Thornridge sectional-Mt. Carmel (21-5) took control early in its tournament opener, leading Richards 14-4 after one quarter and 39-19 at halftime on the way to a 71-43 victory. Antoine Walker had 18 points and Willie Jones 13 for Mt. Carmel, which had 10 players score. The Caravan forced Richards (12-14) into six early turnovers. The losers hit only one of nine shots in the opening quarter.
“The games we haven’t played well in are the ones (in which) we haven’t played solid defense,” said Mt. Carmel coach Michael Curta. “We need to concentrate on the defensive end and force the other team into mistakes.”
Next up for Mt. Carmel Friday at home is Thornridge, which stopped Thornwood 74-54. John Lott had 22 points to lead Thornridge (19-8). Three teammates-Chris King with 19, Mack Cleveland 13 and Jamil Jones 11-joined him in double figures. Thornwood (10-16) led 17-14 after one quarter, but Thornridge rallied to lead 32-23 at halftime. Eric Schultz had 13 points and Hameen Reynolds 11 for Thornwood.
Jarobi Kemp scored 27 points and Dejuan Thurman had 20 points, 12 rebounds and four steals as No. 3 St. Francis de Sales (22-1) eliminated Thornton Fractional South 80-63. Thurman had seven points and Joe Mayes (four points) had two steals in a 16-4 run that lifted St. Francis de Sales to a 36-26 halftime lead.
Romeoville sectional-Myron Hood’s 19 points paced Bolingbrook (16-10) to a 78-65 victory over Oak Forest (13-13). Greg Williams had 18 and Darius Young 15 for Bolingbrook, which led 34-23 at halftime. Mike Macfarlane led Oak Forest with 31 points.
Brian Green scord 16 points, Brian Bechtold 14 and Adam Shafer 13 as Downers Grove South (18-7) eliminated Sandburg (6-19) 67-44. Green had two steals and seven straight points in the second quarter when Downers South pulled away for a 34-20 halftime lead. The Mustangs’ biggest lead was 65-37.
Bill Savicki scored 12 points and Larry Guess added 11 as Hinsdale South (20-6) eliminated Stagg 51-38.
Lincoln-Way sectional-Sean Mason had 25 points and eight rebounds and Vince Bobo had 16 points and 16 rebounds to lead Rich Central (21-6) to a 75-56 victory over Bloom (9-16).
Brian Bytnar scored 28 points to lead Homewood-Flossmoor to a 67-55 victory over Rich East.
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Gary Bell (16 points) and Corey Shelby (14) powered Joliet West (19-7) past Tinley Park 62-51.
SICA Central champion Hillcrest (18-9) humbled Bloom Trail 86-58 with Antwon Hall scoring 25 points (16 in the third quarter) and Thomas Cook 19. Cortez Stewart and Andre Henley managed 15 apiece for Bloom Trail (8-16).