2021 Tournament Tidbits: Day 1

Tidbits from Day 1 Action at the 2021 State Farm Holiday Classic

The Assists

Despite the effects of COVID lingering throughout the sports scene, 31 of 32 games were played on Day 1. Special thanks to Normal Calvary Christian (Small School Boys) and Champaign Centennial and Pekin (LSG) for stepping in and filling voids in the bracket.

The Assistants

At least five teams were without their head coach due to COVID exposure or illness. Morton and Normal West (LSG), Bloomington Central Catholic (SSB), and Chicago Brother Rice and Joliet Central (LSB) were all led by assistant coaches in their opening round games.

The Upsets

Based on seeds, the small school girls bracket saw the #4 and #5 seeds fall to the consolation bracket. Defending champ Normal University High (#13) upset St. Joseph-Ogden (#4), and Annawan (#12) defeated Rockford Lutheran (#5). U-High and Annawan will square off in a 5:30pm contest at Bloomington High School.

Record Book

In the small school girls bracket, Winnebago added their name to the record book in an 80-19 thumping of Port Byron Riverdale. The 80-point performance was the ninth highest single-game output in the girl’s tournament history, and the 61-point win was the second largest winning margin in tournament history.

Top Scoring Performances (min. 20) – Day 1

Small School Girls

Cassidy Miller – Annawan (28)
Madyson Rigdon – Paris (22)*
Katelyn Littleton – Paris (20)

Large School Girls

Katie Krupa – Morton (24)
Kammie Ludwig – Geneseo (21)
Katie Barger – Bloomington (20)
Grace Kizer – Pekin (20)

Small School Boys

Cole Certa – Bloomington Central Catholic (25)

Large School Boys

Amarion Nimmers – Rock Island (32)
Macaleab Rich – East St. Louis Sr. (32)
Tyler Fawcett – Wheaton Warrenville South (28)
Anthony Nava – Joliet Central (23)
Mason Funk – Normal University High (21)
Zach Cleveland – Normal Community (21)
Staishaun Kelly – Peoria High (20)
Christian Jones – East St. Louis Sr. (20)

 

* the original box score incorrectly assigned 4 points to a different player and Madyson Rigdon was initially left off this list