Pekin Holiday Tournament Friday Recap
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The Pekin Holiday Tournament is known as one of Illinois’ premiere holiday tournaments and features teams from all around the state. This year did not disappoint as it featured two new intriguing teams (East St Louis and Peoria Notre Dame)…
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Continue ReadingThe Pekin Holiday Tournament is known as one of Illinois’ premiere holiday tournaments and features teams from all around the state. This year did not disappoint as it featured two new intriguing teams (East St Louis and Peoria Notre Dame) to join a loaded field in Pekin. Here is a look at the all tournament team and a recap from the last day of games. More notes to come from the rest of the action!
Mt Carmel Wins PHT Championship for 3 Peat
Heading into Pekin as the #1 seed and reigning back to back champion, Mt Carmel prevailed for a third straight year as they defeated Lake Park 60-41 for the championship on Friday. The Caravan were led in scoring by Grant Best Grant Best 6'3" | SG Mt. Carmel | 2025 State IL (15 points), Cameron Thomas Cameron Thomas 6'3" | PG Mount Carmel | 2025 State IL (11 points) and Angelo Ciaravino Angelo Ciaravino 6'6" | SF Mt. Carmel | 2024 State #160 Nation IL (9 points). Ciaravino, who was named tournament MVP, led the charge throughout the tournament and made an impact on both sides of the ball. The Northwestern signee can do a little bit of everything and is a energizer with his constant motor. Junior combo guard Cameron Thomas Cameron Thomas 6'3" | PG Mount Carmel | 2025 State IL was also named to the all tournament team as he showed ability to score from the perimeter as well as using his strong frame to get to the basket. Lake Park struggled vs a tough Mt Carmel foe, but unsigned senior guard Camden Cerese Camden Cerese 6'2" | PG Lake Park | 2024 State IL continued his scoring spree leading all scorers with 16 points. Cerese was named all tournament team and finished with 102 total points in 4 games played.
Third Place Battle to the Finish
Morton who was the #2 overall seed took home 3rd place over East St Louis- led by Wes Gudeman Wes Gudeman 6'3" | SF Morton | 2025 State IL (22 points) and Gus Rugaard Gus Rugaard 6'0" | PG Morton | 2024 State IL (21 points). Gudeman used his strong frame to finish around the rim and hit open shots from the perimeter. Rugaard who was awarded as Mr Hustle, fulfilled his usual role as steady eddie and picking his spots to take control. East St Louis fought their way back into the 2nd half vs Morton after trailing by 12 points at halftime. Senior SG Robert McCline Robert McCline 6'2" | SG East St. Louis | 2024 State IL had an impressive tournament for ESL, scoring 21 vs Morton and 23 vs Moline. McCline filled it up from three at the PHT and delivered some big time shots to spark the Flyers offense. Davis Bynum Davis Bynum 6'7" | PF East St. Louis | 2024 State IL , a PHT All-Tournament selection, finished with 10 points with great length and versatility at 6’8.
Awards/Honors
All Tournament Team:
Camden Cerese Camden Cerese 6'2" | PG Lake Park | 2024 State IL (Lake Park)
Eoin Dillon Eoin Dillon 6'8" | C Peoria Notre Dame | 2024 State #294 Nation IL (Peoria Notre Dame)
Gus Rugaard Gus Rugaard 6'0" | PG Morton | 2024 State IL (Morton)
Angelo Ciaravino Angelo Ciaravino 6'6" | SF Mt. Carmel | 2024 State #160 Nation IL (Mt Carmel)
Treyvon Taylor Treyvon Taylor 6'4" | PF Moline | 2025 State IL (Moline)
Peyton Hess Peyton Hess 6'4" | SF Pekin | 2025 State IL (Pekin)
Cameron Thomas Cameron Thomas 6'3" | PG Mount Carmel | 2025 State IL (Mt Carmel)
Davis Bynum Davis Bynum 6'7" | PF East St. Louis | 2024 State IL (East St Louis)
Jared Ryg (Hersey)
Shaunassey Hatchett Shaunassey Hatchett 6'4" | SF Springfield Lanphier | 2025 State IL (Lanphier)
MVP: Angelo Ciaravino Angelo Ciaravino 6'6" | SF Mt. Carmel | 2024 State #160 Nation IL
Mr Hustle: Gus Rugaard Gus Rugaard 6'0" | PG Morton | 2024 State IL