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Sports Editor Matt Daniels with a look at what’s going on around the area:
Logan Kurtz, right, and the Tuscola boys’ basketball team will vie for a third straight Monticello Holiday Hoopla championship on Saturday night.
Three reasons we love sports today
➜ 1. Three area high school basketball teams will put their undefeated records on the line and play for holiday tournament championships on Saturday night.
➜ 2. On the boys’ basketball side, Tuscola (13-0) will vie for its third consecutive Monticello Holiday Hoopla championships at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Sievers Center. The Warriors stayed unbeaten with a 54-38 win against the host Sages on Friday.
➜ 3. Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin boys’ basketball improved to 15-0 after two wins Friday at its own Heritage/BHRA Holiday Tournament, with the Blue Devils playing at 7 p.m. Saturday in the title game in Bismarck. Also in Bismarck, the Salt Fork girls’ basketball team (16-0) will play for the Blue Devil Classic title at 7 p.m. Saturday.
Luke Altmyer has had one of the more productive seasons by an Illinois quarterback in program history in 2024.
Numbers game: 21
touchdown passes this season by Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer. That has him tied for fifth-most in a single season with Nathan Scheelhaase (2013) and Jon Beutjer (2002). Kurt Kittner’s record of 27 touchdown passes in 2001 is likely out of reach, but Altmyer is chasing Juice Williams (22 in 2008), Jeff George (22 in 19889) and Kittner (24 in 1999) in Tuesday’s Citrus Bowl against South Carolina.
Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn, left, and the Illinois men’s basketball team returns home to play Chicago State at 1 p.m. Sunday at State Farm Center in Champaign.
Crowd control
Three events I’m paying attention to
➜ 1. Illinois vs. South Carolina football. The Illini will try to win their first bowl game under Bret Bielema and snap a three-game bowl losing streak when the Citrus Bowl kicks off at 2 p.m. Tuesday.
➜ 2. Chicago State at Illinois men’s basketball. Last chance to see the Illini (8-3) at State Farm Center in Champaign until Jan. 8 is this Sunday at 1 p.m. when the Cougars (0-14) visit town.
➜ 3. Oregon at Illinois women’s basketball. Our Illini women’s basketball beat writer Joe Vozzelli is picking an Illinois win on Saturday afternoon when the Ducks (9-3, 0-1 Big Ten) play their first Big Ten game in Champaign against the Illini (10-2, 0-1). Tip is at 2 p.m. at State Farm Center.
Centennial girls’ tennis coach Maggie Brown.
Coach’s corner
Three questions with Centennial girls’ tennis coach Maggie Brown:
âžœ 1. My favorite sports team is … the New York Yankees. I grew up in New Jersey and loved going to the Bronx for games.
âžœ 2. Three coaches I’d like to have dinner with are … Brad Underwood, Marguerite Bailey and Aaron Boone.
âžœ 3. My biggest pet peeve is … when people are impatient.