Basketball notebook: Princeton coach Jason Smith torn between family, basketball family

Princeton coach Jason Smith called a timeout from the Tiger bench Saturday to attend the visitation and celebration of life for his brother, Dave Camp, who was tragically killed in a Nov. 29 auto accident.

He debated where he should be Saturday, with his basketball family or his own family.

“I called my brother Kelly for some advice. I said I know that I should be at the visitation. I know what (Dave) would want me to do. He would want me to be at the game coaching,” Smith said. “The question was, what do I need to do? It came down to practicing what I preach with the boys where we preach family first. I’d be a hypocrite if I didn’t attend the visitation.”

At the request of an Illinois Math and Science Academy assistant coach, a moment of silence was held for the Camp and Smith families prior to their game Saturday at Sherrard. The Tigers then went out and defeated IMSA for fifth place in the Hutchins Holiday Classic, led by acting head coach Tim Smith (no relation) and Bryson Smith, Jason Smith’s son, both of whom are Tiger head coaches.

The win was Tim Smith’s first as a varsity head coach since his days at LaMoille in the mid-90s.

PHS senior Noah LaPorte said the Tigers dedicated the game to their coach and his brother.

“It meant everything knowing he had to be gone for his brother. I feel that gave all of us an extra boost coming into the game,” he said. “His brother was one of our biggest supporters so for us to get that dub (win) was amazing. It was for him and his family.”

The team made it back in time to attend the visitation to further support their head coach.

He’s back

LaPorte had a whirlwind day to suit up for the Tigers’ game on Friday. He saw doctors at Northwestern University in the morning in Evanston to be cleared by doctors there to play from an ankle injury and made it back in time to catch the bus to Sherrard.

“It was a crazy day,” said LaPorte, who will play football for Northwestern next year. “Got to Evanston around 10, left about 11:15 and made it back for the bus right at 1:15. And we got the [win] later that day.”

LaPorte, who missed five games recovering from a Dec. 7 ankle injury playing in the Colmone Classic at Hall, scored 17 points in the Tigers’ 65-38 win over Geneseo and then came back with 25 on Saturday.

Haage sets Storm 3-point record

Bureau Valley junior Kadyn Haage had the hot hand for the Storm Friday, sinking a single-game, school record seven 3-pointers in a 62-57 loss to Hall in the Warkins Memorial Classic in Prophetstown.

She eclipsed the record of six shared by all-time leading scorer Saige Barnett, the Storm volleyball coach, and Jess Judd, now a Storm assistant basketball coach.

All-tournament team time

Hall junior Braden Curran was named to the all-tournament team at the Shipyard Showdown at Seneca. He was also named to the all-tournament team in Hall’s Colmone Classic.

Hall players left their mark at Seneca with Wyatt West finishing with the second-most 3-pointers made with 12 while Greyson Bickett (90.0%) and Curran (86.7%) ranked among the top three free throw shooters.

Princeton’s Asa Gartin earned the “Heart and Hustle” Award for the Tigers game in Saturday’s third-place game at Sherrard and teammate Luke Smith picked up the same honors for Friday’s game against Geneseo.

St. Bede’s Ashlyn Ehm and Lili McClain were named to the first-team all-tournament team in the Lady Bruins Christmas Classic along with Annawan’s Bella VanOpdorp. St. Bede’s Savannah Bray, Annawan’s Paige Sierens and PC’s Maggie Spratt were named to the second team.

Champions honor roll

There were eight tournaments sites with area teams involved over the weekend. Here’s a rundown of the list of champions:

Lady Bruins Christmas Classic: St. Bede won its own tournament for the first time since 2010, defeating Fieldcrest 44-36

Amboy Holiday Girls Tournament: Marquette won the 3-way tiebreaker for first over Amboy and Newman.

Warkins Memorial Classic (girls): The Wethersfield and Monmouth-Roseville girls will meet Monday for the title at Prophetstown.

LaMoille Holiday Classic (boys): Galva defeated Lowpoint-Washburn 67-55 at the Lions' Den.

Shipyard Showdown (boys): No. 2 Lexington beat No. 1 and host Irish in inaugural tournament at Seneca 52-44.

Hutchins Holiday Classic (boys): Sherrard won its own tourney title in its second year, defeating East Dubuque 51-39.

Plano Christmas Classic (boys): Kaneland lived up to top billing, beats No. 6 Yorkville Christian 91-85.

Princeville Holiday Tournament (boys): Top-seeded Brimfield won title over the Princes 52-47.