If the second-ranked Challengers from Carver intend to repeat as the Centralia Tournament champions, they will have to get by an old friend in Friday’s quarterfinal.
Roy Condotti, formerly the coach at Westinghouse and now in his second season at Homewood-Flossmoor, will be pushing his Vikings to upend Carver. H-F (6-3) advanced Thursday with a 50-48 victory over Mt. Vernon (5-3), as Cliff Pointer hit a buzzer-beater to give the contest to the Vikings. Carver had a little easier time, outlasting Cahokia 86-73.
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In H-F’s victory, Brad Skowronski led the way with 12 points and six rebounds.
“Brad got frustrated, lost his confidence and really didn’t get on track until the fourth quarter,” said Condotti, who also received an 11-point, five-assist, six-rebound effort from Bret Bailey.
Nick Irvin sparked the Challengers’ attack with 29 points, including five three-pointers, and five assists. Roderick Thompson chipped in 22 points and nine rebounds.
In other action from Centralia, Wayne Plowman scored 23 points and grabbed 12 boards as No. 10 Marist (8-0) cruised past Salem (5-2) 65-50. Andy Cosme added 18 for the Redskins, who held Salem to only three second-quarter points.
Lance Williams scored 25 points, grabbed seven rebounds and blocked four shots to lead Julian (7-1) to a 94-56 victory over East St. Louis Sr. Watra Banks added 23 points and nine rebounds, while Watari Marsh chipped in 15 points and eight assists for the Jaguars, who outscored the Flyers 53-27 in the second half.
Mt. Carmel was the only local team to fall, dropping a 62-60 decision to Alton (10-2) in overtime. Jered Ramsey led Alton with 23 points and 10 rebounds, but it was a last-second shot delivered by Rory Fox that provided the margin of victory.
“This was our fourth loss of the year that was decided at the buzzer,” said Mt. Carmel coach Mike Curta. “If you’re good, you win those games.”
Kevin Frey led the Caravan (3-6) with 22 points and 12 rebounds.
Pontiac: Curie’s Baron Thelmon might miss the entire Pontiac Holiday Tournament because of the flu. But at least for one day, the Condors proved they could survive without their top player. Brad Johnson scored 20 points, 14 in the fourth quarter, as Curie (5-2) held on for a 69-60 victory over Joliet (5-4). Don Morgan added 12 points, all of them coming off three-point field goals, including three straight in the third quarter to keep Curie in the game.
In other action, Jason Ayers (11 points, four rebounds, two assists) led No. 14 Oak Park (9-1) to a 59-44 victory over Waukegan.
No. 20 West Aurora (8-2) crushed Niles West (3-7) 73-29. Greg Proctor (14 points), Trevis Williams (13) and Jason Passley (12) led a balanced attack for West Aurora, which opened the second quarter with a 14-0 run to go up 30-8.
Brian Kocsis scored 22 points, Vince Hamilton added 16 and Jeff Blaesing chipped in 14 as Lockport (7-1) pasted Pontiac 63-44.
Hales Franciscan (7-4) won its fourth straight with a 58-49 victory over Danville (5-4). Ruben Perry led the way with 14 points and six rebounds, while Maurice Lewis added 13 points and five rebounds.
Luke Moo scored 14 and grabbed 16 rebounds as Warren (6-3) cruised past Gage Park (5-3) 58-41. . . . Bobby Simmons scored 19 points and Nehemiah Daniels added 14 as Simeon (4-2) defeated United Township 63-34.
East Aurora: Aurora Christian (6-2), the two-time defending tournament champions, cruised to a 74-59 victory over Prosser. Rahshawn Lyles led the way with 21 points and Mark Allen added 19 points and 13 rebounds. Anthony Moore led Prosser (2-4) with 15. Aurora also outrebounded Prosser 37-24. . . . Aaron McGhee knocked down 26 points and grabbed 13 rebounds as No. 16 East Aurora (9-1) rolled to an 84-62 victory over Von Steuben (4-5). . . . Jon Fisher scored 16 points, Rick Henry had 15 and Henry Domercant added 13 as Naperville North (6-3) outlasted Bolingbrook 60-51. David Underdonk led Bolingbrook (3-6) with 16 points and nine rebounds.
Jacobs: Bob Carmody led four players in double figures with 24 points as Crystal Lake Central had little trouble with Mundelein 94-68. . . . Kevin Reeves (16 points) and Mike Wetter (15) led Hoffman Estates past Round Lake 82-50. . . . Mike MacGregor had 20 points to lead Barrington to a 72-54 victory over Jacobs.
Kankakee: James Murphy scored 21 points, including nine of the team’s first 13 as the host Kays (7-3) eased past Elmwood Park 63-50. . . . Lamar Lillard scored 26 points as St. Anne knocked off Wilmington 63-54. Matt Van Duyne led Wilmington with 18. . . . Jason Dockemeyer poured in 27 points to lead Bradley past Argo 72-58.
Lemont: The host school upended Montini 58-47 as Chris Sally scored 22 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. . . . Tavaras Hardy had 17 points and Jason Habbe added 14 for Providence Catholic in its 56-30 victory over Minooka. . . . Kevin Curran (9 points) hit two free throws with :02 remaining to give Morris a 60-58 victory over Oak Lawn. Ceasar Diaz led Morris with 16 points and Joe Lombardo added 14. . . . Chicago Christian forced 31 Momence turnovers and Bill Klein scored 25 points in Christian’s 78-60 victory. . . . Illiana Christian opened up a 14-point halftime lead and cruised to a 76-45 victory over Westmont. John Terpstra led the Vikings with 21 points. . . . Plainfield’s Ron Hensel converted a layup with :04 left to force overtime and then scored five of his 23 points in overtime as Plainfield knocked off Romeoville 70-66.
Lincoln-Way: Top-seeded Brother Rice (8-1) rolled over Roosevelt (2-6) 76-61. Guard Tim O’Neill (23 points) hit five three-pointers, grabbed four rebounds and made three steals. Beronti Simms added 17 for Brother Rice and David Hinkle led Roosevelt with 21. . . . Robeson’s Janero Pargo (15 points) hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer to force overtime against Lincoln-Way (1-8). In overtime, Robeson (5-4) needed Deon Wilson (10 points) to hit two driving layups in the last 12 seconds to cap the 53-48 victory. Ken Jones added 14 for Robeson and the Knights’ Winston Taylor scored 32 points. . . . Behind Jonathan Davenport (24 points), Morgan Park (7-1) crushed Schurz (0-8) 80-42. . . . Thornton Fractional North (9-2) cruised past Calumet (3-4) 74-53 with from help from Mike Lewis (20 points), Anthony Simpson (15) and Marcus Davis (13). . . . Kourtney Young scored 19 points, leading Leo (6-3) past Kenwood (4-4) 63-57. . . . Richards (5-4) beat St. Rita (3-7) 64-47 as three Bulldogs, led by Desmond Altman (19), scored in double digits.
Wheeling: Matt Angarone nailed five three-pointers en route to a 28-point performance as Maine South knocked off Lake Park 69-58. . . . Mike Hare scored 23 points and Mike Howland added 18 to pace St. Viator past Niles North 70-49. . . . Erik Faust (20 points) was the only player in double figures for Prospect in its 58-51 victory over St. Edward. . . . Libertyville jumped out to a 24-9 lead after the first quarter and never looked back in its 83-40 rout of McHenry. Libertyville was led by Lukas McKnight’s 13 points. . . . Anthony Logan hit 13 of 16 free throws and scored 25 points as Stevenson held off Elk Grove 81-76. . . . Todd Grotbeck scored 18 and Ben Berning added 12 as Naperville Central downed Streamwood 57-49. Steve Wennstrom led Streamwood with 15. . . . Lucas Johnson had a game-high 31 points, 19 of which came in the fourth and overtime, as Maine West (8-1) edged North Chicago (5-6) 85-81 in overtime.
Rockford Classic: Reggie Hall had 18 points and Jerrell Dantzler and Jerry Brown each added 16 as Providence-St. Mel (9-2) rolled past Decatur Eisenhower 91-38.
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