Ava Johnson Reaches 1,000 Points as Kankakee Tops Rock Island

Kankakee junior Ava Johnson achieved a significant milestone by scoring her 1,000th career point during a thrilling matchup against Rock Island on December 22, 2023. Johnson’s impressive performance contributed to Kankakee’s 50-42 victory in the State Farm Holiday Classic, where she tallied 22 points. This win positions Kankakee, seeded eighth in the large school bracket, for a challenging second-round encounter against top-seeded Washington.

Alongside Johnson, Malea Harrison also made a notable impact for the Kays, leading the team with 25 points. Kankakee’s record stands at 14 wins and just one loss, demonstrating their strong performance this season.

In another notable game, Normal University defeated Bishop McNamara, 50-42. The Fightin’ Irish, ranked eleventh and currently holding a record of 4-7, received a contribution of 10 points from Trinitee Thompson in the match.

The Peotone Holiday Tournament showcased several teams, including Reed-Custer, who opened their tournament run with a decisive 49-32 victory over Beecher. Alyssa Wollenzein was the standout player for the Comets, scoring 27 points along with six rebounds and eight steals. Kamryn Wilkey also contributed with 11 points, three steals, and two rebounds. Beecher’s performance left them with a record of 6-7, but specific statistics for their players were not available.

Richards managed to defeat Peotone 26-15 in a low-scoring affair. The Blue Devils, now at 6-9, trailed by a narrow margin of 16-11 after three quarters before Richards pulled away in the final period. Another game in the same tournament saw Reavis secure a 54-45 victory over Bradley-Bourbonnais, who continues to struggle with a record of 2-9.

In the Chicago Christian Christmas Tournament, Manteno triumphed over Chicago Christian with a final score of 43-34. Lila Prindeville led the Panthers with 12 points and three steals, while Emily Horath added nine points and eight rebounds. The Panthers now hold an impressive record of 13-1.

On the boys’ side, the State Farm Holiday Classic featured a thrilling encounter where Bradley-Bourbonnais edged out Metea Valley 53-50. Freshman Dajuan Brown played a pivotal role, hitting a go-ahead basket with just 24 seconds left in the game. He finished with 12 points, second only to Drew Kubal, who scored 14 points. The Boilermakers improved their record to 5-7 with this win.

Bishop McNamara’s boys’ team also shone in their matchup against Olympia, winning decisively 76-49. The Fightin’ Irish, now at 13-1, showcased a balanced scoring effort with contributions from Callaghan O’Connor (13 points), Richie Darr (12 points), Coen Demack (11 points), and Karter Krutsinger (10 points).

In the Seneca Shipyard Showdown, Coal City advanced to the consolation championship after a 40-30 win against Gardner-South Wilmington. Despite no individual stats being available for the Coalers, they made a strong comeback by outscoring their opponents 17-3 in the final quarter. Leondre Kemp led G-SW with 16 points.

Reed-Custer also secured a victory over Serena with a score of 60-49, setting up a rivalry clash against Coal City in the consolation championship. Key contributions came from Kaiden Klein with 16 points, while Matt Kuban and Chase Isaac each added 13 points. Eddie Bryan had a standout performance with eight points, 13 rebounds, and 10 steals.

Wilmington triumphed over Dwight with a score of 68-59, with Ryan Kettman leading the scoring with 25 points. Brysen Meents and Declan Moran added 18 points each, as Wilmington improved to 6-3 and prepared for a fifth-place game against Woodland.

In the Bismarck-Henning Holiday Tournament, Phalen from Indiana defeated Milford 74-45, with Jack Van Hoveln scoring 22 points for Milford, who now holds a record of 2-8.

These matchups highlighted exceptional talent across the girls’ and boys’ basketball leagues, showcasing the intensity and excitement of high school basketball this season.