Future birds are soarin’ and scorin’
Next year, Normal Community’s Anthony Beane and North Chicago’s Aaron Simpson will be on the same sideline as members of the Illinois State University Redbirds. Tonight, the two square off against each other for a trip to the State Farm Holiday Classic semifinals. Beane and Simpson each put on an individual show last night in leading their teams to victory at the Shirk Center. First, Beane scored 37 points, which was the 12th highest single-game point total in the tournament’s 33-year history. Then, in the very next game on the same court, Simpson scored 41, which is No. 5 all-time. Simpson’s North Chicago Warhawks matched a tournament best for single-game margin of victory with a 56-point drubbing of Carver, Ind., Military Academy.
Pioneers seek revenge
This March, Rock Island Alleman and Chillicothe IVC’s boys teams met with a sectional championship on the line. IVC prevailed in that game. Tonight, the Pioneers and Grey Ghosts match up with a trip to the tournament semifinals on the line. IVC is seeking a second consecutive trip to the semis, while Alleman’s only semifinal appearance was in 2004. The Pioneers have already snapped one streak. Their first-round win over Tri-Valley gave the Pioneers their first Holiday Classic win since 2007. They had lost 10 straight tournament games before this year.
Something’s gotta give
Annawan and El Paso-Gridley face off in the 6 p.m. Girls 1A-2A tournament quarterfinal. Both enter play at 12-0, and are two of the five teams undefeated following first-round play (Pana girls, Champaign Centennial girls, Morton girls). Two teams – Minonk Fieldcrest boys and St. Joseph-Ogden girls – both suffered their first losses of the season in first-round tournament play.
Tie at the top
With Normal U-High boys win over Oswego, coupled with a Central Catholic first-round loss, both teams have 58 all-time tournament wins entering play today. U-High is 58-53 and Central Catholic is 58-45.
Will the seeds hold?
In the Girls 3A-4A bracket, the lower seed won all eight games in the first round.
Will the streaks continue?
Springfield’s girls have never tasted defeat at the State Farm Holiday Classic. The Senators are 9-0 all-time entering a quarterfinal tilt with perennial power Peoria Richwoods. A Springfield victory would tie the Knights’ 2003-05 run of 10 straight tournament wins, which is third-best all-time. Bloomington Central Catholic has won 13 straight tournament games, which is just three off the all-time mark set by Galesburg (1997-2000). The three-time defending girls 1A-2A tournament champs have not lost since the 2007 title game versus Rochester.
