By Fred Kroner
Oakwood placed fourth in the eight-school Monticello Hoopla Tournament, which ended on Thursday (Dec. 28).
The Comets lost to the host Sages, 54-31, in the third-place game.
Alec Harrison knocked down a team-high nine points. Cort Vermillion had seven points and Carsen Dudley chipped in with six points.
Other Oakwood point-makers were Alex Wallace (four points), Jackson Dudley (three points) and Brandy Hobick (two points).
Monticello scooted into a 14-2 lead after one quarter and upped its advantage to 35-14 at halftime.
The Comets advanced to the third-place game by virtue of back-to-back wins on Wednesday (Dec. 27). Oakwood handled Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley, 69-58, and also defeated Paxton-Buckley-Loda, 57-46.
Carsen Dudley led the way against GCMS with 19 points. Jackson Dudley (17 points) and Harrison (12 points) also reached double figures.
They were followed by Brody Taflinger (nine points), Vermillion (eight points), Ben Darling (two points) and Bryson McDaniel (two points).
The Comets trailed, 16-11, after one quarter and 30-29 at halftime before rallying for the victory.
Against PBL, Jackson Dudley tossed in 12 points while Taflinger and Vermillion notched 11 points apiece. Carsen Dudley scored nine points, Harrison had six points and both McDaniel and Hobick contributed four points apiece.
The Comets expanded a 12-11 first-quarter lead into a 28-17 margin by halftime.
On Tuesday (Dec. 26), McDaniel was the team’s top scorer in an 80-37 loss to Tuscola.
McDaniel scored eight points. Wallace netted six points. Contributing five points apiece were Carsen Dudley, Jackson Dudley and Taflinger. Harrison and Vermillion added four points apiece.
Tuscola led, 40-21, at halftime and then secured the win with a 30-point third period spree.
For the tournament, Carsen Dudley was the team’s top scorer (39 points), followed by Jackson Dudley (37 points), Harrison (31 points), Vermillion (30 points) and Taflinger (25 points).
Harrison led the Comets in rebounding at the tournament (27), Taflinger led in assists (10) and Carsen Dudley had the most steals (six). Taflinger was Oakwood’s most accurate free throw shooter (among players with a minimum of five attempts), sinking 8 of 8 shots.
Both Dudleys were chosen for the 10-player all-tournament team.
Oakwood (10-4) returns to action on Tuesday (Jan. 2) at Hoopeston Area.
