By Mike Clark
LANSING, Ill. (December 31, 2022) – TF South boys basketball hasn’t had a hectic schedule so far this winter, but that will change.
The Red Wolves (6-7) wrapped up the 2022 portion of their season on Friday as consolation runners-up in a Rich’s Big Dipper Tournament, falling 70-59 to Bishop Noll.
After taking a few days off entirely for the New Year’s holiday, South will be back at work for an extended stretch of practices. The Red Wolves don’t play again till they travel to Richards on Jan. 10.
But that tips off a span of 10 games in 18 days. “January is our NBA month,” coach Todd Gillespie said, referring to the busy nature of the schedule.
It also has historically been a time for the Red Wolves to get a head of steam going into the season’s final weeks. “January has been our strongest month,” Gillespie said.
Like most coaches, he’s glad to have a break from games.
“This week of practice is going to be a good time to get back to fundamentals, get back to what we do,” Gillespie said.
In the Bishop Noll game, Caleb Newman scored 18 points — including a half-court buzzer-beater to end the third quarter — and Daetwan Thomas added 12 points.
Romello Ali represented the Red Wolves on the all-tourney team. Ali, a Division I qualifier academically, is getting junior college and Division III recruiting interest, according to Gillespie. He’s leading the Red Wolves in rebounding and steals, and is second to Newman in scoring.
TF North
Boys basketball
The Meteors head into the new year at 8-2 after falling 51-50 to Fenwick on Wednesday in the fifth-place semifinals at the Proviso West Holiday Tournament.
Jevon Warren led North with 17 points and nine rebounds.
The Meteors return to action on Jan. 10 at home against Shepard.
Marian Catholic
Boys basketball
The Spartans finished third at the Hinsdale Central Holiday Classic, beating DePaul Prep 43-30 on Thursday after falling 44-27 to the hosts and eventual champs on Wednesday.
All-tourney pick Quentin Jones had a team-high 18 points and eight rebounds against DePaul Prep, and Donovan Juzang contributed 14 points.
Jones had eight points and five rebounds against Hinsdale Central.
The Spartans (10-5) start the 2023 portion of their schedule next weekend with a pair of games at Taylorville against the hosts and De La Salle.
South Suburban College
Men’s basketball
Playing shorthanded, the Bulldogs dropped the second game of their Michigan road trip on Friday, 71-66 to NJCAA Division II ninth-ranked Macomb.
Damontae Taylor led Division II No. 3 South Suburban with 26 points, six rebounds, and four steals. Rashard Harris added 13 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and three steals.
Leading scorer Nakyel Shelton and third-leading scorer Jalen Houston missed the game after being involved in a scuffle the day before in a loss at Division II co-No. 11 Henry Ford.
The Bulldogs play at Marian-Ancilla on Tuesday.
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