Parham Perspective: Pontiac Semis and Final
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Friday was the last day of holiday tournaments so naturally I made the drive to central Illinois to catch one of the best tournaments in the state Pontiac. I was able to watch the two semis and the late niht…
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Continue ReadingFriday was the last day of holiday tournaments so naturally I made the drive to central Illinois to catch one of the best tournaments in the state Pontiac. I was able to watch the two semis and the late niht Championship game. Here are the results of a great day of basketball.
Semifinals
Joliet West- Benet
Benet jumped put on Joliet West early, hitting some long-range bombs coming from Brady Kunka Brady Kunka 6'4" | SG Benet Academy | 2023 State IL and Brayden Fagbemi Brayden Fagbemi 5'10" | PG Neuqua Valley | 2023 State IL . I think what confused Joliet West so much in the first quarter was the off ball action that seemed to get players wide open shots. I think the real momentum changer was Niko Abusara amazing dunk over a West player who had everyone going crazy and definitely gave the Redwings more courage in the game. Joliet would get some offensive production from Justus McNair Justus McNair 6'3" | SG Joliet West | 2024 State IL . He made strong plays at the rim and hit some shots from mid-range. Beginning the second half Benet was up double digits and that’s when Jeremiah Fears Jeremiah Fears 6'1" | PG AZ Compass Prep | 2025 State #31 Nation AZ started to assert himself as he scored 12 points with strong change of pace moves and knocking in a few stop and pop jumpers. He helped get Joliet West within 4 points before Fagbemi took over again. Brayden took a lot of pressure but made the right reads, and before you knew it Benet was back up double digits and Joliet West ran out of time.
Benet 56 Joliet West 47 Final
Benet:
Brayden Fagbemi
Brayden
Fagbemi
5'10" | PG
Neuqua Valley | 2023
State
IL
14 pfz
Joliet West
Justus McNair
Justus
McNair
6'3" | SG
Joliet West | 2024
State
IL
15 pts
Simeon – Curie
In the first semifinal Simeon’s Rubin twins got things started early. Miles Rubin Miles Rubin 6'7" | PF Homewood Flossmoor | 2023 State #243 Nation IL scored the first three buckets for Simeon all of them dunks. Curie followed up with strong play from Chikasi Ofoma Chikasi Ofoma 6'6" | C Curie | 2023 State IL who made strong moves in the paint and even hit a three to keep the game close. In the absence of Carlos Harris Carlos Harris 6'1" | SG Curie | 2024 State #283 Nation IL (injured) senior guard Shawn Brown Shawn Brown 6'1" | SG Curie | 2023 State IL stepped up his play as he sliced and scored over the towering Simeon duo for buckets. Keeping this close until halftime. By the start of the second half the Wolverines came out hot getting a much needed lift from Sam Lewis Sam Lewis 6'5" | SF Oak Park River Forest | 2023 State IL who would push the lead back up to nine. Curie’s Brown scored a couple more times to narrow the lead before Wesley Rubin Wesley Rubin 6'7" | PF Homewood Flossmoor | 2023 State IL started to cook and scored around the rim as well finishing missed shots and getting fouled in the process. By the fourth Simeon was up double figures and put the ball in Jalen Griffith Jalen Griffith 5'9" | PG Simeon | 2023 State IL hands to secure the lead and ultimately win the game.
Simeon 67 Curie 58 Final
Simeon
Sam Lewis
Sam
Lewis
6'5" | SF
Oak Park River Forest | 2023
State
IL
16 pts 8 reb.
Jalen Griffith
Jalen
Griffith
5'9" | PG
Simeon | 2023
State
IL
15 pts
Miles Rubin
Miles
Rubin
6'7" | PF
Homewood Flossmoor | 2023
State
#243
Nation
IL
13 pts
Curie:
Shawn Brown
Shawn
Brown
6'1" | SG
Curie | 2023
State
IL
19 pts
Chikasi Ofoma
Chikasi
Ofoma
6'6" | C
Curie | 2023
State
IL
12 pts 15 reb
Championship Game
Simeon – Benet
The Wolverines came prepared to guard all the off ball action that Benet killed Joliet West with earlier in the day. Jalen Griffith Jalen Griffith 5'9" | PG Simeon | 2023 State IL got it going early getting to the rim. As Benet struggled to score, Jalen also hit two big threes, one to close the half. In the second half, Nikola Abusara Nikola Abusara 6'5" | SF Benet | 2023 State IL turned things up and went on run that cut Simeon’s lead down to two points. Another Simeon run came from Sam Lewis Sam Lewis 6'5" | SF Oak Park River Forest | 2023 State IL who was able to force turnovers and get to the foul line. In the fourth quarter Benet would finally get some production from Brayden Fagbemi Brayden Fagbemi 5'10" | PG Neuqua Valley | 2023 State IL who didn’t shoot it well in the first half. He made some tough shots in the lane and hit a big three in the corner to cut the lead back down to two which got the Benet crowd up cheering. Simeon would put the ball back in Griffith’s hands who would ultimately seal the win with his own one man press break where he found Sam Lewis Sam Lewis 6'5" | SF Oak Park River Forest | 2023 State IL for a dunk. Fagbemi did hit another three to give Benet an ounce of hope, but it wasn’t enough as Simeon would win the game and championship sending off legendary head coach Robert Smith with one last Pontiac title
Simeon 52 Benet 49 Final
Simeon:
Jalen Griffith
Jalen
Griffith
5'9" | PG
Simeon | 2023
State
IL
17 pts 6 reb
Sam Lewis
Sam
Lewis
6'5" | SF
Oak Park River Forest | 2023
State
IL
15 pts
Benet :
Niko Abusara 17 pts 6 reb 5 ast
Brayden Fagbemi
Brayden
Fagbemi
5'10" | PG
Neuqua Valley | 2023
State
IL
13 pts
Hope you all enjoyed the Holiday Tournament coverage this week. Can’t wait to do it again next season!