Pontiac Holiday Tournament: Friday Evening Notebook

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Friday was all about the Pontiac Holiday Tournament.&nbsp; I have always felt day 2 was the best day of this event to see every team play along with four great quarterfinals.&nbsp; We dive into the last four games of the day here in <strong>Pontiac Holiday Tournament: Friday Evening Notebook</strong>!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OPRF defeats St. Charles North in 2 OT Consolation Quarterfinal</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first game of the bottom part of the bracket saw OPRF fall to St. Charles North 84-79 in double OT.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='1766470' first='Alex' last='Gossett'] continues to have a really strong senior campaign.&nbsp; The long and athletic combo forward plays with a ton of energy.&nbsp; His ability to handle it off the bounce and score on drives along with his mid-range jumper have taken his game to new heights.&nbsp; Excels in the open floor and is a solid defender.&nbsp; He had 28 points.&nbsp; Fellow senior [player_tooltip player_id='1385310' first='Alexander' last='Vincent'] went for 16 points in the contest as he scored on seals, hooks, and high pointing offensive rebounds.&nbsp; Also finishes well out of the dunker spot.&nbsp; Legit five with size that should help a college at the next level.&nbsp; Couple unknown names put themselves on the map in Logan Johnson and Cameron Woods.&nbsp; The 2026 duo were spark plugs with Johnson using his strength on the perimeter in the first half on his way to 13 points.&nbsp; Woods is a combo guard that hit big shots from deep and tough mid-range ones in a 17 point performance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For St. Charles North it was [player_tooltip player_id='2724398' first='Colin' last='Hopp'] who was their most consistent performer throughout the game.&nbsp; Plus lefty shooter that can really knock down shots from distance with a soft touch.&nbsp; Also was crafty as a scorer off the dribble netting 24 points.&nbsp; TJ Gleason also had a strong outing as he hit an array of threes along with showing off his athleticism on both ends while scoring 15 points.&nbsp; Point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2423484' first='Auggie' last='Hoffman'] took a while to get going, but once he did he was on fire going 3-7 from deep while also getting to the foul line for 21 points.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='2217951' first='Cooper' last='Mellican'] is a plus shooter with strength that poured in 10 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Curie Wins Epic Back and Forth Contest vs New Trier to Advance to Semis</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is what Pontiac is all about!&nbsp; City vs suburbs.&nbsp; High level talent on both sides.&nbsp; Comes down to the wire.&nbsp; Curie 2026 point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2734369' first='Justin' last='Oliver'] made key plays down the stretch to get them the 54-52 victory.&nbsp; The heady junior guard had an and-1 along with a quick dime to go from down 1 to up four.&nbsp; They held on a frantic back and forth turnover final play.&nbsp; The 5'11” Oliver continues to make a name for himself as a junior with his leadership, clutch play, and three level scoring ability as he had 18 points.&nbsp; He got major help from a pair of unsigned seniors.&nbsp; The shot making display by big and physical wing [player_tooltip player_id='2452415' first='Brad' last='Johnson'] Jr in the second half was outstanding.&nbsp; He poured them in from two and three creating off the dribble on the regular.&nbsp; Went for 14 points.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='2723840' first='Rashaad' last='Wilson'] is a bouncy 6'4” combo forward that is an ideal JUCO post with his versatility and athleticism.&nbsp; Plays really hard and uses his pogo stick legs on the offensive glass for second chance points.&nbsp; Plays above the rim especially out of the dunker spot and flashed some perimeter potential in this game while scoring 13 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New Trier's big 3 did their part as always.&nbsp; Wash U commit [player_tooltip player_id='1385306' first='Colby' last='Smith'] led the way with 17 in the loss.&nbsp; Crafty playmaker that has become a deadly shooter over the last year from three as he drained four in this one.&nbsp; Athletic point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1554516' first='Christopher' last='Kirkpatrick'] is one of the more exciting lead guards in the junior class.&nbsp; He plays with a lot of savvy, flair, and swagger.&nbsp; Crisp passer, scrappy defender, and brings a ton of leadership to the table.&nbsp; As a scorer he has a sweet floater, can finish with athleticism including a baseline reverse, and is a capable shooter from distance going for 16 points.&nbsp; Class of 2026 sharp shooter [player_tooltip player_id='1552486' first='Danny' last='Houlihan'] dropped 9 in the same all coming on his forte three ball!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lockport Takes Out Host Pontiac</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This consolation game was won by Lockport over Pontiac 71-61.&nbsp; The most impressive prospect in this game was [player_tooltip player_id='2236760' first='Collin' last='Miller'] from Lockport.&nbsp; The 2025 6'4” power forward would be an ideal small college post.&nbsp; He plays physical around the hoop carving out space.&nbsp; The lefty has good touch and is light on his feet. &nbsp;Also comfortable stepping out knocking in a three ball which he did on multiple occasions.&nbsp; He had 18 points.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='2387663' first='Izeyah' last='Pruitt'] brought athleticism for Lockport playing taller than his height snatching rebounds.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pontiac was led by a pair of guards that kept throwing haymakers trying to bring them back.&nbsp; Cayden Masching and Cam Fenton each had solid outings in the loss going for 18 and 17 points respectively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DePaul Prep Looks Primed to Chase Crown in First Year</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The shiny new addition to the Pontiac Holiday Tournament was DePaul Prep who are the two time defending state champs.&nbsp; They are one of the best teams in the state with one of the premier coaches.&nbsp; In their first trip to Pontiac they looked every bit a team that can win it all tomorrow night.&nbsp; They were dominant on the defensive end taking Joliet West's stars out of the game and offensively the four guards did what they always do in a 66-46 victory.&nbsp; Class of 2026 combo guard [player_tooltip player_id='2323334' first='AJ' last='Chambers'] was the best we have seen him.&nbsp; He played with so much poise both on and off the ball.&nbsp; Pin point passes, crafty drives, and step back jumpers for 16 points.&nbsp; His fellow 2026 running mate [player_tooltip player_id='1435692' first='Rykan' last='Woo'] was special as a passer, impactful defensively getting steals, pushed the tempo, and scored when opportunities presented for 12 points.&nbsp; Senior Western Illinois commit [player_tooltip player_id='1545133' first='Makai' last='Kvamme'] brings it every night.&nbsp; One of the most consistent players in the senior class.&nbsp; He is so slick through traffic and creative finishing around the hoop with a number of moves.&nbsp; Went for 15 points.&nbsp; The fourth standout guard [player_tooltip player_id='1385311' first='Robert' last='Walls'] is a pesky on ball defender that positions himself defensively and is always in the right play to make something happen.&nbsp; He notched 7.&nbsp; Their big man [player_tooltip player_id='1845360' first='Rashaun' last='Porter'] is among the best 2026 posts in the class.&nbsp; He is a physical four that has a hook shot, seals extremely well, and is an awesome dive threat.&nbsp; Plus screener and is a brick wall defensively as he had 14 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The only real standout for Joliet West was 2026 shooting guard [player_tooltip player_id='2323265' first='Aamir' last='Shannon'].&nbsp; He is a strong and well built two guard with plus athleticism.&nbsp; Made a crazy shot at the buzzer to close the first half.&nbsp; Plus shot maker from three who poured in a trio of them along with showing burst off the bounce to the rack for 15 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->