Area Roundup: Seneca wrestlers impress at Abe’s Rumble; Streator, Newark win Plano finales

At the prestigious Abe’s Rumble Class 1A mega-tournament Wednesday and Thursday in Springfield, the Seneca wrestling team posted a 5-3 record and brought home seventh place out of 60 teams.

In pool competition Wednesday, the Fighting Irish defeated Sacred Heart-Griffin, 66-9; Knoxville, 55-24; Robinson, 60-24; and Sherrard, 45-27.

Seneca then topped West Frankfort, 48-34, to earn a place in the 16-team Gold Bracket, where it also opened victorious, 39-30, over Stillman Valley. From there the Irish fell, 48-27, to Vandalia, were edged, 36-30, by El Paso-Gridley and suffered another close loss, 42-36, to Oregon in the seventh-place match.

Kyler Hahn (106 pounds), Owen Feiner (145) and Chris Peura (195) all posted 10-0 records over the course of the two-day event, with Jaden Casey (120/126) going 9-1. Both Robby Nelson (132) and Asher Hamby (152) recorded 7-3 records, Tommy Milton (113) was 6-4, Kyle Hamby (170/182) was 6-3 and Ryan Flynn (138) went 5-5 for Seneca.

BOYS BASKETBALL

Streator 48, Coal City 34: In the 11th-place game of the Plano Christmas Classic, the Bulldogs closed out the tournament with a 2-2 record to enter the new year with an 8-5 mark.

Streator got off to a good start, leading 11-2 after one period, then used a commanding third quarter – in which it outscored the Coalers 17-9 – to carry a 38-25 advantage into the final quarter.

Jack Starkey exploded for 26 points, Christian Benning added 15, the two combining for 85.4% of Streator’s scoring with center Jack Haynes not playing.

The Bulldogs return to action Tuesday at Pops Dale Gymnasium against Manteno.

Newark 52, Sandwich 41: In Plano’s 15th-place game, the Indians finished 0-4 in the tournament, with the Norsemen leading by one at halftime and salvaging the final-day win.

Zach Carlson (12 points), Austin Tollefson (11) and Joe Martin (10) led Newark, with Theo Arnold (12) pacing Sandwich in the loss.

Burlington Central 56, Peoria Notre Dame 54 (OT): In the championship game at Plano, Burlington Central survived an overtime thriller led by 17 points from Gavin Sarvis.

Reed-Custer 54, Putnam Co. 51: In the third-place game of the Marseilles Holiday Tournament, the Comets came out on top in a close one over the Panthers.

Somonauk 54, Marquette 45: In the fifth-place game of the Marseilles Holiday Tournament, the Bobcats led 24-18 at the intermission and 36-28 heading to the fourth quarter.

Somonauk (10-5) was led by Brendan Roberts’ game-high 19-point, seven-rebound effort, while all-tournament pick Alex Krejci posted 17 points, five rebounds and a pair of assists. Brock Zimmerman and Coleton Eade each added six points and four rebounds for SHS.

“I thought the kids did a great job of shaking off a loss on Tuesday and coming back to beat a couple of really good teams in Kewanee and Marquette the past two days,” Somonauk coach Curt Alsvig said. “We are happy to leave 3-1, and hopefully we can keep it going heading into the new year.”

Marquette (10-3) received 13 points, four rebounds and two steals from all-tournament selection Tommy Durdan, with Beau Ewers registering 10 points and four rebounds. Griffin Walker added eight points, with Brady Ewers snaring a game-best eight rebounds.

– Brian Hoxsey

Kewanee 66, Serena 53: In the seventh-place game of the Marseilles Holiday Tournament, the Huskers trailed 60-36 early in the final quarter before cutting the disadvantage to nine late.

Serena (4-9) was led by 13 points from Bryce Shannon. Ben Shugrue had nine points and six rebounds, Camden Figgins eight points and Braxton Hart seven points.

Kewanee (7-7) was paced by 21 points, eight rebounds and five steals by Nico Powe.

St. Bede 70, Dwight 53: In the consolation championship at Marseilles, the Bedans (9-5) avenged a loss last month in the Route 17 Classic third-place game, paced by 26 points from Paul Hart and 21 courtesy of younger brother Isaiah Hart.

Wyatt Thompson posted 32 points, 16 rebounds and four blocked shots for the Trojans (5-6).

Hall 52, Earlville 49: In the 11th-place game at Marseilles, the Red Devils survived a late technical that allowed the Red Raiders a chance to tie in the closing seconds.

Drake Garland scored 16 points, Mac Resetich 13 and Ethan Plym 12 for Hall, which was tied 24-24 at the half with Earlville.

For the Red Raiders, Garrett Cook tallied 16 points, Bryar Keller scored 13, and Ryan Browder added 12.

Wilmington 48, Woodland 41: In the Marseilles Holiday Tournament, the Warriors (4-11) finished in 14th place with the defeat despite being tied a 31 with the Wildcats after three quarters.

Woodland received 15 points from Phoenix Cooper, 10 courtesy of Jon Moore and eight from Chris Stasko.

Gardner-S. Wilmington 61, Indian Creek 51: In Marseilles’ 15th-place game, Gardner-South Wilmington prevailed, led by 25 points from Cale Halpin.

Blake Simonson had 14 for Indian Creek.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Ottawa 41, La Salle-Peru 26: At Kingman Gym, the host Pirates (13-2, 4-0) defeated the Cavaliers in an Interstate Eight Conference makeup contest.

Amboy 41, Somonauk 28: In the third-place game of the Amboy Holiday Tournament, the hosts defeated the Bobcats, leading throughout. Josie Rader’s nine points and eight from Katelyn Curtis led Somonauk (7-9), which hosts Amboy to start of the new year.

Marquette 55, Hall 35: In the fifth-place game of the Amboy Holiday Tournament, the Crusaders triumphed behind 19 points from Lilly Craig, 12 from Josie Eager and eight off the hands of Avery Durdan.