The Fenwick boys basketball team won’t have much time for Holiday respite. The day after Christmas, the Friars will need to shake off the slumber and lace up the shoes as they are slated to kick-off the 49th Annual Proviso West Holiday Tournament against St. Patrick at 9 a.m.
Coming off a 52-37 thrashing of St. Laurence on Friday and a 71-41 thumping of Luther North on Saturday, the Friars (6-2, 3-1) should be ready for the high-caliber talent in what is deemed by many as the premier holiday tournament in the state.
“Our goal remains, as it does every year we enter this tournament, to make it to the final four,” said Fenwick head basketball coach John Quinn. “But because we’re a young team and still a work in progress, our main focus is winning the first game and going from there.
“We’re very familiar with St. Patrick, as they are with us, so it should be a good opener.”
The Friars haven’t played St. Patrick this season, opting out of the Shamrocks’ Thanksgiving Tournament for the first time in a long while to be part of the Lyons Township Tournament.
A victory over the Shamrocks would pit Fenwick against either Hillcrest or Von Steuben in the second round on Monday (3:45 p.m.). If the Friars fall to St. Patrick, they’ll play the loser of those two teams in the consolation bracket on Monday at 9 a.m.
Other teams in the tournament include top-ranked Whitney Young, St. Joseph, Homewood Flossmoor, Proviso East, Morton, T.F. North, Foreman, Hinsdale Central and New Trier.
“Whitney Young is very talented team, as is Glenbrook North,” said Quinn. “But you don’t have an overwhelming dominant team this season. It’s like a mini state tournament. Whoever gets hot and can stand those four days against such a high-level of competition, can win it. Anything can happen. Several teams that have ended up winning the consolation bracket title have gone on to win state.”
Quinn added that his past teams have had success in the early morning contests, so he’s not concerned about the time.
“We’re just hopeful of trying to win a game, and the first game will be tough enough,” he said.
The Proviso West Holiday Tournament runs from Dec. 26 through Dec. 30. For more times and bracket information go to www.pwhoops.com.
