HINSDALE CENTRAL HOLIDAY CLASSIC

HC SQUARED:  Building a New Tradition of Basketball at Its Best
 

2016 GAME 19 RECAP: ST. CHARLES EAST 50, MAINE SOUTH 41

Box Score

HINSDALE, Ill. - Zach Mitchell dished out a single-game tournament record nine assists and Justin Hardy scored 13 to lead St. Charles East to a 50-41 win over Maine South and into the consolation championship game at the 2016 Hinsdale Central Holiday Classic.

The first half was evenly matched as the two squads traded leads eight times. Maine South (6-6) grabbed a 13-12 after the first quarter before the lead change hands five times in the second quarter. Maine South's Milos Ljiljak hit a jumper just before the half to tie the score at 24-24 at the half.

St. Charles East (10-3) took a quick lead on a three-pointer from Hardy early in the third quarter and the Saints never trailed the rest of the way. St. Charles East built a seven-point cushion after the third quarter and pushed their lead to double figures early in the fourth. Maine South came no closer than eight points for the duration of the game as the Saints came away with the nine-point victory.

Hardy led St. Charles in the win with 13 points, four rebounds and three assists. Mitchell helped set up the Saints' offense, setting a new single-game tournament record by dishing out nine assists while also totaling five points. Jack Zylke added 11 points for the Saints. St. Charles East shot 51.4 percent (19-of-37) from the floor and was red hot from beyond the arc, knocking down 10-of-24 shots (41.7 percent) from three-point distance.

Ljiljak and Essam Hamwi both reached double figures in scoring for Maine South. Ljiljak totaled a game-high 14 points while Hamwi finished with 13 for the Hawks. Maine South shot an identical 51.4 percent (18-of-35) from the field in the loss.

St. Charles East will face the winner of the St. Viator/Stevenson contest in the consolation championship game on Friday (December 30) at 3:45 p.m. Maine South will meet the loser of the St. Viator/Stevenson game on Friday at 12:30 p.m.