RECORD WATCH
With 27 points against St. Joseph-Ogden, Laney Lantz has moved into a tie in Classic career scoring with former Springfield/TCU guard Zahna Medley with 262 points. She trails Makenzie Bray by 12 points to move into third-place on the all-time list.
DUNKAROO
According to venue coordinators at Normal West that track such things, Wednesday’s opening round saw seven dunks, the most in a single day in recent years.
BETTER HALF
A year ago, North Chicago coaches King and Cheryl Coleman were featured in the media guide as being the only married, co-head coaches in Illinois high school basketball. Union (KY) Ryle features head coach Katie Haitz, with her husband Josh also manning a spot on the bench.
SPEAKING OF RYLE
With Ryle’s semifinal victory over Chicago St. Ignatius, the Lady Raiders have a chance to eclipse the best performance by an out-of-state girls team. Mesa Red Mountain, Arizona finished third in 2006, and Chicago Marshall posted a 3rd-place finish in 2003.
UNFAMILIAR TERRITORY
Springfield High School girls victory over Bloomington was their first win in the consolation bracket since rejoining the Classic in 2009. They had never lost a first-day matchup before Wednesday’s 56-37 loss to Bethalto Civic Memorial.
COMARADERIE
Normal West defeated Wheaton Warrenville South in Large School Girls play, and after the game, the two teams enjoyed lunch at tournament sponsor Portillos. The lunch was pre-planned…the matchup wasn’t.
IT’S THE SHOES
Chicago St. Ignatius again provided community service locally at Home Sweet Home Mission, spending the majority of their time there sorting clothing…mostly shoes.
PUBLIC vs PRIVATE
The Large School Girls Bracket features four public schools among the final four teams in the winner’s bracket. The Small School Boys Bracket is just the opposite – all four undefeated teams are private institutions.
THURSDAY’S TOP PERFORMANCES
Small School Boys Bracket
40 – Riley Morris – Champaign St. Thomas More
28 – T.C. Williams – Winnebago
28 – Tommy Nelson – Bloomington Central Catholic
26 – Riley Morris – Champaign St. Thomas More
24 – Jaehshon Thomas – Aurora Christian
24 – Will Pepper – Peoria Christian
22 – Broghan O’Connor – Kankakee Bishop Mac
22 – Dylan Foley – Quincy Notre Dame
21 – John Symanski – Dows Tri-Valley
21 – Jack Weber – El Paso-Gridley
20 – Julian Samuels – Annawan
20 – Nick Schwartz – Quincy Notre Dame
Large School Boys Bracket
34 – Raeshaun Samoa – North Chicago
30 – Treye Tucker – Machesney Park Harlem
28 – Grant Coleman – Mahomet-Seymour
28 – David Williams – Machesney Park Harlem
26 – Raeshaun Samoa – North Chicago
23 – Bennie Slater – Springfield
21 – David Presniakovas – Plainfield South
21 – Nate Torres – Normal University High
20 – Keaton Gregory – Joliet Central
Small School Girls Bracket
27 – Laney Lantz – Camp Pt. Central/Augusta SE
24 – Gabbi Loiz – Rock Island Alleman
22 – Katelyn Young – Within Oakwood
21 – Bailey Coffman – Bloomington Central Catholic
20 – Lauren Shanks – Bloomington Central Catholic
20 – Alison Berg – Kankakee Bishop Mac
20 – Kamryn Cuevas – Brimfield
Large School Girls Bracket
28 – Maddie Scherr – Union (KY) Ryle
27 – Abby Feit – Normal Community
26 – Brea Beal – Rock Island
23 – Maddy Becker – Morton
