A year after managing one victory all winter, Stagg won three games and a tournament title in the first week of the 2025-26 season.
“Last year was an experience,” coach Marty Strus said after the Chargers went 3-0 to win their own John McBride Thanksgiving Classic last week. “A lot of times for the wrong things, but still an experience to draw back on.
“I think these guys (did) that and want to make sure they have a more successful season in terms of wins and losses.”
“I think the one-win (season) brought us closer,” senior guard Omar Barakat said.
Barakat was named tournament MVP after averaging 20.6 points and 4.6 assists in wins over Argo (48-20), Plainfield South (56-35) and Nazareth (69-45). He scored a game-high 28 points against Nazareth.
Besides emerging as a productive scorer, Barakat has stepped up as one of the leaders for Stagg.
“He’s been great,” Strus said. “He has been our best player in practice. And when your best players are your best practice players and want to lead, the chemistry stuff takes care of itself.”
“These are my brothers, I want to see them do well,” Barakat said. “It is my last year here and I want to leave them with some things that I picked up when I was a freshman and sophomore, and I just think we could grow from it.”
Stagg juniors Dovydas Zuperka and Mohammad Farhan were both named to the all-tournament team, the second time for Farhan.
Argonauts to rely on Greer
Argo dropped its first two games at the McBride tournament to Stagg and Nazareth (66-41) before beating Plainfield South 43-33 to finish third in the four-team field.
“The only guy with significant playing time back is Darron Greer,” Argo coach Pat Maietta said. “Otherwise, I’ve got four starters with very limited experience.”
Greer averaged 18.3 points during the tournament, earning all-tourney honors for the second season in a row.
Greer, more often than not, lets his game do the talking. And Maietta is fine with that as long as he continues to work hard in practice and games.
“Hopefully the best player on the floor is the hardest worker and he needs to bring everyone to his level,” Maietta said. “That’s tough to ask a kid.”
Back after seeing limited action last season are seniors Yovani Bahena and Kentrell Lee. Stepping into the lineup and making an impact during his first varsity action was Adrian Lee-Horton, who joined Greer on the all-tourney team.
Around the area
St. Laurence won the Hancock Harvest Havoc title, beating Richards 69-40 in the championship on Nov. 30 as Reggie Stevens scored 21 points and Markeese Peoples had 15.
The Vikings went 3-0 in pool play, beating U-High 87-35, Evergreen Park 91-37 and Tinley Park 83-25. Stevens averaged 20 points across the four games.
Richards (3-1) won its pool, beating St. Rita 78-59, Hancock 76-24 and Johnson 85-27.
● Riverside-Brookfield finished second in its own Bill VandeMerkt Thanksgiving Classic, falling 63-59 to Thornwood in the title game on Nov. 29. Cameron Mercer scored 20 for the Bulldogs (3-1), while Colin Cimino had a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds.
Earlier, R-B beat Golder 87-26, Hinsdale South 73-34 and Fenwick 64-57. Mercer averaged 22.5 points in the tourney.
Mike Clark contributed to this story.