Area prep sports roundup: Coal City, Newark win quarterfinal games at Lisle

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LISLE - Coal City advanced to the championship semifinal round of the 16-team Lisle Girls Basketball Holiday Cage Classic Saturday by defeating Chicago Christian by a 44-21 final. Kirsten Verdun exploded for 23 points with 7-for-8 shooting from the free-throw line, 15 rebounds and 3 steals to lead the Lady Coalers. Sydney Sherman turned in 7 points and 7 rebounds and Kelsey Mikula 5 points, 6 rebounds, an assist and 2 steals from Coal City, which trailed 10-8 after the first quarter but won the second 14-4 and the third 12-4. “I thought our girls played outstanding defense, limiting a good team to 21 points,” said Coal City coach Brad Schmitt. “We need to continue that type of play to compete in this tournament. Kirsten Verdun had another big game for us, but as a whole, this was a great team effort.” Coal City will face Wheaton Academy Monday at 6:30 p.m. in a tournament semifinal game.

Newark 50, Illiana Christian 39 LISLE - Laura Johnson scored a game-high 22 points, and the Lady Norsemen won their Lisle Holiday Cage Classic quarterfinal game Saturday after trailing 17-14 after the first quarter. Lauren McNanna added 16 points as Newark outscored its opponent 12-2 during the second quarter and 13-4 during the third. “We had a nice stretch of defense in the second and third quarters,” said Newark coach Dale Skelton. In other championship quarterfinal action, Wheaton Academy defeated St. Francis 49-36 and St. Edward's beat Chicago Latin 66-61. Reed-Custer won its consolation-bracket opener via forfeit. Newark is scheduled for a semifinal game versus St. Edward's Monday at 8 p.m. Reed-Custer will play in the consolation semis Monday at 6:30 against Antioch.

BOYS BASKETBALL Newark 51, Hinckley-Big Rock 43 PLANO - Kyle Anderson recorded 17 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists, and the Norsemen outscored Hinckley-Big Rock 15-11 in the first quarter and 14-9 in the second to win their first consolation-bracket game at the 46th annual Plano Christmas Classic Saturday. John Avery scored 13 points with 11 rebounds, an assist, a steal and 2 blocks, and Matt Eisnaugle broke into double figures with 12 points.

Mendota 82, Coal City 54 PLANO - After leading their Christmas Classic consolation opener Saturday 18-14 after the first quarter, the Coalers fell behind 35-22 by halftime and 57-35 by the end of the third quarter. Andy Agamy led them with 9 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and a teal, with Mark Evans and Brian Suhling checking in with 8 points and Jack Dillon and Alec Smith 7 each. Nick Green pulled down a team-best 6 rebounds. “The second quarter, we could not stop their big man (Brandon Smith) inside,” said Coal City coach Chris Spencer. “He had 10 of his 20 points during that time. We only scored 4 points in the second and went in at halftime down 13 points. The second half was a different half for us. Mendota came out strong and pulled away from us.” Coal City and Sandwich will square off Monday at noon in continued tournament action.

Monticello 68, Reed-Custer 44 MONTICELLO - Reed-Custer completed a 2-1 pool-play showing at the Monticello Holiday Tournament Saturday by falling behind 20-8 by the end of the first quarter and losing to the hosts. Tyler Ricketts scored a team-high 15 points for the Comets, with Chris Robinson getting 6 points and Jim Benson a team-best 7 rebounds. Reed-Custer started the tournament Friday with a 59-53 victory over Sangamon Valley. Ricketts scored 18 points with 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals for the Comets, who received 13 points and 13 rebounds from Benson, 13 points from Andy Favero, 6 points from Robinson and 5 points from Jake Hays. Ricketts scored 13 points with 6 rebounds, 3 assists and a block, and the Comets defeated Farmer City Blue Ridge 55-39 later on Friday. Benson recorded 10 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks and a steal, with Favero getting 8 points, Jake Evans 6 points and Steven Davis and Robinson 5 points. Monday at 6 p.m., the Comets will take on St. Thomas More of Champaign in the tournament third-place game.

FRESHMEN Morris 56, Seneca 26 Joe Jones scored 21 points, and the Redskins rolled Saturday at their own tournament. Their other scorers were Austin Feeney with 13 points, Dylan Brandt with 7, Jake Olsen with 4, Jake Paulson and Jake Wilson with 3 and Max Campbell and Jimmy Pelnarsh with 2.

WRESTLING Reed-Custer at St. Thomas More duals CHAMPAIGN - The Comets started a 2-1 showing with a 43-31 defeat of Bismark Henning. Their pinfall winners were Billy Chancey in 1:43, Pat Casagrande in 1:49, Zach Boyer in 1:55, Zack Speed in 2:15 and Spencer Butler in 17 seconds. Chase Fisher won by injury default as Ryan Garbin won 15-4 and Trent Lyons won 12-6. “We wrestled well,” said Reed-Custer coach Andy Gleixner. “We gave up some weight classes, but beat some tough kids.” Though Boyer, in 58 seconds, and Butler, in 5:10, pinned their opponents, Reed-Custer lost its second dual 44-21 to Vandalia. Other winners from Reed-Custer were Stephen Rosenburg 10-3, Chancey 8-1, Casagrande 6-4 and Garbin via forfeit. Pinfall winners from Reed-Custer in the 47-18 defeat of Olympia with which it closed the day were Lyons in 40 seconds, Rosenburg in 4:54, Casagrande in 49 seconds, Garbin in 1:16 and Speed in 1:04. Fisher won by technical fall, Boyer won 17-6, Chancey won 10-5 and Butler won by forfeit to account for the remaining Comet points.