Area Roundup: Dream Team wins YMCA youth basketball tourney
From Submitted Reports March 8, 2013 6:12PM
The Dream Team, representing the Greater Joliet YMCa, celebrates its win in the title game of the YMCA Aaron Toler Grades 5 and 6 Basketball Tournament. | Supplied photo
Updated: April 11, 2013 6:21AM
It was a dream come true for The Dream Team.
Quintin Gardner scored 16 points and Jazzpher Evans had 13 to lead The Dream Team to a 35-33 victory over Plainfield Avery Green in the championship game of the YMCA Aaron Toler Grades 5 and 6 Basketball Tournament at Troy Craughwell School.
The tournament featured 14 teams from three local YMCAs. The Dream Team represented the Greater Joliet YMCA.
In addition to Gardner and Evans, The Dream Team’s roster included Jacovi Evans, Jalin Berry, Troy McElrath, Zion Manning, Anthony Saunders, Dan Manico, Nicholas Baker and Gacari Page. Marvin Evans Sr. coached the team.
Joliet Junior College honors
North Central Community College champion Joliet Junior College lost a 16-point lead and dropped a 66-65 decision to Rock Valley in the Region IV men’s championship game, but the Wolves (22-10) cleaned up at the awards table.
Sophomore Pierre Jolly became coach Joe Kuhn’s seventh conference player of the year. The others were Brandon Redmond, Brian Bradley, Ryan Owens, Michal Vavrek, Eddie Small and Dustin Smith.
Ben Daniel, a 5-foot-10 sophomore guard from Plainfield North, was voted to the All-Conference First Team.
Kuhn was selected coach of the year for the sixth time and third straight year, also earning the award in 2011, ’10, ’08, ’05, ’04 and ’03.
Local officials named
Joliet residents Nick Cladis and Bob Horvath were selected to officiate the Class 3A and 4A State Boys Basketball Tournaments on March 15 and 16 in Peoria.
Cladis also will work Tuesday’s Class 3A Joliet Central Supersectional. Horvath will officiate the Class 3A Hoffman Estates Supersectional. This is the first time two members of the Joliet Basketball Officials Association were selected to work the state finals at the same time.
