Pontiac Holiday Tournament: Saturday Notebook
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PHI covered the morning and afternoon action from the Pontiac Holiday Tournament on Saturday. This featured three consolation games along with the two semis. Read all about what we saw here in Pontiac Holiday Tournament: Saturday Notebook! Championship Bracket UIC…
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Continue ReadingPHI covered the morning and afternoon action from the Pontiac Holiday Tournament on Saturday. This featured three consolation games along with the two semis. Read all about what we saw here in Pontiac Holiday Tournament: Saturday Notebook!
Championship Bracket
UIC Commit Carries Curie to Title Game
Just like yesterday the difference between Curie advancing or not was Carlos Harris Carlos Harris 6'1" | SG Curie | 2024 State #283 Nation IL . The UIC signee did it again in the semis vs New Trier. The strong bodied Harris had his mid-range game flowing and was playing physical downhill for scores or fouls. Racked up 22 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 dimes in the win. After a slow first half Curie 2024 wing Will Gonzalez Will Gonzalez 6'5" | SF Curie | 2024 State IL drained a pair of big triples en route to 8 points. They got nice contributions from their utility players as well with Christian Brockett Christian Brockett 6'2" | SG Curie | 2024 State IL (8 points) and Derrick Dowdell Derrick Dowdell 6'4" | SF Curie | 2025 State IL (7 points) leaving their mark in the win.
Early on the story for New Trier was their 2026 duo with Christopher Kirkpatrick Christopher Kirkpatrick 6'3" | PG New Trier | 2026 State IL using his athleticism getting in the lane along with draining a three ball finishing with 7 points. Then it was sharp shooting 6’4” small forward Danny Houlihan Danny Houlihan 6'4" | SF New Trier | 2026 State IL who got hot from three going 4-6 for 12 points.
Benet Wins 2OT Thriller to Advance to Championship over Bloom
WHAT! A! GAME! The 4th quarter of this one might have been one of the best I’ve seen all season as these two teams traded shot for shot. In the first OT Benet 2026 guard Jayden Wright Jayden Wright 5'11" | PG Benet | 2026 State IL raced down the floor to bury a three to send it to a second OT. In that 6th period of the game Benet threw a lob up to their star sophomore Gabriel Sularski Gabriel Sularski 6'5" | SF Lemont | 2026 State IL where he was fouled. Made 1 of 2 at the line. Bloom missed a shot at the buzzer to see Benet advance 59-58.
Sularski led the way for Benet with 17 points. He did it in a variety of ways hitting pull ups, threes off the catch, back cuts, and reverse layups. Daniel Pauliukonis Daniel Pauliukonis 6'8" | SF Benet | 2025 State IL had a massive impact on this game. The long and lanky 2025 four man scored on cuts, put it on the deck, and had a big left handed finish late for 11 points. Inside 2026 big man Colin Stack Colin Stack 6'9" | C Benet | 2026 State IL anchored in the paint scoring out of the dunker spot and trailed for a three notching 11 points and 6 rebounds. Blake Fagbemi Blake Fagbemi 5'10" | PG Benet | 2025 State IL ran the show getting everyone involved at the point with his elite playmaking feel finishing with 5 points and 7 assists. Wright drained the big shot to close the first OT going for 6 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists.
Elijah Lovemore Elijah Lovemore 6'2" | PG Bloom | 2025 State #344 Nation IL had a solid game for Bloom despite his jumper not falling. The combo guard had several explosive takes off the bounce on straight line drives. Also liked what we saw out of him as a passer as he was adept at getting his teammates involved. Got after it on defense. Finished with 14 points, 4 steals, and 4 assists. The spark for them came courtesy of sophomore guard Amare Pryor Amare Pryor 6'1" | PG Bloom | 2026 State IL . He is known mostly as an elite defender, but in this one he made 4-6 from beyond the arc hitting big shot after big shot for 15 points. Santana Flowers Santana Flowers 6'4" | SF Bloom | 2024 State IL got on the offensive glass and used his athleticism in the paint for 10 points. Bouncy center Elijah Allen Elijah Allen 6'7" | PF Bloom | 2024 State IL protected the rim with a couple emphatic swats along with rim running and tip ins for 4 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks.
Consolation Games
Richardson Drops 30 in Manual Win over Host Pontiac
Fun 8 AM game to open the day as Peoria Manual defeated Pontiac 65-54. It was much closer than that score would indicate. Manual star 2025 combo guard Dietrich Richardson Dietrich Richardson 6'6" | PG Peoria Manual | 2025 State #177 Nation IL was phenomenal in this one showcasing his full arsenal. Best we have seen him play as he was slick scoring off the bounce, hit an array of threes he created on his own, and got after it on the defensive end going for 30 points. Without question will be in the top 10 of our next 2025 update! His senior running mate Gerrell Trapps Gerrell Trapps 6'1" | PG Peoria Manual | 2024 State IL had a solid outing as well notching 13 points. Burst with the ball in his hands loving to attack on straight line takes. Capable shooter, but is best driving and can dish off on occasion.
For Pontiac it was their senior trio that kept them in this one. Another solid performance for Riley Weber Riley Weber 6'4" | SF Pontiac | 2024 State IL who made an impression on us over the last two days. The lefty skilled wing showed he can score on crafty drives, post ups, and go coast to coast in addition to his shooting he is known for. He had 18 points. Kerr Bauman Kerr Bauman 6'2" | SG Pontiac | 2024 IL is a tough two guard that has a crisp mid-range game netting 14 points. Henry Brummel is a great glue guy for this team with the way he rebounds, gets second chance points, and hits threes as a thick bodied undersized post. Finished with 14 points.
Simeon Gets Narrow Win Over OPRF
Simeon was without two of its top perimeter options as McKinnie and Tyler were both sidelined. That made for a huge opportunity for Kas Nelson to step up who has emerged with a monster sophomore campaign. The strong bodied wing scored from all three levels and got to the line for 16 points while grabbing 7 rebounds. Lorenzo Shields Lorenzo Shields 6'2" | PG Simeon | 2025 State IL also had a big game as the combo guard stuffed the stat sheet for 16 points, 3 assists, 3 rebounds, and 3 steals.
OPRF got another big outing from big man Alexander Vincent Alexander Vincent 6'8" | C OPRF | 2025 State IL . Great week for him as he showed his old school five man game off for power buckets inside en route to 17 points and 9 rebounds. Justin Bowen Justin Bowen 6'5" | SF Lincoln Park | 2025 State IL also had a solid game as the 2025 power wing went for 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Top 10 Junior Has Another Big Game to Lead West Aurora
Terrence Smith Terrence Smith 6'5" | SF West Aurora | 2025 State #299 Nation IL continues to terrorize teams in this event with his size on the perimeter and athletic ability. Another big game in the consolation 5th place semi going for 21 points and 9 rebounds. His running mates in the backcourt continue to shine as seniors CJ Savage CJ Savage 5'10" | PG West Aurora | 2024 State IL (16 points) and Jordan Brooks Jordan Brooks 6'2" | SG West Aurora | 2024 State IL (10 points) also contributed in the win.