Williamsville's resilience, and other top holiday takeaways for boys hoops around Springfield

Countless boys basketball teams from the Springfield area wrapped up their holiday tournaments on Friday and Saturday.

Here are the top takeaways from around Springfield.

How boys teams fared: Boys high school holiday basketball schedule, results for the Springfield area

How girls teams fared: Springfield-area girls high school holiday basketball tournament schedules, results

Williamsville copes with big setback

Williamsville was riding an 8-0 start until junior guard Blake Shoufler heard something snap.

Shoufler’s promising season came to an end with a broken ankle late in the first quarter in a 48-36 loss to Winchester West Central at the Illinois College Shootout on Dec. 22.

The Bullets only had a few days to process the emotional aftermath of the injury before undertaking the Williamsville Holiday Tournament.

They mastered the setback with remarkable perseverance on the way to the championship game against Tolono Unity before settling for second place.

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“He was doing everything at guard for us,” Williamsville coach Nick Beard said at the start of the tournament. “We’ve talked to our kids; it’s been a tough, emotional last week for our kids and our entire program and, actually, our community. It’s affected a lot of different people.

“He’s a special player. We’ve told our kids, we’re not going to make up for him — there’s no Blake Shouflers around — but we’ve got to get guys to step up and pitch in a little bit. We’re not going to make up 20 points with one guy but if we get two or four from multiple guys ... we’re not giving up.”

Sophomore Nolan Bryant and freshman Brody Neuhoff have stepped up in his place. Beard said he may roll out a point guard-by-committee approach.

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It’s certainly no small void. Beard described Shoufler as an all-state performer.

“He had his doctor’s appointment the other day when we practiced and he wanted to come after,” Beard said. “He was there and he was along the bench tonight (against Deer Creek-Mackinaw) with us. I told him if he’s got anything to say, to step up and speak up. He’s going to help in any way he can.”

Shoufler fully intends to pitch in any way he can on the bench. He also has confidence that his team can navigate the turbulence.

“(Coach Beard) told me if I see some things to point them out,” Shoufler said. “I’ve played a lot of varsity basketball; I see things and I just basically will be another coach out there.”

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West Central cruises to Waverly title

Winchester West Central took its No. 4 seed as a slight and reeled off one dominant win after another in the Waverly Holiday Tournament.

The Cougars, receiving votes in 1A, won their four games by an average margin of 20 points. They led by as much as 22 points late in the third period before fending off Auburn 64-52 in the championship game on Friday for their first title since 2019.

“It kind of gave us a little motivation, and we came in and we got it done,” senior forward Chance Little said of the seeding.

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Senior guard Zack Evans averaged 22.5 points per game throughout the week and was duly named the tournament MVP. He torched Auburn early with nine points in the first period and finished with a game-high 31 points.

“He moves the ball well and shoots the ball well,” Little said of Evans. “All around he’s a good team player and a great teammate.”

West Central (15-2) is certainly not a team to trifle with.

The Cougars graduated one player from last season after going 23-9 but falling to Calvary in the 1A regional semifinals. Evans averaged 21.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.3 steals and was voted Illinois Basketball Coaches Association all-state second team in 1A.

Little provides the muscle down low.

“We’ve been playing basketball for all of our lives together whether it’s with each other or against each other,” Evans said of the team collectively. “We come together well off the court, too. We’re always hanging out together building that team bond, team chemistry. That’s what helps us out on the floor.”

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Riverton surges in Decatur

Riverton is flying high off the Decatur St. Teresa Christmas Tournament.

The Hawks went 4-0 and captured the tournament title with a 58-48 victory over Maroa-Forsyth on Friday, led by freshman guard Julian Rice.

He averaged 19.3 points per game over that span and was named the tournament MVP. He tallied 22 points against Maroa.

Riverton also knocked off host St. Teresa 54-35, Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond 63-31 and Hartsburg-Emden 72-28.

The Hawks moved to 10-2 overall to match their total number of wins from last season.

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Around the city

Both Lanphier and Southeast went 2-2 in their respective tournaments.

The Lions reached the Pekin Holiday Tournament consolation final following a 62-52 victory over Washington after JaiQuan Holman rang up 28 points, three rebounds, three assists and three steals. The junior guard leads the team with 18.4 points per game.

But the Lions (7-7) couldn’t close out the consolation title in a 49-44 loss to Hersey. They were outscored 13-3 in the final period. Lanphier dropped two games in the tournament by a combined eight points, including 57-54 in the opening round against Normal West.

Reggie Rice was a consistent contributor for Southeast.

The senior guard averaged 16 points per game in the Chuck Dayton Classic in DeKalb. He nailed five 3s for 20 points in a 60-50 win over Lincoln Way West before orchestrating 18 points and seven rebounds with three 3s in a 62-55 loss to Manley Career Academy in the consolation championship.

Southeast is now 2-10 overall after it forfeited two wins earlier this season.

Elsewhere, Sacred Heart-Griffin (6-7) went 3-1 and won its consolation title 73-63 over Peoria High in the State Farm Holiday Classic Large School Tournament.

— Ryan Mahan contributed to this story

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Top boys basketball holiday takeaways for the Springfield area