2016 Tournament Tidbits: Day 1

Look who’s back:

Last year’s small school leading scorers, Brandon Trimble (30) and Jayde VanHyfte (24.75), seem to be intent on maintaining their scoring titles. Trimble, from St. Joseph Ogden, scored 33 in his team’s 64-37 win over Minonk Fieldcrest. VanHyfte scored 20 points for Annawan as they beat Kankakee Bishop Mac 45-35.

Catch VanHyfte as Annawan faces #1 seed Rockford Lutheran in the 4 p.m. game at Bloomington Central Catholic.

Trimble will lead the Spartans into battle against #2 seed Bishop Mac in the 7 p.m. game at Normal West.

A Dura leads Brimfield to another Classic win?

The SF Holiday Classic has seen its share of Duras leading Brimfield to victory. Recently, both Kerrigan and Kennedy Dura played for the Lady Indians.

While there isn’t a Dura on the roster this year, their mom – Maribeth Dura – was on the bench yesterday as Brimfield’s head coach. Maribeth, an assistant coach for last year’s team, took over for Jim Blane when he retired at the end of last season. #7 seed Brimfield faces off against #2 seed Central SouthEastern at 7 p.m. tonight at Bloomington Central Catholic.

Unfamiliar territory for Rockford Lutheran boys:

The Rockford Lutheran boys team  is in the consolation bracket for the first time in Classic history. After winning their first 14 SF Classic tourney games, they have now lost three in a row.

Upset alert?

There were only three upsets in first round action – all of which came in the girls portion of the tourney, as #10 seed Wheaton Warrenville South beat #7 seed Geneseo, #11 seed Elmhurst ICC upset #6 seed St. Joseph-Ogden and #13 seed Bloomington Central Catholic spoiled #4 Peoria Christian’s day.

Bracket buster of the day:

Bloomington Central Catholic’s girls team, the #13 seed in the Small School Girls bracket, knocked off Peoria Christian in first round action. Central Catholic, who hasn’t been seeded this low since they entered the tournament, kept their streak of championship bracket play alive via the 64-60 win.

Central Catholic will play #5 seed Danville Schlarman in the 5:30 p.m. game at Bloomington Central Catholic.