Pekin Holiday Tournament: Scotty B’s Quarterfinal Notebook

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Started the day off at the Pekin Holiday Tournament checking out the four quarterfinal games.&nbsp; Here is what we saw in <strong>Pekin Holiday Tournament: Scotty B's Quarterfinal Notebook</strong>!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mt. Carmel Puts on Show vs Normal West</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Caravan came into the event as the top team and they totally looked like it in this one.&nbsp; I think they are a legit state title contender and one of the premier teams in the Chicagoland area.&nbsp; They have a top 6 that are as good as anyone in the state.&nbsp; Every game a different star will emerge.&nbsp; In this one it was 2024 small forward [player_tooltip player_id='1285492' first='Lee' last='Marks'].&nbsp; Among the best uncommitted seniors in the state he stuffs the stat sheet and does a great job of contributing across the board.&nbsp; In this one his scoring shined through with aggressive takes, finishing dump offs, getting on the glass, and hitting a three for 13 points.&nbsp; Class of 2025 combo guard [player_tooltip player_id='1385307' first='Cameron' last='Thomas'] also had a big outing in this one.&nbsp; Broad shouldered guard that can really score it had the three ball falling along with squaring his shoulders getting downhill for 15 points.&nbsp; Northwestern commit [player_tooltip player_id='1373436' first='Angelo' last='Ciaravino'] had a workman like 10 points while showing off the athletic pop on a big dunk, tip in, and excellent passing.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='2105179' first='Grant' last='Best'] continues to be an excellent glue guy for this squad.&nbsp; Plus shooter that has improved his handles as he netted 7 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br><strong>McCline Carries Flyers Past Moline</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This was a game I was really looking forward to at this event.&nbsp; In the #4 vs #5 matchup it was two evenly matched teams with prospects across the board.&nbsp; East St. Louis just had too much fire power for Moline as they won 60-51.&nbsp; The difference in this one was the play of [player_tooltip player_id='1373452' first='Robert' last='McCline'].&nbsp; The senior shooting guard caught our eye early in his career and then didn't have as big of a junior campaign as we expected.&nbsp; He is posting big numbers as a senior including 23 points in this game knocking in five from beyond the arc.&nbsp; Northern Illinois football commit [player_tooltip player_id='1978581' first='Taylor' last='Powell'] brings them versatility as an inside/outside threat that plays with athleticism at the rim notching 10 points.&nbsp; Senior guard Derrion Enlow was a great glue guy for this team as the lefty knocked in a pair of threes and rebounded great from his guard spot for 8 points and 11 rebounds.&nbsp; Good sign for Flyers when their best player only scored 3 points and they still beat a really good team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Moline was led by their 2025 duo of [player_tooltip player_id='1545138' first='Braden' last='Freeman'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1545132' first='Treyvon' last='Taylor'].&nbsp; Freeman is a gritty wing that can slash it off the bounce for runners and spinning layups.&nbsp; Good on the offensive glass and can put it on the deck from the mid-post for 16 points.&nbsp; Inside [player_tooltip player_id='1545132' first='Treyvon' last='Taylor'] is a versatile strong bodied lefty that is light on his feet.&nbsp; Crafty finisher around the hoop who can handle it and was solid defensively going for 15 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cerese Puts on Absolute Show vs Host Pekin</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have been saying for a while that [player_tooltip player_id='1764717' first='Camden' last='Cerese'] should be getting significantly more attention at the low-major and high D2 level.&nbsp; The top 30 senior was masterful in his performance against Pekin on Thursday afternoon leading his Lake Park squad to a 53-35 win against Pekin.&nbsp; Early on he was looking to set his teammates up and then he got it rolling for himself with an array of pull ups, floaters, give and goes, and getting to the line for 28 points.&nbsp; His running mate was 6'5” senior big man Tommy Rochford.&nbsp; The big man can stretch with his shooting and is a good area rebounder finishing with 12 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pekin got a spark in the second half from [player_tooltip player_id='2245713' first='Peyton' last='Hess'].&nbsp; The 6'4” 2025 forward emerged at a Prep Hoops Top 250 Camp in the fall.&nbsp; Lengthy prospect with some projectability.&nbsp; Crafty driver that can put it on the deck a little and is a solid passer.&nbsp; He had 11 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#2 Seed Morton Advances over Peoria Notre Dame</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The last quarterfinal wasn't particularly close as Morton controlled it throughout winning by a final of 51-33 over Peoria Notre Dame.&nbsp; Morton was led by senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1750614' first='Gus' last='Rugaard'] with 16 points.&nbsp; Tough minded scoring guard that drained four triples.&nbsp; His backcourt mate the crafty lefty wing [player_tooltip player_id='1232827' first='Wes' last='Gudeman'] had a couple moments including a pair of drives and a spot up three from the corner for 7 points.&nbsp; Keep an eye out for their 2026 duo of Silas Steffen and [player_tooltip player_id='2734458' first='Alex' last='McKie'] down the line as they each had 6 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Belmont commit [player_tooltip player_id='1373440' first='Eoin' last='Dillon'] drained a trio of triples on his way to 11 points.&nbsp; The skilled post is a plus shooter off the catch that created space on a step back as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->