane County Chronicle)
Stevenson junior Simone Sawyer scored her 1,000th career point and is now in the top 10 in program history. (Dion Martorano/Journal & Topics)
Edwardsville junior Sydney Harris scored her 1,000th career point. (Dan Brannan/River Bender)
Central Catholic’s JT Welch scored his 1,000th career point. (Randy Reinhardt/The Pantagraph)
Peoria Christian senior Daniel Duncan scored his 1,000th career point.
DeKalb senior Trenton Kyler scored his 1,000th career point. (Eddie Carifio/Daily Chronicle)
Pawnee senior Connor Hennemann scored his 1,000th career point. (The State Register-Journal)
Edwardsville senior Brennan Weller scored his 1,000th career point. (Colin Feeney/River Bender)
LaSalle-Peru senior Drake Weber scored his 1,000th career point. (J.T. Pedelty/Shaw Media)
Roanoke-Benson senior Luke Braman scored his 1,000th career point.
Southwestern senior Addis Moore scored his 1,000th career point, moving into seventh place all-time in program history. (River Bender)
Springfield Southeast’s James Dent scored his 1,000th career point.
Agape Christian senior Johnathan Daly scored his 1,000th career point.
Tri-Point’s Connor Cardenas scored his 1,000th career point.
Johnston City’s Austin Brown scored his 1,000th career point.
Olympia’s Ethan Davis scored a program-record 42 points in a game. (Randy Kindred/The Pantagraph)
Kobe Reed recorded the first triple-double in Plainfield East boys history.
We asked coaches around the state for the Week 3 Top Performers. You can submit a nomination here.
Coaches
“Fieldcrest coach Matt Winkler notches 600th victory.” (Jim Benson/The Pantagraph)
Harrisburg boys head coach Randy Smithpeters won his 500th career game.
Cobden boys head coach Wendell Wheeler won his 400th career game. The celebration video.
Oak Forest girls head coach Matt Manzke won his 200th career game.
Boys Features
“Darrius Perryman, whose father and brother were shot and killed in April, leads Clark past North Lawndale.” (Michael O’Brien/Sun-Times)
“Jolo Amoranto’s breakout season for Andrew began in the backyard, playing one-on-one against his toughest opponent. His dad.” (Pat Disabato/Daily Southtown)
“Sophomore JJ Taylor prepares to step into the spotlight as Kenwood beats Clemente.” (Michael O’Brien/Sun-Times)
“Daniel Reed transferred to Marist for two years. He came back to H-F for his senior year, and Bolingbrook became his latest victim.” (Pat Disabato/Daily Southtown)
“De La Salle’s DaJuan Bates wins friendly wager, but St. Laurence’s Darius Wilson bests his buddy in the end.” (Steve Millar/Daily Southtown)
“Glenbard West’s potential, DePaul’s tremendous backcourt and the Christie brothers.” (Joe Henricksen/Sun-Times)
“Bryce Moore tries to find balance in new role as scoring point guard for Carmel.” (Nick Frazier/Lake County News-Sun)
DeKalb wins 93rd Dayton Holiday Classic. (Eddie Carifio/Daily Chronicle)
Girls Features
“Through fears and tears, Reavis senior Araceli Hernandez found the ‘courage to go through hard things.’ And to beat leukemia.” (Tony Baranek/Daily Southtown)
“Andrew’s Sara Krueger was determined to play badminton and basketball. Two coaches decide to ‘do what’s best for this kid.’” (Tony Baranek/Daily Southtown)
“Mia Simpson and Danariea Lewis carry the load as Waukegan makes do with a short roster during the pandemic.” (Bob Narang/Lake County News-Sun)
“St. Viator’s Emma Morrisey puts up big numbers a season after suffering a broken ankle.” (Bob Narang/Pioneer Press)
Commitments
Former Thornton 2021 forward Donald Coats, who transferred to Warren Central in Indiana this season, committed to D-II Missouri Southern State.
Bradley-Bourbonnais 2021 small forward Faith Davis committed to NAIA Trinity Christian (Palos Heights).
Marian Central 2021 small forward Morgan Laudick committed to D-III Emory (GA).
Morris 2021 wing Mackenzie Lind committed to D-III Millikin. (Story: Shaw Media)
Neuqua Valley 2021shooting guard Ellie Wisner committed to D-III Coe College (IA).
Plainfield North 2021 guard Lexie Hernandez committed to D-III North Central (Naperville).
O’Fallon 2021 wing Imani McNamee committed to D-III Rockford.
Normal U-High 2021 forward Justin Johnson committed to Illinois Valley CC (Oglesby).
Glenbrook South 2021 big man Justin Leszynski committed to MIT. Nicholas Moreano wrote about his journey for Illinois-Basketball.com.
List of 2021 girls college commitments and 2021 boys college commitments.
Boys Recruiting News
Hillcrest 2022 small forward Kam Thomas received an offer from D-I North Carolina A&T.
Oak Forest 2022 forward Robbie Avila received an offer from D-I Richmond.
Orr 2022 guard Cam Lawin received an offer from D-I Detroit Mercy.
Former Hinsdale Central and current Brewster Academy (NH) 2023 forward Matas Buzelis received an offer from Kansas.
West Chicago 2021 point guard Jacob Lim received an offer from NAIA Missouri Baptist.
Marengo 2022 guard Matthew Volkening received an offer from NAIA Indiana Wesleyan.
Girls Recruiting News
Joliet Catholic 2023 guard Jasmine Brown received an offer from D-I UW-Green Bay.
Coaching Stories and News
Stevenson boys head coach Pat Ambrose is “taking a pause” from his coaching duties but not stepping down. He is 458-173 as a head coach. (Daily Herald)
Waubonsie Valley boys head coach Jason Mead to step down at season’s end for personal reasons. (Rick Armstrong/Aurora Beacon-News)
“New coach, same results for Hononegah girls basketball.” (Alex Gary/Rockford Register Start)
COVID-19 Updates and News
Dundee-Crown girls will miss four games due to COVID-19 quarantine. (Joe Stevenson/Northwest Herald)
Crystal Lake Central girls will miss the rest of the regular season due to COVID-19 quarantine. The team is still set to compete in the Fox Valley tournament. (Northwest Herald)
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