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<p>PHI's staff is covering games and scouting players, but we also want to keep tabs on everything going on around the state. We do that in <strong>Around the State: December 26 Recaps</strong>!</p>
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<p>Roling Meadows topped Timothy Christian in their opening game at Jack Tosh Holiday Classic. [player_tooltip player_id='2442155' first='Ryan' last='Meyer'], [player_tooltip player_id='2321417' first='Lazar' last='Lazarevic'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1598708' first='Gavin' last='Escobedo'] each had 10 points in the win. [player_tooltip player_id='2875743' first='Marc' last='Gamble'] led the way for Timothy Christian with 9.</p>
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<p>Another game from Tosh early in the day saw Conant top Highland Park 33-30. [player_tooltip player_id='1545127' first='Bradley' last='Biedke'] led the way with 12 points in the win while Highland Park got 16 points from [player_tooltip player_id='2420451' first='Simon' last='Moschin'].</p>
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<p>Peoria Manual had to comeback in their first round victory to capture an OT W against Plainfield North at Pontiac. Bradley commit and top 5 senior [player_tooltip player_id='1576114' first='Dietrich' last='Richardson'] had a massive game of 37 points to set up a star studded matchup on Friday vs Simeon.</p>
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<p>Lanphier with an impressive 70-54 first round victory over Peoria Richwoods at Pekin. Springfield Lanphier was led by their dynamic 2025 duo of [player_tooltip player_id='1545135' first='Shaunassey' last='Hatchett'] who had 30 points and 7 rebounds while guard Jaiquan Holman chipped in 14 points. Freshman phenom [player_tooltip player_id='2531961' first='Amarion' last='Smith-Holley'] dropped 9 points in the loss for Richwoods.</p>
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<p>Mt. Vernon advances in an OT win against Chatham Glenwood 42-37 in the first round at Centralia. [player_tooltip player_id='2455403' first='David' last='Barnes'] had 18 points for the Rams while baseball superstar [player_tooltip player_id='2815576' first='Cameron' last='Appenzeller'] had 10 for Chatham Glenwood.</p>
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<p>Wheaton St. Francis advanced at York over Yorkville 62-55. Mark Balaskovitis led the way with 22 points while [player_tooltip player_id='1819713' first='Niko' last='Quaranta'] (14 points) and [player_tooltip player_id='2389886' first='Ben' last='Whorlow'] (11 points) were major contributors. For Yorkville it was Gabe Sanders with 21 points leading the way while PHI Watch List 2028 duo [player_tooltip player_id='2532003' first='Joey' last='Jakstys'] (10 points) and [player_tooltip player_id='2194655' first='Braydon' last='Porter'] (9 points) continue to show bright future.</p>
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<p>Simeon rolled over Bloomington 89-32 to advance to a quarterfinal vs Manual tomorrow. Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1439013' first='Julien' last='Doyle'] had 22 points while [player_tooltip player_id='1552394' first='Andre' last='Tyler'] chipped in 13 points. Kyron Wing-Warr led Bloomington with 13.</p>
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<p>In Pekin it was Mt. Zion who cruised to a 68-41 win against Washington as their star [player_tooltip player_id='1545145' first='Lyncoln' last='Koester'] had 18 points with [player_tooltip player_id='2323267' first='JC' last='Anderson'] who is an elite football prospect had 12 points.</p>
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<p>Rockford Hononegah was impressive in a 61-32 opening round win. They got 22 points from [player_tooltip player_id='2617361' first='Brayden' last='Olson'] while Caleb Hart scored 10 points in Dekalb for Chuck Dayton Holiday Classic.</p>
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<p>Carmel scored a 50-45 win against Providence Catholic as [player_tooltip player_id='1552461' first='Ethan' last='Matz'] had 22 points leading the way for Carmel while freshman Kelechi Enyia had 21 points for Providence Catholic.</p>
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<p>At the State Farm Classic in front of his future coaches at Illinois State it was Bradley Bourbonnais star [player_tooltip player_id='1545117' first='Nick' last='Allen'] dropping 31 points and grabbing 18 rebounds in a 71-61 win over Dunlap. Liam Martin also had 23 points.</p>
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<p>It was a nail biter in a low scoring contest as Palatine topped Downers Grove South 36-35 in the first round at Jack Tosh. Elite football prospect [player_tooltip player_id='2823585' first='Tony' last='Balanganayi'] led the way with 13 points and 10 boards for Palatine. [player_tooltip player_id='2323275' first='Adam' last='Flowers'] is a 2026 standout who had 11 points and 6 rebounds for DGS.</p>
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<p>Tuscoloa impressed in a blowout win over Oakwood 94-37. Kam Sweetnam had 29 points while Logan Kurtz had 17 and Caiden Russo went for 13.</p>
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<p>Moline cruises to an easy opening round win over Perspectives MSA 77-51 behind their senior stars [player_tooltip player_id='1545138' first='Braden' last='Freeman'] and Treyvon Taylor who each had 22 points.</p>
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<p>Niles Notre Dame took care of business in the consolation bracket at Wheeling defeating Hampshire 56-41 behind their star [player_tooltip player_id='1434463' first='Brady' last='Sehlhorst'] who had 20 points and 11 rebounds. Ryan Prowicz had 21 in the loss for Hampshire putting his name on the map this week.</p>
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<p>IVC scored a 59-37 win over Dee Mack. Brady Ward led the way with 17 points while Cade Jackson had 15 points and Cole Yates notched 12.</p>
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<p>Game of the day? It was almost the upset of the decade as Metamora was pushed to double OT before winning 69-66 against Wheaton North. South Dakota commit [player_tooltip player_id='1576619' first='Jonah' last='Funk'] was a beast inside with 23 points while Bradley commit [player_tooltip player_id='1545146' first='Matthew' last='Zobrist'] had 17 points. Henry Schlickman kept bombing away from deep en route to 26 points and William Channing had 20 points.</p>
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<p>Kenwood doubled up Thornton to open their play at the Big Dipper 64-32. [player_tooltip player_id='1385283' first='Aleks' last='Alston'] had 18 points while [player_tooltip player_id='2321397' first='TJ' last='Seals'] scored 13.</p>
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<p>Benet won big 70-36 against Danville. Truman State commit [player_tooltip player_id='1598658' first='Blake' last='Fagbemi'] and star 2026 post [player_tooltip player_id='2105376' first='Colin' last='Stack'] each had 13 points. A lot of buzz out of Pontiac about Danville 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2395586' first='Amir' last='Beasley'] who is upside forward we will check out tomorrow.</p>
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<p>Romeoville scores win downstate over Addison Trail 74-56. Led by [player_tooltip player_id='2393230' first='Danny' last='Thompson'] with 19 points. [player_tooltip player_id='1385302' first='Damion' last='Porter'] had 15 points in the victory.</p>
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<p>Bloom knocked off West Aurora in OT which was sent there by a crazy shot from his hip by their star [player_tooltip player_id='1545131' first='Elijah' last='Lovemore'] who had 15 points and 10 rebounds. [player_tooltip player_id='1845361' first='Amare' last='Pryor'] notched 16 points and [player_tooltip player_id='2105218' first='Payton' last='Edwards'] had 18 for Bloom. West Auora got 16 points from super sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2125687' first='Travis' last='Brown'].</p>
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<p>Lake Zurich secured a 62-52 first round win at Tosh over Lemont as they were led by [player_tooltip player_id='1522682' first='Kain' last='Kretschmar'] who had 19 points in the win and Aidan Riep's 14 points. Lemont got 20 points and 5 dimes from their star 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1552393' first='Gabriel' last='Sularski'].</p>
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<p>Yorkville Christian scored a 64-55 win over Ottawa at the Plano Tournament. [player_tooltip player_id='1874810' first='Jayden' last='Riley'] led the way with 15 points while [player_tooltip player_id='2125688' first='Tray' last='Alford'] (13), Zach Marini (11), and Noah Aguado (10) were all in double figures. Aric Threadgill had 16 points to lead Ottawa followed by Kyler Araujo with 13.</p>
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<p>New Trier's big three did their part in a 64-47 win to open Pontiac against St. Charles North. [player_tooltip player_id='1385306' first='Colby' last='Smith'] led the way with 17 points while sharp shooter [player_tooltip player_id='1552486' first='Danny' last='Houlihan'] was close behind with 16 points. [player_tooltip player_id='1554516' first='Christopher' last='Kirkpatrick'] had 12.</p>
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<p>The upsets continued to roll along at York as Lyons topped St. Laurence 48-44. PHI favorite [player_tooltip player_id='2442145' first='Ian' last='Polonowski'] had 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 dimes in the win. [player_tooltip player_id='2399391' first='Owen' last='Carroll'] also came up big with 12 points. For St. Laurence their star guard [player_tooltip player_id='1766461' first='EJ' last='Mosley'] had 17 points while [player_tooltip player_id='2323617' first='Markese' last='Peoples'] went for 12.</p>
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<p>Manley scored a 64-61 win over Huntley at Dekalb. Keyonte Mayes was the leading scorer with 19 points. Yakteodia Kizer had 13 points. Christian Williams had 22 points for Huntley.</p>
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<p>Goreville got a win against Red Bud 72-63. [player_tooltip player_id='2631987' first='Connor' last='Craig'] had 21 points for Goreville while [player_tooltip player_id='2383983' first='Trent' last='Sternberg'] went for 23 on Red Bud.</p>
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<p>Mt. Carmel was impressive in their home away from home in Pekin scoring a 53-30 first round win over Peoria Notre Dame. [player_tooltip player_id='1385307' first='Cameron' last='Thomas'] had 22 points while Air Force commit [player_tooltip player_id='2105179' first='Grant' last='Best'] had 10 points and 10 rebounds.</p>
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<p>Eisenhower got a 64-60 win over Clemente behind 31 points from [player_tooltip player_id='2436668' first='Micah' last='Calvin'] and 12 points via Larnell Moore.</p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='1552404' first='Jake' last='Pollack'] continued to do work at Wheeling Hardwood Classic as he had 22 points and 8 boards in their 36-32 win against St. Viator.</p>
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<p>Pekin advanced on their home floor against Freeport 50-47. [player_tooltip player_id='2245713' first='Peyton' last='Hess'] had 24 points in the victory.</p>
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<p>Curie won expanding the lead late, but got a test from OPRF. [player_tooltip player_id='2823632' first='Kendall' last='Holliday'] had 17 points while [player_tooltip player_id='2734369' first='Justin' last='Oliver'] went for 16 points and 6 dimes. [player_tooltip player_id='1766470' first='Alex' last='Gossett'] was the leading scorer for OPRF with 17 points.</p>
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<p>Northridge beat Marmion Academy 72-54. [player_tooltip player_id='2759629' first='Jacob' last='Klatt'] was the top scorer with 17 points while [player_tooltip player_id='2823910' first='Evan' last='Kataoka'] with 16 points and Bo Arnold scoring 13 were not far behind.</p>
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<p>St. Patrick defeated Glenbard East in their first game at Jack Tosh. [player_tooltip player_id='1385287' first='EJ' last='Breland'] had 25 points. [player_tooltip player_id='2415521' first='Danny' last='Snyder'] scored 19 points while Sam Walton went for 12 points.</p>
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PHI's staff is covering games and scouting players, but we also want to keep tabs on everything going on around the state. We do that in Around the State: December 26 Recaps!
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