2019 Tournament Tidbits: Day 2

Record Book

On Day 1, New Lenox Lincoln-Way West tied a State Farm Holiday Classic record with 13 3-pointers in their 76-63 opening-round win over Springfield.

Sister Act 2

After combining for 13 3-pointers on Day 1, the Gugliuzza sisters (Taylor, Tara and Ava) combined for 12 3-pointers in New Lenox Lincoln-Way West’s quarterfinal win over Kankakee. Teammate Sydney Swanberg added one 3-pointer, allowing Lincoln-Way West to again tie the Classic record for 3-pointers in a game. After two games, they are one short of the tournament record (27) set by Springfield in 2010.

Milestones

Bethalto Civic Memorial’s Kourtland Tyus scored her 1,000th career point in last night’s win over Chicago Kenwood. Her head coach, Jonathan Denney, recorded his 300th career victory with that win as well.

Volunteer of the Year

The State Farm Holiday Classic is a 100% volunteer-run organization. Lucas Smith, the son of Bloomington Central Catholic girls assistant coach Mendy Smith, was honored as this year’s recipient of the Selden Marquart Volunteer of the Year. Lucas has served as a public address announcer since he was in junior high, and still volunteers today, seven years after he started with the Classic. Congratulations Lucas!

Undefeated No More

Entering yesterday’s quarterfinals, the eight teams in the Large School Girls bracket had a cumulative record of 100-8 (92.6% winning percentage), including four unbeaten teams. Morton (13-0) and Bethalto Civic Memorial (14-0) escaped their respective quarterfinal matchup with a win, keeping their perfect season intact.

Overtime

There was one overtime game on Day 2, with Minonk Fieldcrest outlasting Bloomington Central Catholic, 59-58, in Boys Small School action.

And Then There Were One

Only one local team reached the semifinal round, with the Normal University High girls team advancing in the Small School Girls bracket with a 41-38 win over St. Joseph-Ogden.

Community Service

The St. Ignatius girls team spent a portion of Day 2 volunteering at the local Boys and Girls Club, working a basketball clinic with former Illinois State basketball standout Rickie Johnson.

Back-to-Back

Julian Samuels of Annawan scored 54 points in two Small School Boys games. Samuels dropped 24 on Downs Tri-Valley in the Braves’ first game of the day, and came back to post a 30-point effort against Kankakee Bishop McNamara in the evening session. Ironically, the collective stellar performances by Samuels are one-point shy of the Individual Game scoring record of 55, set by Galesburg’s Joey Range in 1996.

Newcomers

First-year entrants New Lenox Lincoln-Way West and Chicago Marist continued their winning ways, as both teams were victorious in their Large School Girls bracket quarterfinal contests.

Leading Scorers – Day 2 (20 or more points)

Small School Boys
Julian Samuels – Annawan vs Bishop McNamara | 30
Taaj Davis – Aurora Christian | 30
Zach Derus – Rockford Lutheran | 25
Julian Samuels – Annawan vs Downs Tri-Valley | 24
Braden Zenor – Downs Tri-Valley | 23
Jaxon Cusac-McKay – Minonk Fieldcrest | 21
Patrick Quarnstrom – Champaign St. Thomas More | 20

Large School Boys
Jamar Wilkins – Chicago North Lawndale | 30
Kee Hargrow – Joliet Central | 24
Grant Coleman – Mahomet-Seymour | 23
Jamar Mays – North Chicago | 22
Ashawn Pitchford – Joliet Central | 21
Shane Miller – Springfield | 20
Roland McCoy – Chicago Kenwood | 20

Small School Girls
Abi Peyton – Rock Falls | 22
Kennady Marlow – Camp Pt. Central/Augusta SE | 21
Katelyn Young – Fithian Oakwood | 21
Ella Lune – Brimfield | 21
Avrie Schmidt – Rock Island Alleman | 20

Large School Girls
Jaida McCloud – Peoria Richwoods | 30
Lindsey Dullard – Morton | 28
Sydney Affolter – Chicago Marist | 27
Taylor Gugliuzza – New Lenox Lincoln-Way West | 26
Avery Jackson – Kankakee | 21
Kourtland Tyus – Bethalto Civic Memorial | 21
Ava Gugliuzza – New Lenox Lincoln-Way West | 20