TRYING FOR A THREE-PEAT   

 


Saint Joseph became the first team to win three consecutive championships in 2006.  Seven other teams captured two straight titles, but fell short in their third year.  Listed below are recaps of how those back-to-back champions did during their third year.  Saint Joseph (1980-82) and Proviso East (1990-92) came closest to that elusive three-peat, as both teams lost in the championship game in year three.

 

 PROVISO EAST – Champions in 1963 & 1964

1965:  Proviso East 50, Downers Grove 39 – Opening Round

            Proviso East 66, Morton West 57 – Quarterfinals

            Lyons Township 77, Proviso East 66 – Lost in Semi-finals

Suffering their first ever loss at the Proviso West Tournament – after ten straight victories – the Pirates were outscored 48-29 in the second half of the championship semi-final contest.  Proviso East shot 35% from the floor.

 

 SAINT JOSEPH – Champions in 1977 & 1978
 1979:  Saint Joseph 59, Westinghouse 58 – Opening Round

            Proviso East 89, Saint Joseph 76 – Lost in Quarterfinals

Life after Isiah saw the Chargers bow out in the second round as the Pirates shot 58% from the floor and received 47 combined points from Doc Rivers and Ricky Wilson.   Proviso East set the tone early by scoring 50 first half points.

 

 SAINT JOSEPH – Champions in 1980 & 1981

1982:  Saint Joseph 78, Morton West 51 – Opening Round

            Saint Joseph 62, Zion-Benton 48 – Quarterfinals

            Saint Joseph 73, Proviso East 45 – Semi-finals

            Lyons Township 56, Saint Joseph 54 – Lost in Championship Game

Entering the title game as the top ranked team in the nation, the Chargers were stunned by Lyons Township in the final.  The Lions had a complete team effort with four players scoring in double figures and recorded 17 assists on their 19 baskets.

 

PROVISO EAST – Champions in 1990 & 1991

1992:  Proviso East 105, Chicago Vocational 39 – Opening Round

            Proviso East 78, Wendell Phillips 67 – Quarterfinals

            Proviso East 76, Rockford Boylan 68 – Semi-finals

            Proviso West 48, Proviso East 38 – Lost in Championship Game

In possibly the strangest championship game in Proviso West Holiday Tourney history, the Pirates outscored the hosts 10-0 in the second quarter, but were out pointed 22-12 in the final eight minutes, and fell to their cross town rival in the title tilt.  The Pirates shot an anemic 26% from the floor – as Proviso West held all four opponents under 50 points in each game they played in tournament, allowing only 165 points in four games.

 

 WESTINGHOUSE – Champions in 1995 & 1996
 1997:  Westinghouse 66, Wendell Phillips 58 – Opening Round

            Schaumburg 60, Westinghouse 56 – Lost in Quarterfinals

The Warriors came into the game with a perfect 9-0 record, but shot 38% from the floor and 45% from the free throw line as they were shocked by Schaumburg who was making their first ever appearance at Proviso West.

 

 WESTINGHOUSE – Champions in 1998 & 1999

2000:  Did not participate at Proviso West.

 

 WHITNEY YOUNG – Champions in 2001 & 2002
 2003:  Fenwick 53, Whitney Young 50 – Lost in Opening Round
The Dolphins became the first team to win two straight titles and lose in the opening round the following year.  Whitney Young was eliminated from three-peat consideration in the tournament’s very first game, shooting 18-of-56 from the field.


 

More Tournament Trivia                                                Return to Home Page