Best of Season: Best Games
PrepHoopsIllinois evaluated over 150 games during this season. We thought it would be fun to take a look back in our Best of Season Series at some of the standout moments, games, performances, etc. Today we have our Best of the Season: Best Games.
Champaign Central vs Lanphier
We start things off with a classic in the Adam Lopez Thanksgiving Tournament championship game. Champaign Central and host Springfield Lanphier met in the final after both had to get through extremely high competition to just reach the title game. It was a heavily whistled and horribly officiated game which took away from it a little, but overall the play was at a high level. Champaign Central standout Tim Finke struggled a bit at times, but made some clutch plays late to keep his team in the game. Bailey Dee also stepped up in important moments. For Lanphier it was senior Aundrae Williams who carried them early with a barrage of threes. Late it was his running mate Yaakema Rose who took over with his toughness and desire not to lose. Those two teamed up to get a steal on the final possession and Rose capped it off with a bucket for the Lanphier win and tournament crown.
OPRF vs Fenwick
This is a neighborhood rivalry has found a home on Friday night at the Chicago Elite Classic. Both teams came into the year with high hopes for big seasons behind their veteran stars with Jared Scott and Cam Gross leading the way for Oak Park River Forest and Fenwick pushed by Jamal Nixon and Jacob Keller. The atmosphere was outstanding with huge student sections from both schools at the neutral site UIC Pavilion. It was a tight game throughout. Another aspect that made it interesting was how late it was. Made even later by a dance routine after the third quarter that went on for 10+ minutes! On the court Keller and Nixon brought it. Keller turned it on late hitting some clutch free throws to capture the win. He finished with 20 points, 4 assists, 3 steals, and 4 boards. Nixon had 17 points and 10 boards while Jared Scott had 15 points. Great showing by both to start the season.
DePaul Prep vs Crete Monee
Much like the previous game these two met in a late night clash. Most of the time in these games it is sloppy and people are tired and just want to go home. This was one of the rare times you wanted to see it keep going. DePaul Prep and Crete opened up against each other at the Hinsdale Central Classic. DePaul Prep is a young team led by sophomore standout Perry Cowan. He was great going for 23 points and showing an improved scoring repertoire. This was our first time seeing the much talked about freshman Elliot Sieger and he didn’t disappoint with 22 points. Unknown senior Fred Nunez stepped up for 17 big points. Crete hung right there point for point as Toledo commit Dwayne Rose was sensational dropping 30 points scoring at all three levels. Their 2019 combo guard Marquis Kennedy put himself on the map in this game with 28 points. DePaul Prep came out with the narrow win in a holiday thriller.
Benet vs Bloomington
Benet is a program that has had success against higher ranked and more athletic teams when they are able to get them at the pace they want as well as when they get hot from beyond the arc. They did just that against Bloomington. It was the Jack Nolan show in the second half. The Benet senior drilled three after three as well as making plays for his teammates. Finished with 28 points including a pair of threes to send it into OT and win it. Liam Lyman played big with 21 points. For Bloomington their guards didn’t quite produce at the level expected, but top 10 2019 Chris Payton was a beast on the interior with 13 points, 14 boards, and 6 blocks.
East St. Louis vs Springfield Southeast
This game was only for third place, but you wouldn’t have thought it was at how high of a level it was played at. Both teams are extremely athletic with players that are high risers. We saw multiple explosive plays in this game. Jeremiah Tilmon did his thing in front of the Illini coaching staff dropping 21 points. His 2019 running mate Terrence Hargrove was unreal getting 23 points and grabbing 12 boards while showing a more versatile game. Southeast matched with long and lanky senior Isaiah Walton dropping 17 points and super athlete Anthony Fairlee going for 11 points. East St. Louis ultimately got the 67-66 OT win on a three by Zach Forest.
Edwardsville vs Althoff
After seeing the ESL/Springfield SE third place game the championship game at the Collinsville Holiday Tournament had a lot to live up too. It delivered! Edwardsville came into the game red hot after already beating Althoff earlier in the season and having the most talked about player in the state Mark Smith running the point. In a battle of true heavy weights this was an all-time classic. Two Mr. Basketball contenders Smith and Jordan Goodwin went back and forth scoring. It was like a ping pong match where one would score and then the other came right back for a bucket. Smith showed deep range on his three, high playmaking skill, and improved athleticism at the cup. Goodwin mauled his opponents on the glass and took it to the rack time after time. The “complimentary” players also had big nights with Althoff’s sharp shooter Marvin Bateman going for 16 points, Edwardsville power forward and Iowa football commit AJ Epenesa having 16 points along with 11 boards, and Edwardsville junior Jack Marinko lit up the nets for 21 points. In the end the story of the night was the two superstars. Goodwin went for 33 points and 10 rebounds. Smith had 35 points and 5 dimes. Edwardsville got the Collinsville Championship.
Belleville East vs Webster Groves
We have three games featured from the Highland Shootout. This one was the one that kicked off the day in the first session. Illini commit Javon Pickett was absolutely phenomenal! He scored in every way possible and completely put his team on his back when several other players not having quite the strong games they usually have. Pickett finished the game with 40 points and 10 boards. Webster Grove star Courtney Ramey didn’t have his best game as he struggled to get going early, but he still managed 21 points and the last two were the ones that put his team over the top as he hit a runner in the lane at the buzzer for the victory.
Champaign Central vs Chaminade
The next stellar game at Highland was between a pair of teams who met earlier in the season. Champaign Central was coming off a couple tough losses and was looking to get back on track. Their superstar junior Tim Finke was going to make sure they did as he had 30 points. Finke put on a huge scoring display hitting deep shots as well as using his athleticism to get to the rim. Doug “Ballin” Wallen stepped up to get 19 points. It was their junior point guard that really lit it up as Bailey Dee connected for 27 points while also showing he could run the show. Chaminade’s junior duo of Karrington Davis and Jericole Hellems both brought their A games with Davis finishing with 26 and Hellems recording 33. The STL duo was enough to get the OT win 93-89 for Chaminade.
Althoff vs East St. Louis
The last game of the night at the Highland Shootout was built up as #1 senior Jeremiah Tilmon vs #2 senior Jordan Goodwin. It was playing out that way early was Goodwin was dominating as he got his Althoff squad out to a lead. Then unfortunately he reinjured his shoulder that he first hurt in Atlanta back in the spring. East St. Louis took off. Senior point guard Arthur Carter was dynamic scoring while Jeremiah Tilmon stuffed the stat sheet and started to find more openings inside with Goodwin out. Althoff’s Marvin Bateman tried to carry them with 26 points. Despite one of his worst games of the season ESL 2019 forward Terrence Hargrove drilled the game winning three banking it in with under a minute to go. Tilmon had 13 points, 11 boards, and 7 blocks in the win.
Belleville East vs St. Mary’s
At the Chick-fil-A Classic on Belleville East’s home floor they faced one of the toughest teams in the state of Missouri who had only lost one game coming into this one. St. Mary’s was quite a tough opponent to give yourself as the host school in the first round. Belleville East and Illini commit Javon Pickett answered the bell. Pickett scored 33 points and was great defensively getting 8 steals. Rico Sylvester contributed 19 points. We came away very impressed with the inside/outside duo of Yuri Collins and Tahuza Rasas for St. Mary’s. Belleville East took home the upset win.
Salem vs Mattoon
Salem and Mattoon met in the fifth place game at the Salem Invitational Tournament. The Wildcats on their home floor looked to avenge a tough loss from earlier in the season to their conference rival. Their backcourt and wings were all clicking as Damond Crosby had 15 points, Brenden Boles went for 19, and Dawson Linder had 15. Mattoon’s ace in the hole was senior wing Drake Jeffries. This was his first day back since and injury suffered against Salem a month prior. He didn’t quite go for 30 like before, but his 16 points were still very impressive. Jadyn Princko started to catch fire from three and ultimately drilled the game winner to cap his 21 point night.
Belleville East vs Bolingbrook
Anytime two top 10 players in the state match up there is a chance for magic. The battle between Javon Pickett and Nana Akenten was epic. The future Big 10 foes went at each other point for point. Pickett displayed his smooth offensive game making plays in the open floor and getting to the rim. The elite athlete Akenten has a clean jumper that he can get off from anywhere along with the ability to sky for finishes at the rim. Akenten was helped out by his running mate Kaleb Thornton with a big time 18 points. Pickett managed another 30 point game, but his team fell for Akenten and Bolingbrook as the Nebraska commit had 31 points and 12 boards.
Simeon vs Morgan Park
The city championship in Chicago was decided between the rivals in the Battle of Vincennes Part 3. After splitting their two previous meetings the title game would be decided at Chicago State a night after each team had lost to suburbs teams in the City-Suburban Classic at Robert Morris. Both teams played at a high level. For Morgan Park their inside duo of Melo Burrell (13 points) and Lenell Henry (16 points) dominated the interior for most of the game. It took a while for the Mustangs star Ayo Dosunmu to get going, but once he did it he came up with some big plays on his way to 16 points. For Simeon it was the Kezo Brown show for most of the night. The lefty junior wing had one of his best games of the season as he got to the rack early and hit threes in the second half. UTEP commit Evan Gilyard managed 17 points. In the end it was the big put back, block, and rebound from the top 2018 post in Illinois Messiah Jones that sealed the victory and CPS Title for Simeon.