It’s kind of blowing my mind that Tinley Park’s AJ Casey and Oak Forest’s Robbie Avila played on the same team in junior high. I mean, I had known that was the case for a few years, I heard about them back when they were in eighth grade.
But after seeing Avila’s newly blossomed all-around game, wow. Avila dominated tonight. He thinks he’s the best sophomore in the state and he has a good argument for it after what I saw tonight. Boy are we lucky to get to watch Casey and Avila the next two seasons.
“I believe I’m at the top,” Avila said. “Rankings don’t really matter to me. I just want to play my game and show people who I am.
“[Casey and I] are good friends. It was a nice move he made [to Tinley Park]. It sucks, he could have been here. But we aren’t worried about that. It would be fun to play against him, that hasn’t happened in a long time.”
Every basketball junkie in the area will be there for that game, when and if it happens.
It will be really interesting to see how the seasons goes for Oak Forest. The Bengals play fun, unselfish basketball. Coach Matt Manzke has one simple goal for the season.
“Our goal is to put a number up on that banner hanging in the gym,” Manzke said. “We are looking to win the league. We haven’t put a banner up in our gym since the 1980s. To do that we have to win the league or we have to win a regional.”
Bloomington
Rock Island 61, Wheaton-Warrenville South 43: Quite a run for the Tigers, who fall short in the title game. It was a balance scoring effort for the Rocks, with four players in double figures. Yonatan Algawerash led WW South with 18.
Collinsville
Collinsville 63, Mundelein 48: Another undefeated team goes down. It appears Collinsville is a legit threat to win a state title this season. The Kahoks have also knocked off Morgan Park. It’s the first time they’ve won their own holiday tournament in 15 years. Ray’Sean Taylor led the way with 26 points, six rebounds, seven assists and five steals. He averaged 25 points in the tournament. Scottie Ebube led the Mustangs with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Rough loss for Mundelein, but playing competition like this on the road will be hugely beneficial for their own playoff hopes.
DeKalb
DeKalb 52, Naperville Central 48: The Barbs are now in the Sun-Times’ coverage area. I made an executive decision on that since they are now in the DuPage Valley conference. A DeKalb player even made the football All-Area team last month. It appears the Barbs may be making an appearance in the Super 25 soon. Joseph Owens had 20 points and 12 rebounds to help overcome an 11-point Naperville Central halftime lead.
IC-Catholic-Westmont
Tinley Park 80, Eisenhower 77: AJ Casey continues to post remarkable numbers. He had 34 points and nine rebounds to lead the Titans to the title. Aa’Reyon Munir-Jones added 15 points and eight rebounds and Maurice Evans scored 17. Keon Richardson had 10 assists. Tinley Park is 11-4. Jemel Jones scored 34 for Eisenhower.
Naples, Fla.
Sante Fe Catholic, Fla. 38, Loyola 35: The Ramblers lose in the title game. It looks like very few teams will emerge undefeated from the holiday tournaments.
York
York 49, Schaumburg 33: Tim Glavan took just one shot for York Monday night, Denton Rhode didn’t take any. And Dan Wagner didn’t even play in the game. But they all played big roles in the win. Mike Clark has the story here.
Bolingbrook 55, Hinsdale South 52 OT: Yep, another unbeaten goes down. Darius Burford scored 30 and made four big free throws in overtime. Billy Durkin scored 20 for the Hornets. Heard there was a big crowd at both games tonight. The Jack Tosh appears to have claimed the mantle as the area’s most popular holiday tournament.
