HINSDALE CENTRAL HOLIDAY CLASSIC

HC SQUARED:  It's The Best Game In Town

Game Recap

HINSDALE, Ill. – Rockford Auburn survived a fourth-quarter rally to earn a trip to the quarterfinals of the 2023 Hinsdale Central Holiday Classic with a 48-46 win in the opening round.

The game featured eight lead changes and four ties while Rockford Auburn (7-5) built a 22-20 lead at the half. Stevenson (6-5) pulled the game even at 32-32 at the end of the third quarter. The Knights scored the first seven points of the fourth quarter to open up a 39-32 cushion. Stevenson brought the lead down to one point with 1:44 remaining, but came no closer as the Knights held on for the two-point win.

Armir Danforth and Rakim Chaney paced the Knights in the victory, finishing with 17 and 16 points, respectively. Danforth scored his 17 points while shooting 6-of-18 from the floor while Chaney shot 6-of-11 to total 16 points. Tazheer Henderson came off the bench to score six and collect a team-leading 10 rebounds. The Knights shot 37.5 percent (18-of-48) from the floor in the win.

Stevenson was led by Aidan Bardic’s 17 points in the loss. Atticus Richmond added 10 points and seven rebounds while Jack Dabbs added eight points and a game-high 12 boards. The Patriots outscored the Knights 32-18 in the paint.

Rockford Auburn will face Brother Rice in tomorrow’s second quarterfinal contest at 5:15 p.m. Stevenson will tackle Plainfield East in a consolation round game tomorrow at 11:00 a.m.