Thanksgiving tournaments opened basketball season in Southern Illinois
The suffocating defense of the Collinsville Kahoks has picked up where it left off a year ago.
Senior all-state guard Ray’Sean Taylor averaged 26 points and the Kahoks defense held four opponents to 43 points or less as they rolled to the title at the Carterville Pyramid Basketball Tournament
After defeating Carterville (66-39), Mount Vernon (80-43) and Herrin (74-23) the Kahoks finished off a 4-0 opening week Saturday with a 65-40 win over Marion.
A Southern Illinois University Edwardsville recruit, Taylor led Collinsville in scoring. But the Kahoks also got solid efforts from Keydrian Jones (9.5 ppg.) and Cawhan Smith (9.3 ppg., 12 assists and 20 steals)
The preseason favorite in the Southwestern Conference, Collinsville hosts O’Fallon on Friday.
O’Fallon tops Carbondale to win Alton Tip-Off Classic
Juniors Mason Blakemore and Shaun Riley II combined for 25 points to help the O’Fallon Panthers get past Carbondale 55-52 in the title game of the Alton Tip-Off Classic.
A transfer from Centralia, Blakemore sparked the Panthers attack with 14 points while Riley added 11. O’Fallon (3-0) also defeated St. Mary’s 62-40 and Ritenour (75-37).
Belleville East opens 3-1 at Centralia
The Belleville East Lancers are off to a good start after winning three of four games at the Centralia Thanksgiving Tournament
With sophomore Braxton Stacker (15.5 ppg.) and junior Ethyn Brown (13.5) leading a balanced attack, the Lancers defeated Jerseyville (66-49), Cleveland ROTC (106-22) and Chicago Carver (70-16).
The Lancers only loss during the week long event was against Collinsville (63-59). The Lancers travel to Cahokia on Tuesday and open SWC play Friday at defending Class 3A state champion East St. Louis.
Belleville West goes 1-2 at Washington TOC
The Alex Schobert era at Belleville West got off to a solid start as the Maroons’ first-year coach led his team to a 1-2 finish at the Washington Tournament of Champions.
The two-time defending Class 4A state champion Maroons defeated Callahan (Alabama) 84-48, but lost to Peoria Manual (59-41) and Springfield Lanphier (55-44). Junior Tommie Williams (12.3) and Greg Wells (12.0) led Maroons in scoring.
West hosts Edwardsville in its SWC opener on Friday.
Althoff finishes 2-2 at Lincoln
Senior Daulton Burgner averaged 15.3 for four games as Althoff finished 2-2 at the Lincoln Turkey Tournament.
The Crusaders defeated South Seven Conference rival Cahokia 56-55 then closed tournament play Saturday with a 46-37 victory over Mahomet-Seymour.
Althoff opens conference play Friday when it hosts Centralia.
Edwardsville wins at Jacksonville
The Edwardsville Tigers went 3-0 last week to win the Jacksonville Tournament held at the Jacksonville Bowl.
Giving up only 105 points in three games, the Tigers nipped both Jacksonville (50-47) and Chatham-Glenwood (42-40) in its final two games to win the tournament.
Granite City wins at Triad
Senior Freddy Edwards averaged just under 17 points per game as the Granite City Warriors rolled to the title at the Triad Stove Top Stuffing Tournament.
The Warriors (4-0) defeated both Nokomis and Taylorville to open the tournament then defeated local foes Triad (54-45) and Civic Memorial (71-44) to capture the title.
Mater Dei goes 3-1 at Metro East Lutheran
The Mater Dei Knights one-two punch of Caleb Zurliene and Jacob Schadegg combined for 31 points per game to lead the team to a 3-1 finish at the Metro East Lutheran Thanksgiving Tournament.
The Knights defeated Brussels (78-50), Gillespie (76-38) and Metro East Lutheran and dropped a close decision to Lift For Life (63-62).
