THURSDAY BOYS HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT RECAP

With standout junior guard Anthony Sayles (11 points), back in the lineup Notre Dame (11-2) jumped out to a quick 24-11 lead over Prospect (5-6), in the Dons Hardwood Classic Quarterfinal at Wheeling. Over the next two quarters, the Knights played the Dons even with ND up 38-25 after three quarters.

The Dons pulled away in the fourth quarter for the 63-45 victory behind a game-high 19-point performance by junior Troy D'Amico. Six-foot-6 Louis Lesmond just missed a double-double with 16 points and eight rebounds.

The Dons will take on the tournament Cinderella Maine West (4-6) who entered the tournament with a 2-6 record and stunned tournament contenders Geneva 47-42 on Monday and Libertyville 63-55 on Thursday in a championship semifinal Friday at 7:15 p.m.

CENTRALIA HOLIDAY CLASSIC

Romeoville 67 Mount Vernon 59

Behind the long-range shooting of Fresno State-bound Destin Whitaker (24 points, four 3's) and senior Keedan Foster (17 points, three 3's) the Spartans (7-5) rolled past the Rams in Romeoville's first-round game. Romeoville led 32-21 at the half before Mount Vernon (5-4) closed to 45-38 after three quarters.

Junior Trayton Trice scored seven points and hauled in nine rebounds for the Spartans, while Tyler Johnson chipped in with eight points and five boards. The Spartans will take on Alton (7-3) in a quarterfinal game on Friday at 6:15 p.m.

YORK

Bolingbrook 79 Minooka 49

The Raiders (8-3), behind Darius Burford (21 points) and Kai Evans (19 points), won their first-round game at the Tosh Classic at York. Bolingbrook opened up a 35-19 lead at the half over the Indians (1-10) and blew open the game in the second half.

Myles Cooper and Isaiah Stafford hit double-figures with 10 points each for the 'Brook.

Trent Hudak (15 points) and Shane Ooms (14 points), led the Indians.

The Raiders will take on Timothy Christian (9-1) in second-round action Friday at 7:30 p.m.

PONTIAC

Benet Academy 66 Danville 62

The Redwings (7-2) jumped out to a 14-12 lead after one quarter in the first game of the 89th Pontiac Holiday Tournament. Benet Academy led 33-27 at the half and 53-44 after three quarters. Danville (5-4) rallied in the fourth quarter but the Redwings move on to a quarterfinal game at 11 a.m. on Friday, with Warren (4-6).

Jack Prock, hit seven of his 12 shots, from the floor for a game high 19 points to lead the Redwings. Prock also buried a trio of long-range three-pointers. Back in the lineup for Benet Academy was their 6-foot-8, 225, Johns Hopkins University-bound Colin Crothers. Crothers scored 17 points and hauled down six rebounds.

Jake Snell chipped in with 10 points and grabbed five boards.

Joliet West 74 Bloomington 68

In a game that was deadlocked at 32-32 at halftime, the Tigers (10-1), led by junior Trent Howland's 22 points, roared past the Vikings (5-4) and into a Friday quarterfinal match-up (7:30 p.m.) with Simeon (5-4) . Jamere Hill added 15 points with five rebounds while Tre'Vonta Hall had an even dozen points. Junior, Jaiden Lee, chipped in with 11.

HINSDALE CENTRAL

Maine South 46 Lincoln-Way Central 37

In their consolation-round battle with the Knights, the Hawks scored only two points in the first quarter. Trailing 8-2 the Hawks would find the basket in the second quarter to take a 20-18 lead into their halftime locker room.

In the third quarter the Hawk defense held the Knights (6-4) to only five third quarter points to open up an 11-point lead 34-23 after three quarters. Led by 6-foot-5 junior Marko Anderson, Maine South would roll to the victory. Anderson, picked up another double-double, with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Casey Clark buried three more long-range 3s and finished with 13 points. Sean Gallery chipped in with nine points.

EAST AURORA

Downers Grove North 68 East Aurora 61

The Trojans (7-4), beat the hosts Tomacats (7-5), to even-up their East Aurora Holiday Tournament record to 1-1.