Dixon Dukes
The Dukes could have one of the top scorers in this year’s tournament field.
Jake Gaither, a 6’2” senior guard, averaged 20 points per game a year ago. He also pulled down 9 rebounds a game. Teammate and fellow senior Riley Abell help form a solid backcourt for Dixon. The 6’1” guard averaged 10 points.
“We have the ability to play at different speeds and score the ball,” head coach Chris Harmann said. “Winning the turnover margin is important for us to succeed. And defensively, we must compete on each possession.”
The Dukes, who are making their second appearance in the tournament, compete in the Big Northern Conference.
Effingham Flaming Hearts
The Hearts have a different look this year. After being an up-tempo team that looked for and took the first shot available the past two seasons, this year’s squad is much more deliberate and patient on the offensive end.
“If we play our tempo, we’re a pretty good team. If we play at our opponent’s tempo, we’re not,” said head coach Obie Farmer.
Effingham is a guard-oriented team that has the ability to shoot well from three-point range. Returning players are senior guard Dalton Fox, 6’6” senior forward Brayden Pals and junior guard Garrett Wolfe.
“We are a quick team that has the ability to shoot the ball or get to the basket,” Farmer said. “Our athleticism will allow us to take risks on defense and get out and run when the opportunity is there. We should be able to handle pressure with our improved ballhandling.”
The Hearts play in the Apollo Conference and are coming off a 17-1 spring season.
Effingham St. Anthony Bulldogs
The Bulldogs will be competing in the Christmas Classic for the third straight year and bring a team looking for identity, experience and growth.
Head Coach Cody Rincker has just one player returning with any varsity experience – Craig Croy. The 6’4” senior forward averaged 12 points and 4 rebounds.
“We have good length and skilled, versatile players,” Rincker said. “But we need to learn how to play at the speed and physicality of the varsity level. Overall, I think we will improve greatly as the year progresses and I’m looking forward to the process.”
The Bulldogs are members of the National Trail Conference.
Horizon Science Academy Huskies
The Huskies will be making their first appearance in the tournament.
Coach Romel Bryant took over a program that had never won a game before he arrived and turned it into conference champions the past two years. HSA was 12-0 and won the Chicago Blue Central Conference a year ago.
Isaiah Earnest, a 6’6” junior center, averaged a double-double last season. He scored 18 points and pulled down 12 rebounds a game. Sophomore Kaivon Payton also returns. The 5’10” point guard averaged 14 points and nearly 6 assists a game.
“The 1-2 punch of Isaiah and Kaivon are the keys to our success this year,” Bryant said. “Both are looking to prove they are among the best players in Class 1A.”
Lincoln-Way East Griffins
The Griffins will be making their fifth appearance in the Christmas Classic and will enter this year’s event as the defending champions. They swept through the 2019 tournament, winning all four games, including a 56-50 victory over Chicago Corliss in the championship contest.
Rich Kolimas, who is entering his 21st year at Lincoln-Way East, will bring a talented, but young team, with only two seniors returning from a year ago.
Returners including senior guards Tommy Cheney and Aidan Dauber, along with three juniors – guard Tylon Tolliver and forwards George Bellavue (6’6”) and Kyle Olagbegi (6’5”).
Kolimas said Bellavue can score from multiple spots on the floor and that his leaping ability makes him one of the top rebounders in the state; and that Tolliver can score in bunches. He also mentioned a newcomer – junior Jayden Cook. The coach describes him as an “explosive athlete.”
“As always, strong fundamentals and good chemistry will prove critical for us,” Kolimas said. “We hope to improve each game so that by the end of the season, we’re a formidable opponent.”
The Griffins compete in the Southwest Suburban Conference.
Lutheran North Crusaders
The Crusaders will be making their first appearance in the Christmas Classic, but for head coach Gerald Jones, this will be his third trip. He formerly coached at Northwest Academy.
Coach Jones has high expectations.
“We have a host of new players that can contribute at all five spots,” he said. “With some game experience, I think we could be very competitive by mid-season. We are very excited about the season and the development of our guys. There’s been a lot of growth and energy displayed in practice and I’m looking for the guys to transfer that to the games.”
David Moore, a 5’10” senior point guard, is the leading returning player for Lutheran North. He averaged 13.5 points a game a year ago. Other players to watch are senior guards Brian Brown and Brian O’Laughlin.
The Crusaders are part of the Metro League Conference.
Mattoon Green Wave
The Green Wave have participated in the Christmas Classic since its inception.
Head Coach Ryan Ghere has a good group of upperclassmen this year with a combination of size and shooting ability.
Sam Bradbury, a 6’8” center, and Jaylen Middleton, a 6’5” forward, present problems inside for Mattoon opponents. Both can score and defend. Bradbury averaged nearly 20 points a game in the season-opening St. Anthony Thanksgiving Tournament. Both Bradbury and Middleton were named to that all-tourney team.
Cooper Bergstrom also returns as an experienced point guard and team leader.
Mattoon is part of the Apollo Conference.
Newton Eagles
The Eagles will be another of the first-year participants in this year’s tournament field.
Head Coach Troy Bierman will bring an experienced team. He has three returning starters that all averaged double figures – Mason Schafer, a 6’1” forward, 14 points; Evan Schafer, a 6’1” guard, 12 points; and Ben Meinhart, a 5’9” guard, 11 points.
“The keys to our success will be creating the tempo we want and limiting turnovers,” Bierman said. “We have a senior led group to lean on when needed.”
The Eagles play in the Little Illini Conference.
Oak Lawn Spartans
The Spartans have been familiar faces at the Christmas Classic. This will be their seventh appearance. They finished 3-1 overall in 2019 and defeated Champaign Centennial 69-64 in double overtime in the third place contest.
The top returning players for head coach Jason Rhodes are Johnny McGowan, Nicco Reyes and Davion Lawrence. McGowan is a 6’3” guard that Rhodes describes as a “knock-down shooter.” He has already committed to the University of Dubuque. Reyes is a 5’10” guard with a knack for scoring and Lawrence is a 6’5” physical and agile forward/center capable of initiating offense.
“Guard play and team depth should be our strengths this season,” Rhodes said. “We will look to play with good tempo, shoot the apple at will and hope to steadily improve throughout the 21-22 campaign.”
The Spartans are part of the South Suburban Red Conference and went 11-5 a year ago.
Pleasant Plains Cardinals
Former Teutopolis player, Kyle Weber, will bring his Pleasant Plains squad to the Christmas Classic for the third straight year. Pleasant Plains went 3-1 and finished fifth in 2019.
The Cardinals will be bringing a very inexperienced team to this year’s tournament, having lost their top seven players to graduation from a team that finished 11-3. Weber has been starting four juniors and a freshman so far this season. Zach Powell has been the early team leader, averaging 15.5 points and 8 rebounds.
“We have multiple guys who can shoot the ball from the perimeter, but we have to improve on the defensive end of the floor,” Weber said. “If we improve defensively and take care of the basketball by limiting turnovers, we will be able to compete.”
The Cardinals play in the Sangamo Conference.
Teutopolis Wooden Shoes
The Wooden Shoes are the winningest team in the Christmas Classic, having won the championship four times – 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2018.
Head Coach Chet Reeder will bring a team he describes as “extremely competitive, especially on the defensive side of the ball.”
The Wooden Shoes, who were 15-4 a year ago, are coming off a second place finish in the season-opening St. Anthony Thanksgiving Tournament.
Reeder has four players with varsity experience returning – guards Max Niebrugge and Brendan Niebrugge; 6’3” forward Kayden Althoff; and 6’5” center Caleb Siemer. Brendan Niebrugge has been the early scoring leader for T-Town, averaging 15.5 points per game.
“We have length and athleticism, but we are still looking for an identity on the offensive side of the ball,” Reeder said. “I believe we can be very difficult to play against when we play the right way. We are continuing to get better offensively. We have a chance to be very good when we put it all together.”
