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PLANO – It’s that time of year again.
Morris’ boys basketball team completed the first half of its season by losing a heartbreaking 60-58 overtime decision to the host Reapers in the consolation championship of the 53rd annual Plano Christmas Classic.
“We really wanted to win the game with Plano on Wednesday for us to complete a 3-1 tournament and close out the first half of the season above .500 at 7-6,” Morris coach Joe Blumberg said. “We played poorly offensively in the fourth quarter. On defense, we allowed 18 points in the first half and 42 in the second half and overtime.”
Morris opened up the 2015-16 campaign by winning three of four games and finishing in second place at the Coal City Turkey Classic. It rolled past Gardner-South Wilmington and then fell to IC Prep before defeating Serena and the host Coalers.
A win over Seneca was followed by a five-game losing streak, which extended into the team’s Plano Christmas Classic opener against Sandwich. Shooting only 30 percent from the floor, Morris fell 44-27 to the Indians on Dec. 23.
Three of those losses opened up the Northern Illinois Big 12 East campaign. After falling to Kaneland and DeKalb, Morris suffered a heartbreaking loss at Yorkville, for a 0-3 mark.
Senior Matt Shaw went off for 35 points to lead Morris past Somonauk in the team’s second-round game at Plano. Then it shot 51 percent in a 53-39 late-night victory Tuesday over Fenton on Tuesday.
Sophomores Tyler Spiezio, and Aurelius Lennon-Rios shined in the heartbreaking loss to Plano to close the tournament.
“The 6-7 record, although not where we wanted to be, can partially be blamed on our tough schedule,” Blumberg said. “The Northern Illinois Big 12 Conference is very good. DeKalb (9-3) and Kaneland (9-2) are outstanding basketball teams. Yorkville (8-5) is another fine team, who we lost a tough one to, at Yorkville, in December.
“Matt and Jordan (Miracle) have been our leaders and had fine first halves of the season. With Tyler and Aurelius improving every game, we should have a good second half of the season. One bright spot for us in the tournament was the continuing improvement of our sophomores. We have been through a lot in the first half of the season. I am proud of how hard the kids have worked through the transition that we faced in the first half of the season.”
“The first half of the season was a learning experience for us,” Lennon-Rios said. “We have a number of individual talents on our team. We can do a lot of great things, 1-on-1, but as of collaborating as a team, we really needed to work hard in that area. I truly believe we will have a coming-out second half of the season, as our hard work will pay off.”