By Jeff Vorva
Beecher’s boys basketball team may have been cheated out of a few games because of snow, ice, and a deep freeze but there was some good news to come out of it.
The Bobcats remained undefeated at 19-0 and opened this week as one of the final five teams in the state with perfect records. Beecher, Waubonsie Valley, Mt. Zion, Tolono Unity, and Byron all had perfect records.
The Bobcats hope to win No. 20 on January 19 when they host Clifton Central in a River Valley Conference battle. Beecher is 7-0 in the league and holds a one-game lead over Clifton.
Clifton is 13-6 overall, and its lone loss in the conference was a 62-48 setback to St. Anne on December 1. Beecher beat St. Anne, 71-36, on December 12.
Through 19 games, Adyn McGinley was averaging 17.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 3.3 steals per game. Zack Johnson is a dangerous 3-point shooter averaging 13.9 points per game.
Peotone power
Peotone’s girls basketball team was a powerhouse last season, racking up a 31-2 record and lost a lot of talent from that squad.
This season’s team started the season 2-2 and, in their losses, the Blue Devils scored just 28 against Rich Township and only 25 against Andrew. It looked like a tough season could be in store.
But they have recovered and been on a roll ever since. The Blue Devils might not be 31-2 good, but they still are strong as they entered this week with a 14-4 mark, including a 7-1 record in the Illinois Central Eight Conference. They had a six-game winning streak heading into the week.
The Blue Devils beat Manteno 57-32 on January 11, as Madi Schroeder had 22 points, Ashley Renwick had 16, and Addie Graffeo 12.
Wait ‘til next year
The Wall of Fame ceremony at Manteno High School was one of the many victims of the snowstorm. The ceremony will instead take place in 2025.
Record breaker
Crete-Monee basketball player Zyheir Gardner’s 36 points in a win, over Tinley Park on December 26 in the first round of the Big Dipper Tournament at Rich Township High School, was a school record. The previous record was held by Josh Evans.
Ahmad heats up
Crete native Ahmad Henderson, a Brother Rice graduate who is playing Division I basketball at Niagra, was named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week, it was announced on January 8.
The freshman guard averaged 12 points, two rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game. He shot 40 percent from the floor and 45.5 percent from beyond the 3-point line, leading his team to a pair of wins.