Comets claim Shootout crown
Newman wins 1st title since 1996
The Newman Comets won their fourth straight Sauk Valley Shoototut game Saturday at Musgrove Fieldhouse, doubling up the Morrison Mustangs 48-24.
Newman also earned the tournament title when Rock Falls defeated Sterling in the Shootout’s final game. The Comets won the championship, their first since 1996, based on their head-to-head victory over the Rockets.
The championship capped a whirlwind of a week for Newman, which had its football season end on Nov. 17 in the Class 3A semifinals against eventual champ Aurora Christian. Two days later, the Comets took to the hardwood and lost to Sterling, but it’s been all wins since.
“We had no expectations in this tournament, other than trying to get better every game,” Newman coach Ray Sharp said. “We got beat by Sterling, but I thought we played pretty hard and pretty well. We played really good team defense against Rock Falls and were able to pull out a victory, and then Rock Falls gave us a little help tonight.
“A week ago they were really down because they lost the semifinal game to Aurora Christian. I’m sure they would have rather won a state championship than this tournament, but we’re pretty happy.”
John Payan scored 13 points for the Comets (4-1), hitting four 3-pointers. A.J. Sharp added 10 points, and Kyle Moore finished with team highs of five rebounds, three steals and a block to go with six points.
Brock Deter and Kyle Meurs paced the Mustangs (1-4) with six points apiece.
Princeton 57, Dixon 45: Cal Jarrett’s double-double wasn’t enough to lift the Dukes to their first win of the season at the Sauk Valley Shootout in Sterling.
Jarrett had 18 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, but Dixon (0-5) couldn’t overcome a 31-9 halftime deficit.
Oregon tournament
Oregon 59, Mendota 56: The Hawks won the championship at their own tournament, holding on despite a fourth-quarter rally by the
Trojans.
Jessie McKinley Jr. scored 16 points, and Alec Ketter added 14 for Oregon (4-0), and both were named to the all-tournament team. Caleb Mowry and Sean Kessler chipped in nine points apiece; Mowry was also an all-tournament
selection.
West Carroll 54, Hampshire JV 47: Jordan Bacero scored 14 points, and Trevor Jones added 11 as the Thunder (1-3) gained their first win of the season in the
seventh-place game at Oregon.
AFC tournament
Polo 76, Hiawatha 39: The Marcos rolled to the AFC tourney title, turning a 36-23 halftime lead into a rout with a 29-5 third-quarter run.
AJ Dollmeyer scored 23 points to pace Polo (4-0), while Brady Bushman added 18 points, and Brian Cavanaugh chipped in 14.
AFC 55, Amboy 41: The Raiders won the battle for second place at their own tournament, turning the tide from an 18-18 halftime tie with a 25-11 third-quarter surge.
Bret Gittleson hit four 3-pointers and scored 18 points for AFC (3-1), and Troy Mairs had 12. Tyson Powers scored 16 points for the Clippers (2-2).
Orion tournament
Erie 55, Sherrard 53: Jacob Johnston solidified his spot on the all-tournament team by pouring in 29 points as the Cardinals finished the tourney 2-2.
Johnston made half his team’s 10 field goals, and also hit three of Erie’s five 3-pointers. Rhett Stover chipped in 15 points for the Cardinals, who pulled ahead with a 20-13 edge in the third quarter before holding off a Tigers rally.
Monmouth-Roseville 66, Fulton 34: The Steamers fell behind 18-4 after one quarter and never recovered at Orion.
Matt Dail and Jake Willging led Fulton (0-4) with eight points apiece, and Dail hit both his team’s 3-pointers.
Wethersfield
tournament
Bureau Valley 62, Putnam County 54: The Storm secured third place in Kewanee, thanks in part to a 19-6 surge in the third quarter.
Parker Neuhalfen hit three 3-pointers and led BV (3-2) with 20 points. Tommy Johnston added 14 points, and Bryce Hansen and Brian Lange each chipped in 11.
Ridgewood
tournament
Riverdale 55, Prophetstown 47: After the Prophets rallied to take a 40-39 lead heading into the fourth quarter, the Rams outscored them 16-7 over the final
8 minutes.
Zach Inskeep led Prophetstown (2-2) with 16 points, and Carter Ames added 11.
River Ridge
tournament
Milledgeville 57, Pearl City 41: The Missiles led 40-22 after three quarters thanks to a 17-7 run in the third in Hanover.
Jordan Harris scored 15 points and Zach Herin added 12 for Milledgeville (2-1).
Saturday’s stars
Jacob Johnston, Erie, 29 points
AJ Dollmeyer, Polo, 23 points
Parker Neuhalfen, BV, 20 points, 3 3-pointers
Cal Jarrett, Dixon, 18 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists
Bret Gittleson, AFC, 18 points, 4 3-pointers
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