PROVISO WEST HOLIDAY
 TOURNAMENT

Proviso West -- Where Basketball is Best
 

2011 PROVISO WEST HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT FIRST ROUND NOTES

This year’s tournament potentially can be one of the deepest fields in the history of the event, as the top four seeds have a record of 21-1; eleven schools have been ranked at some time this year or are currently unbeaten; 13 of the 16 teams have winning records; and two of those three teams do not have winning records are at .500.

The philosophy of the pairings is to allow for schools to face new opponents and to vary their first round playing time.  The eight first-round games feature only two games where opponents have met at any time in the last four years of Holiday Tournament, and one of these teams have met in an opening round game since 2008.  As for first round game times, only two teams are playing in the same quadrant they played in last year.  The bracket allows for separation of the top seeds, eliminates regular season common opponents through the first two rounds, provides a rotation of different opponents and utilizes all teams playing at all different times over the past several years.  Oh yes, and for the 16 possible second match-ups, there are only two potential meetings of teams that have played one another at Proviso since 2007. 

SESSION ONE GAME NOTES ----- (records are at time of seeding) -----

The opening game of the 51st Annual Proviso West Holiday Tournament pits Morgan Park (1-1) vs. Hinsdale Central (3-1)  -- This is the first meeting ever between the schools.  Morgan Park earned a pre-season Top 10 ranking and features one of the state’s best juniors in Billy Garrett, Junior.  The Mustangs have played at Proviso West 13 years, and this is their first ever appearance in Game One.  The Red Devils last played in Game in 1965.  Hinsdale Central is off to a fast start and won their conference opener, beating York by 33 points.

Game Two highlights Glenbrook North (5-0) vs. Saint Patrick  (3-1) – This game is a rematch of last year’s Consolation Championship overtime game which Glenbrook won 54-53.    The Spartans won the Niles West Tournament and defeated highly regarded Waukegan this weekend to remain unbeaten.  The Shamrocks only loss was a five-point contest to Oak Park-River Forest in the Saint Patrick Thanksgiving Tournament.  Saint Patrick coach Mike Bailey will be a 2012 inductee to the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Game Three features New Trier (5-1) vs. Fenwick (2-2).  These two teams have combined for 64 years of play in the Proviso West Tournament, but have played each other only three times in Holiday Tournament competition, and have not met head-to-head since 2004.  New Trier’s only loss was this weekend to Warren and Fenwick finished second at the Lyons Township Thanksgiving Tournament.

Game Four sees Homewood-Flossmoor (5-1) vs. Von Steuben (1-0).  H-F’s only loss this year was in double overtime.  Von Steuben enters the seeding as one of six unbeaten teams.  These teams have only faced one another on two occasions, with Homewood-Flossmoor winning both contests both by 11 points – in 2004 and again in 2007.

SESSION TWO GAME NOTES -----

Game Five starts the evening session with a potentially outstanding first round matchup as Hillcrest (4-2) faces Morton (4-0).  These teams have met only once – last year at Proviso – with Hillcrest winning the quarterfinal meeting in overtime.  Hillcrest was a pre-season Top 20 team and Morton won the Lyons Township Thanksgiving Tournament.

Game Six sees first-time newcomer Rockford Auburn (6-0) make their Proviso West Holiday Tournament debut against the host Proviso West Panthers (2-4).  Auburn made it to the Class 4A Supersectional with no seniors and features maybe the state’s top senior player in guard Fred Van Vleet.  The Panthers are 5-2 in opening round Holiday Tournament games over the last seven years.

Game Seven features long-time Holiday Tournament powerhouse Proviso East (5-0) against Brooks (3-3).  The Pirates are tied with Saint Joseph for most Proviso Christmas titles with nine – but haven’t won one since 1991.  The Pirates are coached in his first season by former Pirate all-star Donnie Boyce, who was a member of the Three Amigos.  Brooks, who is the defending Chicago Public League champions, is making their first appearance at Proviso West, but their coach is no stranger to the Christmas Classic, as Bobby Locke coached here with Evanston from 2005-2009. 

The final game of the opening round sees two opponents that used to play one another as members of the East Suburban Catholic Conference, Saint Joseph (3-2) and Benet Academy (4-0).  Even though they are no strangers to one another, they have only met once at Proviso West – with Benet beating Saint Joe in a consolation round game in 1986.  The Chargers are tied with Proviso East for the most tournament titles with nine, and the Redwings are the defending Holiday Tournament champions, beating Homewood-Flossmoor in overtime in last year’s final.