THREE STORYLINES
Can Lake Forest repeat as tournament champion?
The Scouts are not only the defending Jack Tosh Holiday Classic champs, they enter this season’s boys basketball tournament as its highest-ranked team. Lake Forest is ranked sixth in the baiduhai’s Dec. 15 poll after the Scouts won their first eight games. In his 10th year, coach Phil LaScala has his most versatile team. Opposing coaches have to figure out how to defend Lake Forest’s all-time leading scorer, senior Evan Boudreaux, and up-and-coming 6-7 power forward Lorenzo Edwards in the post. In the backcourt, 6-3 senior Noah Karras is a natural shooter capable of carrying an offense. After suffering a knee injury during the football season, Lake Forest senior point guard Jack Traynor saw his first action of the year Wednesday against Mundelein. At 6-foot and 220 pounds, he brings a physicality that will be important during a tournament that could include five games in five days. “The biggest thing we took from last year was taking the tournament one game at a time,” Boudreaux said. “I think we have the talent to [win it] again.”
Can Nazareth play into the third day?
It’s a rebuilding year for the Roadrunners. They get no bracket breaks, facing defending champion Lake Forest in the first round. Senior guard Grant Pomatto returns to the lineup after missing all of last season with a back injury. A young team needs games, and Nazareth’s best-case scenario is to win a few in the consolation bracket.
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Will this be a springboard to another Highland Park hot streak?
A season ago, Highland Park finished third in this event. Two of those wins were in dramatic fashion — a 13-point comeback over St. Patrick and a buzzer beater over Palatine. The Giants eventually won 11 of 13 games in January and February on their way to a Class 4A regional title. “We were off to a decent start and playing well going in, but the tournament gave us some confidence,” coach Paul Harris said. “We used all five games to our advantage. It showed us what we can become.” Highland Park returns almost its entire starting lineup from a season ago.