UHIGH's girls team will head on in the Champions Bracket in the Large School Girls Division (Photo by Kelcey Shafer You-Name-it-Sports)
By Nick McClintock
BLOOMINGTON- The 36th annual State Farm Holiday Classic tipped off Friday, spreading 64 teams across four different venues in the twin cities. The first day of action spread 32 games with the first ones starting at 10am and going until 9pm.
Small School Girls Bracket
Central Catholic vs Brimfield (@ NCHS)
Central Catholic came in as the number 12 seed in their portion of the bracket, but proved to be more than the 5 seed Brimfield could handle, as the Saints won their contest 66-55. The Saints had four players in double figures, with Lexi Davis leading all scorers in the contest with 16. Central Catholic will move on to take on Rockford Lutheran at 7:30pm Saturday, at the US Cellular Coliseum.
Large School Girls Bracket
UHIGH vs Champaign Centennial (@ US Cellular Coliseum)
The number 2 seeded UHigh Pioneers showed their power early and often on their way to a dominating 71-28 victory over number 15 Champaign Centennial. The Pioneers were led in scoring by Chontae Stoneall with 19 points, despite taking the entire 4th quarter off. UHigh will remain in the Champions bracket, taking on North Chicago at 6pm at Saturday at NCHS.
NCHS vs Springfield (@ US Cellular Coliseum)
The Lady Iron couldn’t get the offense going early on, falling into a hole that they couldn’t dig out of, as they fell to Springfield High School 63-43. No players from NCHS eclipsed the double digit margin, but Kenall Sosa led in points for the Lady Iron with eight. Normal Community heads to the consolation bracket to play Chatham Glenwood on their home-court Saturday at 11am.
Small School Boys Bracket
Central Catholic vs Rock Falls (@ Shirk Center)
Central Catholic scored early and often on their way to a 68-34 win over Rock Falls. The number two seed used their size advantage inside, and the Rockets just couldn’t keep up in the lopsided affair. Jon Rave led all scorers in the game with 16, but Jake Reinhardt wasn’t far behind with 13. The Saints now move to Normal West High School, to take on Champaign St. Thomas Moore in the next round tomorrow at 6pm.
Large School Boys
Normal Community vs Plainfield South (@Normal West)
NCHS dominated on their Unit 5 rivals court, defeating Plainfield South by 23, 63-40 at Normal West. Three Ironmen went into double figures, led by Alex Peacock with 18. Normal Community will head to a familiar place for them, IWU’s Shirk Center to take on Rockton Hononegah in the next round Saturday at 9pm.
UHigh vs Edwardsville
The U-High Pioneers were in action against Edwardsville at Normal Community West High School. The Pioneers dropped a close game, 51-48. Edwardsville’s Stephen Oliver led all scorers with 21 points. U-High’s Alex Morris and Kyler Ummel both scored 12. U-High returns to action at the Shirk Center, 9:30 a.m. Saturday against Peoria Notre Dame.
ALL OTHER RESULTS AND MATCHUPS CAN BE FOUND AT THECLASSIC.ORG
WJBC's Austin Duncan contributed to this report.
