Ava Johnson Reaches Milestone as Kankakee Beats Rock Island

Kankakee junior Ava Johnson celebrated a significant milestone on December 29, 2023, as she scored her 1,000th career point during a matchup against Rock Island. Johnson’s commendable performance, which included 22 points, helped secure a 50-42 victory for Kankakee in the State Farm Holiday Classic. The Kays, now boasting a record of 14-1, will face the top-seeded Washington in the next round of the tournament.

In addition to Johnson’s milestone, Malea Harrison led the team with an impressive 25 points. The Kays, seeded eighth in the large school bracket, continue to demonstrate their strength on the court as they advance deeper into the holiday tournament.

Meanwhile, in another matchup of the State Farm Holiday Classic, Normal University defeated Bishop McNamara with a score of 50-42. The Fightin’ Irish, seeded eleventh, had Trinitee Thompson contributing 10 points to their effort, but they could not overcome the challenge posed by their opponents.

In the Peotone Holiday Tournament, Reed-Custer triumphed over Beecher with a score of 49-32. The Comets, now at 7-6, were led by Alyssa Wollenzein, who scored 27 points alongside six rebounds and eight steals. Kamryn Wilkey also made a notable impact with 11 points, helping the Comets secure a solid opening win in the tournament.

The day also saw Richards beating Peotone with a score of 26-15. Individual statistics for Peotone were not available, but the Blue Devils, now 6-9, managed to keep the game close until the Bulldogs pulled away in the final quarter.

In boys’ basketball action, Bradley-Bourbonnais achieved a thrilling 53-50 victory against Metea Valley. Freshman Dajuan Brown made a critical impact, scoring 12 points and hitting a go-ahead basket with just 24 seconds remaining in the game. Brown’s performance, along with Drew Kubal‘s team-leading 14 points, propelled the Boilermakers to a first-round win in the large school bracket.

The Fightin’ Irish boys’ team, seeded first in the small school bracket, showcased their dominance by defeating Olympia 76-49. Several players contributed to the victory, with Callaghan O’Connor scoring 13 points, and Richie Darr adding 12 points.

In other tournament action, Coal City secured a 40-30 win over Gardner-South Wilmington, outscoring their opponents 17-3 in the fourth quarter. The Coalers will advance to the consolation championship, while Leondre Kemp led G-SW with 16 points.

The Reed-Custer Comets continued their strong play, defeating Serena 60-49. Key contributors included Kaiden Klein with 16 points, while Matt Kuban and Chase Isaac each added 13 points. Eddie Bryan made his presence felt with eight points, 13 rebounds, and 10 steals.

Wilmington also emerged victorious, defeating Dwight 68-59. Ryan Kettman led the way for Wilmington, scoring 25 points, while Brysen Meents and Declan Moran contributed 18 points each.

The Bismarck-Henning Holiday Tournament saw Phalen from Indiana achieve a convincing victory over Milford, winning 74-45. Milford’s Jack Van Hoveln recorded a strong performance with 22 points.

As the holiday tournaments continue, teams across the region look forward to the next challenges, showcasing the talent and determination of young athletes in high school basketball.