Let’s get it started
New Bureau Valley tourney will tip off 2009 season
At Bureau Valley: After traveling to the Sauk Valley Shootout in recent years and struggling against schools twice its size, Bureau Valley has drummed up its own holiday tournament with all the comforts of home with schools its size.
“We decided to do something different,” BV coach Jeff Ohlson said. “A lot of people asked why we don’t host our own tournament, so we decided to get the ball rolling.”
The hoopla gets started Tuesday with Henry facing Sherrard at 6 p.m. followed by the Storm vs. Putnam County at 7:30 p.m. The tournament resumes Thursday with the Storm facing Henry at 7:30 p.m. and concludes Friday with the Storm meeting Sherrard back at 7:30 p.m.
At Princeton: The annual Princeton Holiday Tournament tips off Thursday at Prouty Gym with the Tigresses facing county rival LaMoille/Ohio at 7:30 p.m. The first action of the night pits Stark County vs. Midland at 6 p.m.
On Friday, LaMoille/Ohio meets Stark County at 6 p.m. with PHS facing Midland at 7:30 p.m. The Saturday lineup matches LaMoille/Ohio vs. Midland at 6 p.m. followed by PHS vs. Stark County, in a rematch of last year’s title game.
Princeton and Stark County met in the supersectionals in 2006.
At Oregon: The Hall Lady Devils tip off the season in the Oregon Tip-Off Tournament at 5:45 p.m. Wednesday vs. Milledgeville. Hall will come back the same time Friday against Prophetstown. Saturday’s schedule is to be determined.
At DeKalb: The St. Bede Lady Bruins head back to the rugged DeKalb Toss-Up Tournament, now in its seventh year. The Lady Bruins get things started at 5 p.m. Friday vs. Hampshire and come back at 11 a.m. Saturday vs. Peoria Woodruff, 7 p.m.
The tournament stretches into the following week with St. Bede facing the host Barbies at 7 p.m. Nov. 24, Hampshire at 2 p.m. Nov. 27 and Belvidere at 1:30 p.m. Nov. 28.
Girls’ teams at a glance: The St. Bede Lady Bruins will reload under veteran coach Tom McGunnigal, returning five letterwinners from a 27-6 squad. Bureau Valley also brings back much talent with the likes of seniors Lauren Hasbrook and Melanie Thompson, its leading scorers and rebounders.
Teams from Princeton, Hall and LaMoille/Ohio look to rebuild. PHS returns five seniors, but lost its top two scorers to transfers. Hall lost its four core players to graduation and will look to keep the ball rolling under new head coach Dave Kain, a former Mendota Trojan standout. The L/O coach also looks to replace the scoring punch of Chelsea Gross.
The DePue girls will revive its varsity program after folding its debut after just one game a year ago.
Boys’ openers: The boys’ teams will start a week later with Bureau Valley joining Princeton at the Wally Keller Invitational at Wethersfield beginning Monday. The county rivals will also clash at 7 p.m. Nov. 27.
In other boys’ tourneys, Hall will play at Seneca, St. Bede at Serena and DePue at Streator Woodland.
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