How Metamora, El Paso-Gridley won boys basketball holiday tournament titles
ELMHURST — Cooper Koch's late 3-pointer lifted the Metamora boys basketball team to a 72-71 overtime victory over Bolingbrook in the Jack Tosh Tournament title game on Saturday night.
The Iowa recruit secured a pass from Matthew Zobrist, then buried a deep triple with 4.8 seconds left in the extra frame to help the Redbirds win their fifth game in five days at York High School. Koch scored 19 points as Metamora improved to 12-3 and have won nine in a row.
‘@CooperKoch44’s late 3-pointer lifts @MetamoraBBB to a 72-71 overtime win over Bolingbrook in the Jack Tosh title game.
Very impressive performance from the Redbirds to win five games in five days. @Tylermace25 scores 23. Koch adds 19. #pjspreps pic.twitter.com/twIKavQr90— Adam Duvall (@AdamDuvall) December 31, 2023
"That kid is a great player under pressure," Metamora coach Danny Grieves told digiMax Sports Network of Koch. "We all had times tonight where we struggled a little bit. I said, 'It doesn't matter. You got to work through your problems.' The fifth day in a championship game, you got to have a real short memory on mistakes and keep going forward."
Metamora senior guard Tyler Mason scored 23 points before fouling out. The reigning Journal Star player of the year was named tournament MVP as Koch and Luke Hopp joined him on the all-tournament team.
Holiday basketball scores: Boys | Girls
El Paso-Gridley wins on buzzer-beater
BLOOMINGTON — Chancesaye Mixon Jr. swished a deep 3-pointer as time expired to lift El Paso-Gridley to a 49-48 win over St. Joseph-Ogden in the State Farm Holiday Classic small-school title game.
Mixon's late heroics were set up by a steal from Kamre Schumacher at midcourt. The Titans swung the ball around until Micah Meiss found Mixon. The senior (14 points) set his feet and splashed home his four triple of the night.
GAME.
Chancesaye Maxon sinks the three to take home the SSB trophy at the @sfclassic #ClutchUp pic.twitter.com/TbU5UrBWlo— Clutch Sports Media (@ClutchSportsIL) December 31, 2023
"I thought it was good when it left his hands to be honest with you," EP-G coach Nathaniel Meiss told the Journal Star. "It was a good look. He's been shooting the ball really well in this tournament.
"To see him step up at the end and hit a big one was fantastic."
Jonah Funk posted a massive double-double with 19 points and 14 rebounds for the Titans (12-2), who were the No. 1 seed and have won nine in a row. Meiss, who was also named all-tournament, finished 12 points.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: IHSA basketball holiday tournaments: Metamora, El Paso-Gridley win
