Excellence was abundant on The Patch Hardwood Tour during this past hoops season. From the gloriously outstanding campaigns of the Huntley Red Raiders and Crystal Lake Central Tigers to the late-season victories finally garnered by struggling squads from Prairie Ridge and Lake Zurich, effort earned rewards. In that same spirit, this column wraps up the 2010-11 basketball season by acknowledging the teams and individuals who made following the 17 clubs on The Tour an enjoyable experience. I want to point out that selecting the top guards of this season was an especially difficult task. I could…

Four remaining survivors of the 17 Patch Hardwood Tour teams advanced into week 16 of the high school basketball season, but by the end of the seven-day stretch, the uncompromising tournament known as March Madness had swallowed the quartet whole. Such is the one-and-done nature of the IHSA prep basketball tournament, which snuffed the hopes of Huntley, Crystal Lake Central, Grayslake Central and Fremd. Each had managed to survive the first week of exhilarating cut-throat tournament play, earning hard-won Regional championships along the way. But the arduous task of conquering increasingly …

The attrition that accompanies the beginning of March Madness is startling in its callous swiftness. Teams build all year for a run in the state hoops tournament, but most hopes are snuffed almost immediately, and oft-times cruelly. After one week, just four of the 17 Patch Hardwood Tour teams are still standing, proudly hoisting Regional championship plaques. Three of those (Huntley, Crystal Lake Central and Fremd) were listed as this column’s top four teams in the final regular season poll. The fourth (Grayslake Central) is no real surprise, based on potential demonstrated numerous times …

At halftime, a cheerleader from each Crystal Lake team flip-flopped wildly across the basketball court from opposite ends, then slammed violently together in mid-spin near the center line to the concerned gasp of the full-house crowd. Thankfully, neither of the young girls suffered serious injury, but their unintended meeting symbolized the full-bore battle that took place Friday night between the Crystal Lake Central Tigers (22-4) and the Crystal Lake South Gators (15-11). The cross-town rivals put on the best show before the largest and most enthusiastic crowd of any game I witnessed on The…

It would be nice to say that Libertyville has the moxie to pull it together next week to seriously contend for the five-team Regional  gathering that it is hosting. But after seeing the Wildcats lose to Jacobs 65-56 in Algonquin Saturday night, such a statement would be a stretch. Look for Libertyville (10-15) to use its sheer talent to defeat Wauconda in its last regular season game on Tuesday, then break down offensively-challenged Palatine in the first game of the state tournament Feb. 28. After that, the party appears to be over. Barrington’s Broncos, 18-8 would be next, and the …

“The only thing that Huntley lacks is size.” That’s what I wrote in my notes as I watched the Red Raiders topple Jacobs from the ranks of the undefeated in the Fox Valley Valley conference on Tuesday. With the win, which took place on their opponent’s home court, the young Huntley club seized sole possession of first place in the division. It was a contest worthy of the stakes, with the Red Raiders finally emerging victorious in overtime on the right side of a 52-49 score. Meanwhile, the season winds down to its final two weeks prior to state tournament play. After the game Huntley coach …

Eleven weeks into the season it finally happened, thanks to a big game and a boost from the girls. I’m talking about the first full house for a hoops contest I’ve witnessed this campaign – the first-place Mid-Suburban League West showdown Friday between the Barrington Broncos and the host Fremd Vikings won by the visitors 75-61. In a rare pairing, the boys varsity game preceded the girls contest, meaning that the fairer of the species took center stage at prime time before a larger-than-usual audience. But, as I’ve already pointed out, the boys benefitted as well from the parents, friends and…

The Patch Hardwood Tour examines boys high school basketball on a weekly rotational basis, focusing on teams in a 12-town region. Its intent is to celebrate and inform about prep hoops; the best high school sport in the state. The Tour will be stopping in your town soon. Prior to Jan. 19, the big game always got away. But when the Grayslake North Knights bagged the powerful Tigers from Crystal Lake with an impressive 59-56 home win, the hunt for basketball respect was finally fulfilled. This is as meaningful a triumph as any in Grayslake North’s short five-year hoops history and is easily its…

The Wildcats of Libertyville are a bit more perplexing these days.   Libertyville Wildcats performed admirably when its top scorer, Ryan Barth, was out with a knee injury. Junior guards Ellis Matthews and Griffin Pils stepped up big time to keep the team competitive against some tough foes. Matthews, especially, filled the scoring void in Barth’s absence, averaging 19 per contest in the Wheeling holiday tournament and making the prestigious all-tourney team as the Cats finished fourth in the field.    Barth returned two weeks ago and Libertyville played well against front-running Mundelein …

The rubber left on the road turned out to be worth the wear Friday night as The Tour took a long trip to Elgin to get a first look at the Dundee-Crown Chargers. For the second time in its last three games, Dundee-Crown came away with a victory at the expense of a young Larkin Royals club, which dropped to 3-12 on the year. The latest score was 63-49 in a game the Chargers commanded from the start. Dundee-Crown (7-4) is led by a pair of good-looking 6-foot-4 senior forwards, Jamel Kimbrough and Ryan Smith, with sophomore Dylan Kissack and a group of effectively interchangeable parts adding to …

The initial volley in the season of jolly is in the books, with more holiday action coming this week. Here's a team-by-team report card of how Patch.com teams performed in their respective tournaments, grouped from top to bottom, good-as-gold to ho-ho-horrible.Huntley Red Raiders: (3-1 at Jacobs Tournament, 10-2 overall)Grade: A-Holiday tournaments in December are the second measuring stick for basketball teams, the first being the initial spate of Thanksgiving tournament contests. The young, hustling Red Raiders of Huntley have fared tremendously in both arenas, gobbling up Turkey Day …

'Twas the week before Christmas and basketball teams everywhere were looking for a little winning momentum to slingshot them into holiday tournaments across the state. Doing so has been an uphill battle for many teams on The Patch Hardwood Tour, due in part to a common injury theme that has been prevalent nearly everywhere the ball is being bounced. Here's the latest look at how the clubs have been handling setbacks, both physical and mental, as the boys hoops campaign completes its first month of competition. Big Gun's Knee Still Cause for ConcernYou've got to feel for Jacobs High's Nick …

The two Patch.com teams witnessed on The Tour this past week both went down to bitter defeat, but in different fashion. The Fremd Vikings were upset for the second time in as many meetings by the Schaumburg Saxons, dating back to last year's final game of the season, while the Libertyville Wildcats nearly pulled off a big win without their top scorer. But despite the losses, both Libertyville and Fremd offer upbeat scenarios for fans looking just down the road.Barth-less Wildcats still prove to be formidable foe This must be the week for catching Patch teams at less than full strength. When …