Benet 60, Oak Park/River Forest 48 on Friday at Pontiac

Friday was a full day. First a morning trip down to Pontiac for two games then a quick trip back to Hinsdale for two more games.

Benet (14-1, 6-0) defeated OPRF (5-7, 0-2) 60-48 in the third game on Friday. The Redwings have since advanced to the Pontiac championship game by virtue of an overtime 59-58 victory over Bloom on Saturday only to lose later in the day in another overtime game to Curie 69-66 and finish second in the Pontiac Holiday Tournament.

Previously unbeaten and ninth ranked Benet certainly proved that is team, largely made up of sophomore, is an elite team that will surely rise in the rankings given its showing at Pontiac.

These are a few photos from the game.

Simeon Falls to Bloom 45-39 at Pontiac

I just love the Pontiac Holiday Tournament. The people like watching the basketball games. Everyone is friendly. The food is good. It’s easy and comfortable.

I wasn’t planning to go to Pontiac this year because I don’t really have a team to cover. But I went anyway. Simeon and Benet were playing early in the day which game me time to get back to Hinsdale to cover the Brother Rice and DePaul Prep games in the evening.

I am really glad I did. I just love going to Pontiac. (And I also recommend stopping at the World War II Museum when you are down there. It is very interesting.)

The Simeon Wolverines were battling Bloom but after Rashad McKinnie left the game with a shoulder injury they couldn’t keep up. Bloom ended up winning 45-39.

I was sitting next to this older lady from Pontiac who quite energetically routing for the Wolverines. I kind of like that. I was too shy to ask her why. I cheer for Simeon too because of Simeon’s former coach Robert Smith.

So now I have a new friend in Pontiac.

Simeon Survives Benet to Win Pontiac Championship 52-49

I just love the Pontiac Holiday Tournament. It is so well done. And this year it did not disappoint. Simeon took a sixteen-point lead at the half. I knew it wasn’t over.

Benet Academy (15-1, 5-0) came all the way back, well—not all the way. Simeon (12-0, 3-0), lead by Jalen Griffith, 17 points, survived a furious comeback by the Redwings, 52-49, to win Robert Smith’s 11th championship at Pontiac and Simeon’s 15th.

So more about Pontiac. It’s totally about basketball. People are there to see good basketball. The crowd is large but not too large. The gym is big but not too big. The light is, well, good enough. The food is good and not expensive.

And the people there are so nice. They treat the patrons and the media so well. I cannot overstate how great of an experience it is. It’s so comfortable to work there. They have a wonderful media room. They provide food and drinks.

Except for a break for World War II and the COVID Pandemic, the tournament has been going since 1926. The program contains a ton of facts to know and tell. How many times has Mike Oliver and his Curie Condors won the tournament you ask? On page thirty of the program, one will learn Coach Oliver have won the tournament four times. How many Mr. Basketballs have played in the Pontiac Holiday Tournament you ask? Nine, of course. (Page 80.) How many NBA players have played in the Tournament? 25. See page 78.

Oh, and did I say the tournament used my photo of Miles Rubin on the cover of this year’s program? It did. It’s a great honor for me, even if my loving wife is not impressed.

Only 362 days until on the 2023 Pontiac Holiday Tournament!