:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/shawmedia/FO2T474XVNEADDE4W2ZPEIOY7Q.jpg)
Boys basketball
Bradley-Bourbonnais 67, Sandburg 44: Not only did Boilermakers senior Nick Allen lead the team to a big SouthWest Suburban Conference win on Tuesday, he also reached a major career milestone.
Allen came into the game needing 16 points to set the program’s all-time scoring record. He reached that mark and then some, finishing with 23 points to solidify his place in the record books. He now has 1,478 points, putting him ahead of Micah Bradford’s 1,470.
Allen said that he knew there was a chance to set the record coming into the game, and once he made the record-breaking basket, it started to sink in.
“It was a surreal feeling,” he said. “Going into the game I knew I was close, but it’s something you don’t really think about until it happens. It’s super exciting.”
The closer he got to the record, however, Allen said his nerves started creeping into the picture.
“I had two more points to go and I got fouled, so one to tie it and one to break it,” he said. “I made the first free throw and missed the next one, and then I missed like three straight [shots] after that. I was a little nervous, but I eventually made one.”
Bradley-Bourbonnais head coach Ryan Kemp said he has seen Allen put in the work needed to be a great player since he started playing varsity as a freshman, and Allen’s new spot atop the all-time scoring list is proof of how hard he worked.
“It’s a culmination of all these things he’s done over his four years,” Kemp said. “Just the work he’s put in in the weight room, the extra time spent shooting, it all pays off. He’s just a unicorn, man. He’s different than most high school kids. He was fortunate to play all four years at the varsity level and have an opportunity to score a ton of points.”
As for Tuesday’s game, the win improved the Boilermakers to 17-7 overall and 8-4 in the SWSC. It was their fifth win in a row.
Joining Allen in double figures was Tez Smith with 13 points and Gavin Kohl with 11.
Bishop McNamara 77, Timothy Christian 48: The Fightin’ Irish improved to 21-4 and 4-2 in the Chicagoland Christian Conference with a dominant showing on their home court Tuesday. Karter Krutsinger led a balanced scoring attack with 14 points. Callaghan O’Connor and Trey Provost each scored 12 points, followed by 11 apiece from Willie Felton and Coen Demack.
Peotone 46, Streator 39: Not many teams are as hot as the Blue Devils, who topped the Illinois Central Eight Conference leaders to win their seventh of their last eight games Tuesday, improving to 10-12 and 4-6 in the ICE. Ruben Velasco tallied 19 points, 12 rebounds and three assists. Brandon Weiss just missed a double-double, finishing with nine points and rebounds apiece, as well as three assists. Logan Mather had eight points and seven boards.
Wilmington 56, Coal City 39: The Wildcats earned an impressive rivalry win to improve to 16-8 on the year and 6-5 in the ICE. Lucas Rink was the leading scorer with 14 points, followed closely behind by 12 points apiece from Ryan Kettman, Ryan Nelson and Brysen Meents.
No individual stats were available for the Coalers, who fell to 18-7 (8-3).
Herscher 44, Reed-Custer 39: Herscher (10-15, 3-8 ICE) hunkered down defensively and got a couple big shots in big moments Tuesday. Tanner Jones’ 14 points were a team high. Jacob McCree was also in double figures with 11 points. Austin Buckley and Payten Young had seven points apiece.
No individual stats were immediately available for Reed-Custer (8-17, 2-8).
Manteno 54, Lisle 33: The Panthers got back to their winning ways after having a four-game winning streak snapped last weekend, improving to 17-10 and 8-2 in the ICE Tuesday. Ray Lee’s 21 points led the way, followed by eight from Nathan Hupe and six apiece from Andrew Norred and Eric Eldridge.
Milford 74, Cissna Park 57: In one of the area’s most competitive rivalries, Caleb Clutteur’s 36 points led the Bearcats to victory Tuesday night as Milford improved to 6-20 and 2-7 in the Vermilion Valley Conference.
Dierks Neukomm, the quarterback to Clutteur’s tight end on the Milford-Cissna Park football team last fall, led Cissna Park (6-18, 2-7) with 27 points.
Trinity 54, Grant Park 49: After an early 11-3 hole, the Eagles climbed back out to earn a five-point win that improved their record to 16-7. Vinny Hendrix was solid in the frontcourt, pacing Trinity with 18 points and 14 rebounds. Cory Hathaway added 17 points and Akira Hori added 14.
No individual stats were immediately available for Grant Park (8-17).
Armstrong 54, Watseka 47: The Warriors turned a 26-25 halftime deficit into a 34-32 lead through three quarters, but ultimately fell to 8-16 and 2-5 in the VVC. Quinn Starkey’s 14 points led Watseka. Payton Schaumburg (12 points) and Andrew Shoemaker (10 points) were also in double figures.
Hoopeston 69, Iroquois West 35: The Cornjerkers grabbed an early double-digit lead at 22-10 after a quarter and never looked back, dropping Iroquois West to 9-14 and 3-5 in the VVC. Beau Howe had a 10-point night to lead the Raiders. Kobie Hendershot and Garrett Tammen chipped in seven points apiece.
Seneca 71, Beecher 37: No individual stats were available for the Bobcats (13-11).
Girls basketball
Cissna Park 50, St. Joseph-Ogden 42: Lauryn Hamrick’s monster second half helped the Timberwolves (21-5) turn a three-point halftime deficit into an eight-point win, scoring 14 of her game-high 21 points in the second half to go along with four rebounds and three steals. Addison Lucht (14 points, four rebounds, four assists) and Josie Neukomm (10 points, five rebounds, three assists) were also in double figure scoring.
Sandburg 69, Bradley-Bourbonnais 26: The Boilermakers fell at home in SouthWest Suburban Conference play to fourth-place Sandburg on Tuesday. They dropped to 4-10 overall and 1-14 in conference play. No individual stats were immediately available for Bradley-Bourbonnais.
Prairie Central 45, Iroquois West 38: The Raiders dropped a nonconference game at home on Tuesday after winning their previous two games. Iroquois West fell to 12-14 overall on the season. Amelia Scharp led the team in scoring with 13 points. Kenleigh Hendershot added 11 points.
Southland College Prep 42, Donovan-St. Anne 36: The Wildcats had a three-game winning streak snapped with a nonconference loss at home on Tuesday. Donovan-St. Anne fell to 12-11 overall with the loss.
Laylah Lou Walters had a big night for the Wildcats with 21 points to go with three assists and three steals. Chloe Ponton scored nine points while grabbing four rebounds.
Dwight 50, Gardner-South Wilmington 20: The Panthers suffered a home loss to Dwight in nonconference play on Tuesday, dropping them to 5-21 on the season overall. Maddie Simms led the team with 11 points and Grace Olsen finished with seven points.