Chicago Tribune from Chicago, Illinois • Page 95

i Chicago Tribune, Friday, December 10, 1999 Section 4 13 1 OtiiilU 't4 i tit fu frfr VJsXy THE BIG EVENTS COMING ATTRACTIONS FAST A.KS'F 0 HIGH SCHOOL', BASKETBALL Hoping to topple a giant v', v. BOYS BftSKETBflll Showtime: No. 2 Young vs. Oak Hill Academy, 2 p.m. Sunday at Welsh-Ryan Arena, 1501 Central Evanston.

Hot shots: Young's 6-7 Najeeb Echols, 6-8 Marcus White and 6-5 guard Ronald Howard; Oak Hill's 6-8 Abdou Diame, 6-6 David Holmes and 6-3 Cliff Hawkins. Inside stuff: Young's chance tor upsetting the No. 1 -ranked team in the country took a hit when point guard Chris Hill broke his hand in practice last week. Without him, Curtis Lewis and Chris Gardner will assume that role. Oak Hill is loaded with six or seven Division I pros- pects, including 6-11 junior DeSagana Diop, 6-6 Luke Whitehead and sharp-shooting junior guard Rashaad Carruth.

Young's starting five matches up well, but do the Dolphins have the depth to stay with the team from the private boarding school in southwest Virginia? This is the second game of the five-game Ameritech Hoops In The Loop Classic. Overtime: No. 3 Thornton vs. No. 10 Thomwood, 6:30 p.m.

Friday at Thomwood, 17101 S. Park South Holland. Hot shots: Thornton's 7-1 Chris Alexander, 6-7 Jonathan Woods, 6-4 Rodney Rollins and '6-3 guard Calvin Sykes. Thomwood's 6-10, 270-pound Eddy Curry, 5-4 Jeremy Jones and 6-2 David Moss. Inside stuff: Get ready for a battle royale when Alexander and Curry collide inside.

Curry is rated the No. 1 junior in the country and Thornton coach Rocky Hill claims Alexander is the best center in the state. Should Alexander prove athletic enough to stuff Curry Inside, the talented Thunderbird can always drift outside and bum the Wildcats from three-point land. More likely Thornton will give Alexander help on Curry, forcing Jeremy Jones, Jason Jones and Greg Allison to prove themselves from the perimeter. Thornton's deep backcourt also includes All-State quarterback Stafford Owens i and sophomore John Shedrich.

The SICA East unbeatens are also Intense school-district rivals. GIRLS BASKETBALL Showtime: No. 1 Fenwick vs. Teutopolis, 4 p.m. Saturday at Teutopolis High School, 801 W.

Main Teutopolis. Hot shots: Fenwick coach Dave Power believes he has the best backcourt in the state, which Is difficult to dispute. Katie O'Grady is averaging just over 19 points for the Friars, who are loaded with options. Junior Claudette Towers provides the complete game that college recruiters love scoring, rebounding and tough defense. Teutopolis' 12-0 Wooden Shoes have five scorers in double figures, led by 6-2 senior Stephanie Gobczinski (14 points, 10 rebounds).

Each team has a freshman starter. For Fenwick. it's 6-2 Erin Lawless. For T-Town, it's 5-8 Katie Wendt. Inside stuff: Teutopolis coach Dennis Koester, who has five state titles and 486 'career victories in his 17-plus seasons, believes that though his team Is among the youngest he has coached, it's also "as good a team as I've had in the last 10 years." After Thursday's victory over Carmel, the Friars were 8-0 and with an average winning margin of about 24 points.

With Lawless and 6-4 Sarah Kwasmski, Fenwick should have a big advantage on the front line. Overtime: New Trier vs. No. 14 Maine South, 7:30 p.m. Friday at Maine South, 1 1 1 1 S.

Dee Park Ridge. Hot shots: Senior Lauren Colletti is the team's leading scorer and had a season-high 22 points in the Hawks' stunning victory at Galesburg. Maine South outscored Galesburg 21-15 In the fourth quarter and Colletti and senior Colleen Van Hoesen scored all the points. New Trier (3-5) is ted by Shana Franklin and Lauren Lubin. Inside stuff: This is one of Maine South's key Central Suburban South games.

The Hawks (7-2, 2-0) have yet to face No. 9 Evanston. Maine South already owns a 46-30 victory over New Trier in the season-opening Buffalo Grove Tournament. BOWLING Morris Invitational, 8:45 a.m. Saturday at Echo Lanes, Bedford Road at Illinois Route 47, Morris.

Hot shots: Conant's Michelle Knebelsberger goes for her second straight individual title after averaging 212 to win last weekend's Palatine Invitational. On hand is defending state champ Lockport, Prospect and the host Redskins. Con- ant and Morris are both coming off tourney victories last weekend. Inside stuff: This 28-team event is one of the season's best, featuring 10 schools that jeached state last winter. Top talent comes not i only the Chicago area, but also from Rockford, w--ne Quad Cities and TaylorviHe.

FRIDAY'S GAMES BOYS Cattnle Bishop McNamara at Gordon Tech, 7:30 p.m. De La Salle at Providence, 7:30 p.m. Fenwick at St Laurence, 7:30 p.m. St. Rita at St.

Ignatius, 7:30 p.m. Chicago Prap Quigley at SL Benedict. 7:30 p.m. Central Suburban North Deerfleld at Glenorook North, 7 p.m. Highland Park at Maine West, 7:30 p.m.

Central Suburban South Evanston at Glenbrook South, 7:30 p.m. DuPage Vaftay Naperville Central at Glenbard North, 7:30 p.m. Naperville North at Wheaton North, 7:30 p.m. West Aurora at West Chicago, 7:30 p.m. Wheaton Warrenville South at GJenbard East, 7:30 p.m.

East Suburban Cathoic Carmel at Benet, 7:30 p.m. Martst at Marian Catholic 7:30 p.m. St. Joseph at Joliet Catholic, 7:30 p.m. SL Patrick at Notre Dame, 7:30 p.m.

St. Viator at Holy Cross, 7:30 p.m. Fox Valley C.L Central at Jacobs, 7:30 Cary-Grove at C.L South, 6 p.m. Dundee-Crown at Grayslake, 7:30 p.m. McHenry at Lake Zurich, 7:30 p.m.

Prairie Ridge at Woodstock, 7:30 p.m. Interstate Eight Dwight at Reed-Custer, 6 p.m. Lisle at Sandwich, 7:30 p.m. Piano at Seneca, 6 p.m. Wilmington at Coal City, 6 p.m.

Mid-Suburban East Hersey at Prospect, 8 p.m. Rolling Meadows at Elk Grove, 8 p.m. Wheeling at Buffalo Grove, 7:30 p.m. Mid-Suburban West Conant at Barrington, 7:30 p.m. Fremd at Hoffman Estates, 8 p.m.

Palatine at Schaumburg, 7:30 p.m. Private School League Chicago Chr. at Wheaton Academy, 7:30 p.m. Illiana Christian at Luther South, 7:30 p.m. Timothy Christian at Luther North, 7:30 p.m.

River VaUey Momence at Herscher, 7:30 p.m. SICA Central Hillcrest at Elsenhower, 7:30 p.m. Oak Forest at Tinley Park, 7:30 p.m. SKA East Bloom at Homewood-Flossmoor, 7:30 p.m. Thomridge at Shepard, 7:30 p.m.

Thornton at Thomwood, 6:30 p.m. SICA North Argo at Bolingbrook, 7:30 p.m. Oak Lawn at Richards, 6 p.m. Romeoville at Reavis, 7:30 p.m. SKA South Kankakee at Crete-Monee, 6 p.m.

Rich Central at Rich East, 7:30 p.m. Rich South at Bradley, 7:30 p.m. SICA West Joliet at Andrew, 7:30 p.m. Lincoln-Way at Lockport, 7:30 p.m. Sandburg at Stagg, 7:30 p.m.

Suburban Catholic Aurora Central Catholic at MontJnl, 7:30 p.m. Immaculate Conception at Marian Cent, 7:30 p.m. Suburban Prairie Red Geneva at Glenbard South, 7 p.m. Minooka at RainftekJ, 7 p.m. Suburban Prairie Whits Elmwood Park at Evergreen Park, 7:30 p.m.

YorkviHe at Lemont, 5:30 p.m. Upstate Eight DeKalb at Streamwood, 6 p.m. East Aurora at Waubonsle Valley, 7:30 p.m. Larkm at Elgin, 7:30 p.m. Neuqua Valley at St.

Charles, 7:30 p.m. West Suburban GoM Addison Trail at Leyden, 7:30 p.m. Downers South at Hinsdale South, 7:30 p.m. Wilowbrook at Morton, 7:30 p.m. West Suburban SlJvar Hinsdale Central at Oak Park, 7:30 York at Lyons, 7:30 p.m.

Non-conference DuSaWe at Marshall, 3:30 p.m. Harper at Crane, 5 p.m. Kelvyn Park at Clemente, 3:30 p.m. Memphis Northside at Julian, 4:30 p.m. GIRLS Central Suburban North Deerfield at Glenbrook North, 5:30 p.m.

Maine West at Highland Park, 7:30 p.m. Central Suburban South Glenbrook South at Evanston, 7:30 p.m. New Trier at Maine South, 7:30 p.m. Independent School League Willows at U-High, 4:30 p.m. Mid-Suburban East Hersey at Prospect 6:30 p.m.

Wheeling at Buffalo Grove, 6:30 p.m. Mid-Suburban West Conant at Barrington, 6 p.m. Fremd at Hoffman Estates, 6:30 p.m. Palatine at Schaumburg, 6:30 p.m. North Suburban Antioch at Zion-Benton, 7:30 p.m.

North Chicago at Mundelein, 7:30 p.m. Stevenson at Lake Forest, 7:30 p.m. Private School League Illiana Christian at Luther South, 6 p.m. SKA Central Tinley Park at Oak Forest 7:30 p.m. SKA West Stagg at Lockport, 7 p.m.

Suburban CathoHc Marian Cent, at Immaculate Conception, 7:30 p.m. Montinl at Aurora Central, 7:30 p.m. Rosary at St. Edward, 7:30 p.m. Suburban Prairie Red Minooka at PlairrfeW, 7 p.m.

Suburban Prairie White Elmwood Park at Evergreen Park, 6 p.m. Norvconference Rich East at Immaculate Heart of Mary SATURDAYS BOYS SCHEDULE East Suburban Cathoic Benet at Joliet Catholic, 7:30 p.m. Marian Catholic at Carmel, 7:30 p.m. St. Patrick at Holy Cross, 7:30 p.m.

Tabernacle Christian at St Gregory, 7:30 p.m. North Suburban Lake Forest at North Chicago, 7:30 p.m. Libertyville at Antioch, 7:30 p.m. Mundelein at Warren, 7:30 p.m. Zion-Benton at Stevenson, 7:30 p.m.

Private School League Chicago Chr. at Timothy Christian, 7:30 p.m. Wafther Lutheran at Luther South, 7:30 p.m. Upstate Eight DeKalb at Elgin, 6 p.m. St.

Charles at Lake Park, 6 p.m. Norxonfeienoe Aurora Chr. at Aurora Central Catholic, 6 p.m. Barrington at Willowbrook, 7:30 p.m. Buffalo Grove at York, 7:30 p.m.

Clemente at Holy Trinity, 4:00 p.m. Downers South at East Aurora, 7:30 p.m. Glenbrook N. at Fremd, 7:30 p.m. Lyons Township at Julian, 3:30 p.m.

Marquette U-High at Fenwick, 7:30 p.m. Naperville Central at Schaumburg, 7:30 p.m. Oak Park at Addison Trad, 7:30 p.m. Taft at Riverside 5:30 p.m. Wheaton Warrenville S.

at Oswego, 6:00 p.m. Chicago Hoops Showcase At Chicago State CVS vs. Morgan Park, noon Thomridge at Downers Grove North, 1:45 p.m. Curie vs. Leo, 3:30 p.m.

Farragut vs. Providence-St Mel, 5:15 p.m. Young's Najeeb Echols is focused Young aims for upset of Oak Hill By Bob Sakamoto Tribune Staff Writer From Najeeb Echols' perspective, Sunday's showdown between Young and Oak Hill Academy will be contested at another level, "We're not looking at this as a high school game," the 6-foot-7-inch Young junior said of confronting the nation's top-ranked team in the five-game Ameritech Hoops In The Loop Classic at Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston. "You're going to see Division I-caliber players on both teams. They've got about six guys who will be playing major-college ball, and we've got five." Oak Hill's No.

1 ranking lost some of its luster Thursday when it lost to Westinghouse in the KMOXCoca-Cola Shootout in St Louis. Oak Hill comes to Chicago with redemption on its mind. There will be quite a battle on the boards when Oak Hill's 6-8 Abdou Diame, 6-6 David Holmes and 6-6 Luke Whitehead go up against Echols, 6-8 Marcus White and 6-7 Josh Williams. Oak Hill, a private boarding school in southwest Virginia, also features 6-11 junior DeSagana Diop from Senegal Although Young's 6-5 shooting guard, Ronald Howard, should hold his own against Oak Hill's backcourt of Cliff Hawkins and Rasheed Carruth, Dolphins point guard Chris Hill is out until January with a fractured bone in his hand. St.

Rita transfer Curtis Lewis will start in his place Sunday. "We're looking to shock the world," said Echols, who is averaging 21 points and 11 rebounds a game. "We don't want to just stay with them. We want to beat them. Besides, there's no pressure on us because they're the guys ranked No.

1." There has been an attitude adjustment among the Dolphins, says coach Lamont Bryant: "This team is sharing the ball a lot more than last year. People are starting to realize our potential when we play like that The players also are spending more time with each other off the court and the team is not so segmented." Bryant is hoping key reserves such as 6-7 Brandon Allen, 6-8 Damien Williams and guard Chris Gardner will help wear down the Warriors. "After playing Westinghouse on Thursday in St. Louis and us on Sunday, the coach from Oak Hill might be a little surprised at the strength of our programs," Bryant said. Gate attraction The player everyone is coming to see Sunday is Thomwood's 6-10, 270-pound Eddy Curry, whose team faces Toledo Scott and whom recruiting services are rating as the No.

1 junior in the nation. Blessed with an NBA-size body at just 16, Curry can run the court, excels with a post-and-power inside game and can bury the three-pointer. He is averaging 26 points and 15 rebounds and has already posted a 28-point, 19-rebound performance against Rich East and 27 points and 19 boards against Rich Central. "And remember," added Thomwood coach Kevin Hay-hurst, "he's doing this against constant double- and triple-team defenses. He has been jlRLS GYMNASTICS Mark your calendar Here's a rundown of other upcoming basketball attractions: Chicago Hoops Showcase Saturday: At Chicago State, check out Farragut's team of the future, led by 6-7 sophomore Elliott Poole, 6-6 freshman Dennard Montague and sophomore guard Courtney McGarry.

JoOet Shootout Dec. 18: Which West is best, Westinghouse, Farragut and Curie of the Red West or Joliet, Lockport and Lincoln-Way of the SICA West? Board of Education Tournament Dec. 20-22: Could be a title game of Westinghouse vs. either Simeon or Austin. Proviso West Holiday Tournament Dec.

27-30: Teams to beat: Westinghouse, Hillcrest, New Trier and Homewood-Flossmoor. Proviso West Shootout Jan. 15: Hillcrest's 6-10 Reo Logan battles Thomwood's 6-10 Eddy Curry in the main event. Homewood-Flossmoor Shootout Jan. 16-17: Young, Simeon and Julian headline this seven-game attraction.

Rockford Showdown Jan. 22: Westinghouse takes on Rockford Guilford in the nightcap of this double-header. City-Suburban Showdown Feb. 12: Bragging rights at stake at Northwestern, with Young vs. New Trier and Westinghouse vs.

Downers Grove North. Bob Sakamoto -Showtime: The Conant Invitational, noon TSaturday 81 Conant High School, 700 E. Cougar 'Drail, Hoffman Estates. tJiM Hot shots: Jenna Galecki of Lyons Township, Galecki of Wheaton Warrenville South Ashley Parker of Stevenson. Inside stuff: Lyons Township is competing In meet for the first time.

Stevenson, a state -qualifier last year, and Wheaton Warrenville South, which just missed making the state meet, will try to challenge. Cousins Jenna and Sarah Galecki could make the competition for the all-around title a family affair. BOYS SWIMMING Tribune photo by Chris Walker the Hoops In The Loop Classic, "We're playing well," New Trier coach said Rick Malnati, "but we're also pretty beatable. Matt Lottich has been really tough for us (26 points, seven rebounds, two steals a game)." 911 That's the number Hoops In The Loop promoter John Walsh dialed, and Ameritech came to the rescue. Unwilling to invest any more of his own money into what was becoming a losing proposition, Walsh announced last spring that the shootout was history.

Upon learning of Walsh's plight, Chris O'Hagen of Ameritech Events Sponsorship provided the funding to keep the shootout alive. Special night Hoffman Estates has turned Friday's boys-girls Mid-Suburban League double-header into Walter Payton Night. Any person or family bringing a new toy will be admitted free to the Hoffman Estates-Fremd girls and boys games. Toys will be donated to the Payton DCFS Toy Drive. Payton served as a volunteer coach for the Hoffman Estates boys team during the 1992-93 and 1993-94 seasons.

Holiday treat Looking for some entertainment during your Christmas break? Head on over to Hillside for the 39th annual Proviso West Holiday Tournament. If all the favorites advance, the quarterfinals will look like this: No. 11 Homewood-Flossmoor vs. No. 16 Schaumburg, Providence-St.

Mel vs. No. 8 Hillcrest, No. 17 Thorn-ridge vs. No.

1 Westinghouse, and No. 12 Proviso East vs. No. 7 New Trier. v''jiTi Now showing: Bronco Relays, Saturday 9:30 a.m.

(diving) and 1:30 p.m. (swimming) at Barrington High School, 616 W. Main Bar-rington. Hot shots: Aaron McCracken and Brady Knippenberg of Naperville Central, Jamie Dag-1 gett of Oak Park, Terry Silkaitis of Evanston and Mark Hamming of Lake Forest. inside stuff: The 12-team field includes five of the top eight teams from last year's state meet defending champ St.

Charles, Oak Park, Naperville Central, Lake Forest and Evanston. Stevenson looks to build on a big victory at its '''own Patriot Relays last Saturday. on an upset of Oak Hill Academy in Mel counters with 6-4 leaper Levar Seals rated by some among the top three juniors in the state 6-8 sophomore Stanley Gaines and sophomore guard Emmanuel Ford. Defending state champion St. Joseph takes on Class AA contender Rock Island, and No.

7 New Trier meets Central Suburban South rival Maine South. AT 6PM. WRESTUHG Undercard Hoops In The Loop opens at noon with an intriguing matchup between Red West contender Crane and Class A power Providence-St. Mel. No.

14 Crane has 6-7 Jabbar Battle, 6-7 freshman Lorenzo Thompson, 6-5 Maurice Bush, 6-4 Tony Allen and point guard Will Bynum. St. AT 11AM, REPLAY AfrlflP3 i rfOV Showtime: The Hoffman Estates Invitational, 9 a.m. Saturday at Hoffman Estates High School, 1 100 W. Higgins Hoffman Estates.

Hot shots: Defending meet champion Wiltow-' brook. Inside stuff: The Warriors have some of the top individuals in the state, Including returning heavyweight runner-up Tim Daly, but have some holes in their lineup. Willowbrook should get a food challenge from teams like Notre Dame, tsvenson and the host Hawks. Semifinals are at 1 1 a.m., finals at 4:30 p.m. HIGH SCHOOL SPOITSHOW ndmi fin PI PPM 111 iiblftl PORTS WET PfllffPIAfPIr1 (M if TUNE III SUNDAY Mi.