Another tremendous day of basketball will take place on Saturday in the Metro East with the return of the Bank of O’Fallon Shootout.
Last year’s inaugural event was a smashing success and another great event is planned with seven games featuring top teams from Illinois and Missouri.
The action gets underway at 10:30 a.m. with host O’Fallon taking on Peoria Richwoods. O’Fallon is led by 6’3” senior forward Chance Armstrong while Richwoods is led by 6’5” forward Kaelen Johnson.
In Game 2, Nashville (Ill) will meet St. Joe Ogden at noon. Nashville is a perennial small-school power in Southern Illinois. They are led by 6’7” senior Royce Newman, who is headed to Ole Miss on a football scholarship. Ogden is led by high-scoring 6’2” junior Brandon Trimble, who averages 24 points a game.
Game 3 will feature Centralia (Ill) vs. Darien Hinsdale South from the Chicago area at 1:30 p.m. Centralia is a top Class 3A team from Southern Illinois. The Orphans are led by 5’7” senior guard D’Aaron Owens and 6’1” senior guard Tyriq Billberry. Hinsdale South is led by 6’10” senior Barret Benson, who has signed with Northwestern.
In Game 4, Columbia will take on Dekalb in a battle of Illinois schools at 4:15 p.m. Columbia is having an excellent season, led by 5’11” guard Johnathan Holmes and 6’7” senior Korbin Farmer. Dekalb is led by 6’4” senior Mike Pollack, who has signed with Northern Michigan.
The action really picks up in Game 5 when St. Louis area power CBC meets Westchester St. Joseph’s, the defending Class 3A state champion in Illinois. Tip off is at 5:45 p.m. CBC is led by its Division I trio of Jordan Barnes (Indiana State), Christian Willis (Arkansas State) and Duane Clark (UMKC). St. Joe’s has one of the top players in the state of Illinois in 6’10” senior Nick Rakocevic.
In Game 6, Hazelwood Central will take on Chicago Public School League powerhouse Morgan Park at 7:15 p.m. The Hawks are led by the senior trio of Xavier Sneed (Kansas State), Dominique Dobbs and Steve Holloway (Columbia College). Morgan Park features on the nation’s top guards in senior Charlie Moore, who has signed with Memphis. Morgan Park is loaded with talent up and down its roster.
In the finale, Belleville Althoff will meet Chicago Kenwood at 8:45 p.m. Althoff features standout junior Jordan Goodwin and seniors Tarkus Ferguson (UIC) and Brendon Gooch (Southern Illinois). Kenwood is led by 6’6” senior Nick Robinson and 6’7” junior Manny Patterson.
The Phoenix rises
Miller Career Academy entered last week’s Ameritime Tournament at Parkway West as the No. 6 seed. By the end of the week, the Phoenix emerged as the tournament champions with three impressive victories.
After defeating DeSmet and Parkway South in its first two games, Career Academy defeated Hazelwood Central 68-58 to win the championship. The Phoenix are now 14-4 and riding a seven-game winning streak.
Junior forward Javonte Perkins scored 18 points to lead Career Academy in the finals. Senior Kyler Jones scored 17 points while senior Jamontez Bonner added 10 points. Senior forward Marlon Gilyard also had a big tournament as he led the Phoenix in scoring in their victories over DeSmet and Parkway South.
Miller Career Academy enters a big week of competition with games against Public High League foes Soldan and Northwest.
