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player ready...Matt Marino scored 12 of his game-high 18 points in the second half Sunday, leading St. Patrick to a 58-52 victory over Elk Grove in the Conference Challenge Classic at the Gentile Center.
“The bigger the game, the better Matt plays,” Shamrocks coach Mike Bailey said.
The Shamrocks (17-2) trailed 37-34 after three quarters. They took a 45-42 lead on a three-pointer by Marc Hartmann with 5 minutes 15 seconds remaining en route to their fifth straight win.
Keith Johnson led Elk Grove (10-9) with 17 points.
In other Classic games, Driscoll defeated Mt. Carmel 60-58, Notre Dame beat Glenbrook North 59-45 and Northside Prep edged Jones 64-57.
— Ross Forman
1. West Aurora (15-2): Dameon Mason scored 41 to lead Blackhawks past crosstown rival East Aurora.
2. Young (20-1): Public Red North-West champ travels to No. 11 Thornwood on Saturday night.
3. Crane (19-1): Tremel Gilot saved the day against Farragut; Cougars are co-Red West champs.
4. Hillcrest (18-1): Shelby Jordan averaged 25 points, 10.5 rebounds in last two games.
5. Proviso East (18-1): Plays host to district rival Proviso West on Saturday.
6. Bloom (20-2): Travels to Homewood-Flossmoor on Friday for big SICA East game.
7. Fenwick (14-4): Friars are riding eight-game win streak.
8. Curie (21-5): The Public Red Central champs are 17-1 since Dec. 1.
9. Downers Grove South (15-3): Visits crosstown rival Downers North on Saturday.
10. Neuqua Valley (19-2): Trey Snyder and Bobby Catchings are putting up impressive numbers.
11. Thornwood (14-4): Eric Gray is serving indefinite suspension; it could doom Thunderbirds.
12. Simeon (14-5): Tied Julian for Red South championship.
13. Farragut (14-5): Couldn’t beat Crane a second time but handled New Trier.
14. St. Patrick (17-2): Needs to beat Holy Cross on Friday to stay atop East Suburban Catholic.
15. Zion-Benton (20-1): MacArthur White steps up for Zee-Bees.
16. Evanston (13-5): Gordon Watt, Mike McKinney and Dan White led Wildkits past Thornwood.
17. Waubonsie Valley (15-5): Makes Top 20 debut thanks to seven-game winning streak.
18. Libertyville (14-4): Will try to beat Warren a second time Tuesday.
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19. Schaumburg (14-6): Big win over Peoria Richwoods, ranked 11th by AP, on Saturday.
20. St. Laurence (16-4): Cannot afford a letdown against De La Salle on Friday.
Best of the rest: Chicago Latin, Brother Rice, St. Rita, Rich Central, Homewood-Flossmoor.
Player to watch
– Zach Pancratz, Schaumburg
The junior is averaging 20 points in his last four games and led the Saxons past Fremd and Peoria Richwoods last weekend.
Monster matchup
– No. 4 Hillcrest at Rich Central, 7:30 p.m. Tues.
This could be a thrilling showdown between Hillcrest’s Shelby Jordan and Rich Central’s Jimmie Miles, two of the state’s top guards.