Who turned out the lights?
An early morning power outage at Illinois Wesleyan University’s Shirk Center, home of all the first-round large school boys’ games, delayed the start of their bracket by nearly 45 minutes. Weather played a factor in delaying several holiday basketball tournaments across Illinois. The State Farm Holiday Classic (SFHC) was fortunate to get all of its first round games in.
Annawan. Family. Matters.
Jayde Van Hyfte scored 32 points as Annawan beat St. Joseph-Ogden 64-55. Her sister, Morgan, scored 22 points. Together, the Van Hyfte sisters combined for 54 of their team’s 64 points. Their oldest sister, Celina, holds the SFHC girls’ career scoring record with a total of 358 points (22.375 ppg). Jayde is currently on pace to break that record with 112 points through five SFHC contests (22.4 ppg).
For the Annawan boys’ team, it was the Landwehr brothers, Alex and Owen, combining to score 49 of their team’s 76 points in a 76-75 overtime win against Downs Tri-Valley. Owen, a sophomore, scored 28 points while Alex, a senior, scored 21.
Record Book
Rockford Lutheran moved into sole possession of the 2nd longest SFHC winning streak with 13 straight wins as they defeated Chillicothe IVC 73-46. They are 13-0 in SFHC tournament play. Jayde Van Hyfte’s 32 points is tied for the 10th most points scored in a SFHC girls game.
Upset Alert!
- SSB: Stanford Olympia’s Thomas Hallstein scored 25 points as 14 seed Stanford Olympia upset 3 seed Champaign St. Thomas More 62-59. Hallstein made four three-pointers – his last one coming from the top of the key with a minute left in the game.
- SSG: Kankakee Bishop McNamara, a 12-seed, was led by seniors Hannah Lambert and Kelly Rudin in their upset win over fifth-seeded Brimfield. Rudin scored 15 points, while Lambert made 3 three-pointers on her way to 12 points. The loss was only Brimfield’s second of the season.
Milestone Reached
Normal University High coach Laura Sellers notched her 200th career victory in the Large School Girls Bracket with a 54-36 victory over Plainfield South.
Champs Advance
All four defending champions won their opening round games. Rochester (SSG), Normal U-High (LSG), Rockford Lutheran (SSB) and Normal Community (LSB) all posted wins. Rochester is participating in the Large School Girls Division this year.
Rematch
A year ago, Camp Pt. Central/Augusta SE became the first 16-seed to defeat a top seeded team in Classic history when they defeated Champaign St. Thomas More in first day action. The two teams square off again Tuesday at Normal Community (4:30pm) after both teams won opening round matchups.
