DYER, Ind. (January 3, 2024) – In addition to the presentation of state championship rings to the baseball team (see “Illiana Christian Baseball team reunites to receive championship rings“), Illiana sports saw wins in boys basketball and girls wrestling.
Illiana Christian
Boys basketball
The Vikings went 3-0 to win Lakeland Christian’s Cougar Classic and improve to 7-4.
Illiana beat Clinton Christian 77-24 and hosted Lakeland Christian 66-16 on Friday before edging Bethany Christian 54-52 on Saturday with Andy Spoelman’s late tip-in.
Spoelman was named tourney MVP and Isaac Sherwood was named to the all-tournament team.
Girls wrestling
The Vikings won their own regional on Saturday, crowning four individual champions and advancing 12 wrestlers to this weekend’s semistate.
TF South
Boys basketball
The Red Wolves finished 13th in the Big Dipper at Rich, going 2-2.
South (6-8) lost 52-24 to Thornwood on Dec. 26 and 63-53 to Eisenhower on Dec. 27 before beating Bremen 60-44 on Dec. 28 and Crane 63-46 on Friday.
Amari Dukes led the Red Wolves with 18 points against Crane and 17 vs. Bremen. Sam Townsend added 12 vs. Crane, while Rashad Peeples (12 points) and Alex Lesure (10) also reached double figures against Bremen.
Marian Catholic
Boys basketball
The Spartans were runners-up at the Hinsdale Central Holiday Classic, falling 57-35 to unbeaten DePaul Prep in Saturday’s title game.
James Bullock scored 11 points, grabbed six rebounds, and blocked three shots to lead Marian (10-5), while Delan Davis scored nine.
The Spartans upset previously unbeaten Brother Rice 75-74 in double overtime in Friday’s semifinals.
Davis hit two free throws with 2.5 seconds left to clinch the win after Bullock hit a key three-point play with 30 seconds remaining.
Zack Sharkey had 26 points and four assists for Marian, while Bullock had a double-double of 21 points and 10 rebounds with four blocks. Jonah Weathers contributed 11 points and Davis finished with 10. Kaleb Isom scored eight.
Marian beat Niles North 69-61 in the quarterfinals on Dec. 28. Bullock led the way with 22 points and six rebounds. Weathers had 16 points and seven rebounds, Davis contributed 13 points and four assists, and Sharkey finished with 12 points and seven rebounds.
The Spartans opened the tourney with a 71-54 win over St. Charles East on Dec. 27 as Sharkey scored 21 and Weathers had 20 points. Landon Mays scored eight.
Girls Basketball
Marian took third in the Hillcrest Holiday Classic, beating Rich 57-30 on Friday.
Alainna Poisson led the Spartans (13-5) with 14 points, Taylor Bolton scored 12 and Madison Davis added nine points.
The Spartans lost 45-44 to Stagg in the semifinals on Dec. 28 as Davis scored a game-high 21 points.
Earlier, Marian beat Oak Forest 53-12 and Joliet Central 64-38 on Dec. 27.
South Suburban College
Men’s Basketball
The NJCAA Division II No. 5 Bulldogs won a top-10 national matchup on Saturday, knocking off No. 6 Macomb (Mich.) 89-77.
Sophomore guard Jemel Jones led SSC (13-1) with 31 points, nine rebounds, and six assists.
Freshman forward Quentin Heady had 20 points and nine rebounds, while sophomore forward LeQuan Washington contributed 11 points and four rebounds.
SSC beat visiting Spoon River 82-76 on Dec. 22 as Jones led the way with 31 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists. Heady had 19 points and five rebounds.
Related
- Illiana Christian Baseball team reunites to receive state championship ring
- Athlete spotlights: TF South’s Karter Thomas and TF North’s Precious Agwu
- Marian’s Jonah Weathers nears end of basketball career before pursuing collegiate baseball
- SSC Basketball Coach John Pigatti inducted into Hall of Fame
