The
Hinsdale Central Holiday Classic has had more than its share of memorable
moments in its first five years of existence. Listed here
are the Top 10 Moments in HC Squared history.
At the bottom of
the page, you can submit your memory which will be considered in our
All-Time Top Ten.
|
|
|
10. IT'S HARD TO TOP JUSTIN
--
From the first day of the inaugural 2015 Hinsdale Central Holiday
Classic, Saint Charles East's Justin Hardy became synonymous in
scoring points at the HCHC. Hardy played twelve games over
three years at HC Squared an became the tournament's all-time career
scoring leader by scoring in double digits in every game he
played on the Hinsdale hardwood. The Washington University
recruit ended his three years of tournament play with 233 points --
83 points ahead of second place on the career scoring list. |
|
| |
|
9. TITLE GAME BLOCK PARTY
--
The two teams playing each other in the 2018 Championship Game were
familiar with each other. Marian Catholic and
Homewood-Flossmoor met earlier in the year during Thanksgiving Week
and played at the Hinsdale Central Holiday Classic the year before
in the Consolation Championship. Familiarity with each other
certainly paid dividends for the defense, as the two teams combined
for an all-time record 24 blocked shots. At the end of the
first quarter, the two teams had a collective five made baskets and
11 blocked shots. Marian defeated the Vikings 52-45 to capture
their first Hinsdale Central Holiday Classic title. |
|
| |
|
8. FREE BASKETBALL --
The first day of the inaugural Hinsdale Central Holiday Classic was
a bargain for those that were watching in the stands. The
eight games saw three go into overtime, and one of those took double
overtime to decide a victor. The extra basketball started
right away with Richards defeating Hope Academy 74-67 in the first
ever HC Squared game. Four games later, DePaul College Prep
beat Saint Charles East 50-47 in one extra session, and two games
after that, Hinsdale Central took two additional periods to defeat
Crete-Monee 66-59. The rest of the tournament saw five games
decided on the final possession. |
|
| |
|
7. THAT'S A LOT OF WINS --
Homewood-Flossmoor's quarterfinal victory over Rockford Auburn was
not only noteworthy to see the Vikings advanced to the 2015 HCHC
Final Four, but it marked the 1,000 victory in program history.
In it's 56 year basketball history, H-F won 25 regional
championships and advanced to the state finals three times,
finishing third in 1985 and second in 2004. In its first two years
at the Hinsdale Central Holiday Classic, the Vikings have won more
games (6) and had more Final Four appearances (2) than any other
team. |
|
| |
|
6.
THE COMEBACK KIDS --
Never mind the win-loss record. Saint Rita entered the 2017
Hinsdale Central Holiday Classic with a 5-7 record and didn't seem
to earn the respect that they deserved. The Mustangs trailed
in the fourth quarter in three of their four games, including the
championship tilt -- where they were chasing defending HCHC champion
Bolingbrook with five minutes remaining in the game. The
Mustangs outscored their four opponents 57-31 in the fourth quarter
of their four HC Squared games, en route to becoming the first team
to win the HC Classic after entering the tournament with a losing
record. |
|
| |
| |
|
5.
IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED --
In its first four years at the Hinsdale Central Holiday Classic,
Homewood-Flossmoor played in the championship game of HC Squared
three times, and finished in second place in each of those games.
2019 was a better outcome for the Vikings, as they captured their
first ever HCHC title by defeating DePaul Prep 53-48 in overtime.
H-F outscored the Rams 5-0 in the extra session to capture its first
championship. |
|
| |
|
4. AND THE BAND PLAYED ON AND ON
AND ON --
Well there was no band present during the final quarterfinal game of
the 2016 Hinsdale Central Holiday Classic, but the basketball went
on for a long time. In what was the fourteenth longest game in
IHSA history, DePaul College Prep outlasted host Hinsdale Central
64-62 in six overtimes. The evenly matched contest featured 21
ties and 22 lead changes. The score was even tied at the end
of the first and second quarters -- as well as the end of the fourth
quarter and after each of the first five overtimes. Hinsdale's
Jack Hoiberg tied the scored at 36-36 converting on a traditional
three-point play with 11 second left in regulation. Six
periods later, Matthew Tonkel tipped in the game winner. |
|
| |
| |
|
3. PERFECTION ON THE COURT --
Going into the final day of competition, there were a number of
worthy candidates for Tournament Most Valuable Player of the 2016
Hinsdale Central Holiday Classic. When Bolingbrook won the
title 67-62 over Homewood-Flossmoor there was little doubt who the
top player should be. The Raiders' Nana Akenten had an
impressive stat line in the title game with 23 points and 13
rebounds, but the most telling stat would be found on Bolingbrook's
cumulative four game composite. Akenten played 104 minutes and
never made a turnover. |
|
| |
|
2. YOU CAN'T LOSE IF YOU DON'T FALL
BEHIND --
Crespi Carmelite liked to be in the lead. In their four game
sweep of the inaugural Hinsdale Central Holiday Classic, the Celts
won their opener by 26 points, but captured victory in their last
three games -- each by single digit margins. Crespi didn't
have think about many comebacks, as they never trailed one second in
any of their games. In 128 minutes played over four games,
Crespi led for 122 minutes and 32 seconds and saw the scored tied
for five minutes and twenty-eight seconds. |
|
|
| |
| |
|
1. INSTANT REPLAY BUZZER BEATERS --
Willowbrook didn't have much last second heroics in their first
two games of the 2019 Hinsdale Central Holiday Classic. They
were beaten at the buzzer in the opening round and then lost by a
single point in the second round on a basket with two seconds left.
Senior guard Everette Stubblefield III made sure to rewrite history
in the third round. Stubblefield hit a 30-foot three-pointer
to send the game to overtime and then tallied a 50-foot
three-pointer to win the game at the end of overtime.
Click here to watch the two buzzer beaters. |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
Now it's your turn to vote for your
favorite memory. Click on the below icon to register your most
memorable Hinsdale Central Holiday Classic moment and we will update
the list. |
|
| |
|
|
 |
|
or send your vote
to:
hcholidayclassic@hotmail.com |
| |
| |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
|
