Girls Basketball: Marist Motors to No. 1 in Rankings

High-energy RedHawks improved to 10-0 Wednesday night and claimed the top spot in the Patch Power Rankings.

1. Marist (10-0): The pass-happy RedHawks followed up Monday’s 67-33 demolition of Lockport with a 61-20 rout of Bishop McNamara on Wednesday night. 2. Lincoln-Way East (4-0): Griffins will end a long layoff when they make the trip to Joliet tonight. 3. Marian Catholic (5-2): Six-foot-1 junior Megan Walsh is asserting herself as an inside force. 4. Homewood-Flossmoor (7-3): Senior guard Danielle Woolfolk scored 23 points in H-F’s 56-40 win over Rich Central on Monday and proved once again she can take over games down the stretch. 5. Rich Central (8-3): Olympians were without starting guard Alex Stanford, post player Layne Murphy and coach Bryan Craig in Monday’s loss to H-F. The three were serving IHSA suspensions after being ejected from …

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Football: Marist's Complete Game Too Much for Marian

Redhawks are impressive in all aspects of Friday night's game, and the Spartans are left with a homecoming loss.

Play a complete game. That's what the Marist RedHawks have been waiting to do this season, and on Friday night they did just that. Through an on-and-off drizzle at Marian Catholic, the RedHawks scored through the air, on the ground and on specials teams to earn a 52-27 victory over the Spartans, dampening Marian's homecoming festivities. “We talked about playing a complete game, and it's a thing where our special teams, our offense, our defense, everyone did an absolutely tremendous job (tonight),” Marist head coach Pat Dunne said. Though fireworks were planned for after the game, Marist didn't feel like waiting. The Redhawks lit up the night the very first time they touched the ball. Following a Marian 80-yard touchdown drive that …

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Facing Marian Ace Really No Big Deal for Marist Baseball Team

RedHawks can deal with overpowering stuff on the mound; their challenge is coping with classmate's untimely death.

The Marist baseball team faced a tough challenge when it squared off against Marian Catholic ace Brett Lilek in a 4-1 setback on Monday afternoon.  Lilek is considered one of the best junior pitcher's in the state. Couple that with the fact the RedHawks have struggled to get clutch hits, and one would think the task would prove too much to handle. But the harsh reality of the real world hit the RedHawk program early Friday morning when players learned one of their classmate's--Paul Simmons Jr.--died after collapsing while playing basketball during a senior lock-in at the Southside school. “I can’t speak for the kids on how they feel, but I know their playing with heavy hearts,” RedHawks coach Tom Fabrizio said. Simmons was one of the …

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A Fab Four of Locals Playing in the Major Leagues

A new baseball season begins with four Southland products on big league rosters: Tim Byrdak, Jason Frasor, Tom Gorzelanny and Garrett Jones.

Another major league baseball season begins today in Chicago. The Cubs play host to the Pirates at Wrigley Field. Meanwhile, the White Sox are set to open in Cleveland. And, while all eyes will be on the two Chicago ballclubs, don’t forget about some of the homegrown talent playing elsewhere in the majors. Namely: Byrdak, a 5-foot-11, 190-pounder, is a left-handed relief specialist. His job is to come in and retire left-handed hitters. And he has been very effective doing just that throughout a career that has spanned parts of nine major league seasons. Byrdak has limited left-handed hitters to a .202 batting average during stints with the Astros, Tigers, Orioles and Royals. He won a spot in the Mets’ bullpen this spring. Byrdak went 2-2 …

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PatchCast: A Daily Video Report

Daily PatchCast: TIF Tiffs, Idol Interview and Volleyball Victory

A daily video recap of the Southland's top stories

UPDATED: Village to State: Leave TIFs to Us Continuing Care 'Idol' Effect Continues to Resonate with Medina, Ramos Game of the Week: Defending Boys Volleyball Champ Marist Opens with Win over Providence

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PatchCast: A Daily Video Report

Daily PatchCast: Scams, School Cuts and Basketball

A daily video recap of the Southland's top stories

Elderly Woman Swindled in Walt's Parking Lot D229 to Start Cutting Coaches and Club Advisors Trolley Barn Moves Into Second Century of Business District Officials: Despite Empty Space in Cherry Hill, Consolidating Not… Extra Points: Marian Catholic Benches Homewood-Flossmoor Marist Subdues L-Way East Attack

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Hoops: Give These Girls a High Five

Sports Editor Ron Kremer ranks the region's top girls basketball team's from 1-5, plus the five knocking on the door.

1. Marian Catholic (27-4): Four players scored in double figures in the Spartans’ 95-34 victory over Lincoln-Way Central, led by Jasmine Matthews’ 19 points. Next: Tonight vs. Providence in Class 4A Providence Catholic Regional final. 2. Lincoln-Way East (24-5): Griffins take care of business in 60-29 victory over Crete-Monee, but won’t get to battle vs. Sister School in regional final as Lincoln-Way North falls. Next: Tonight vs. T.F. South in Class 4A Crete-Monee Regional final. 3. Marist (25-5): RedHawks dispatch of Shepard 62-24 behind 13 points from Asiana Bey. Next: Tonight vs. Sandburg in Class 4A Shepard Regional final. 4. Homewood-Flossmoor (21-7): Charnelle Reed, Danielle Woolfolk and Sydni Johnson advance in Three-Point Showdwon…

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Hoops: Give These Girls a High Five

Sports Editor Ron Kremer ranks the top area girls basketball teams from 1-5, plus the five knocking on the door.

1. Marian Catholic (25-4): Spartans take down Trinity 57-49 behind a game-high 19 points from Simone Law. And that was just the week’s appetizer. Next: Friday vs. Fenwick. 2. Lincoln-Way East (20-5): Taylor Johnson lights up Homewood-Flossmoor with 33-point performance as the Griffins notch a 62-51 victory. And now some are wondering, "Kelly who?" Next: Tonight vs. Lockport. 3. Marist (24-4): Randyll Butler's 8-footer at the buzzer boosted the RedHawks to a thrilling 65-63 victory over Fenwick. No better way to prepare for playoffs. Next: Tonight at Trinity. 4. Homewood-Flossmoor (19-6): Charnelle Reed scored 22 points in the Vikings' loss to Lincoln-Way East. She had 13 points and three rebounds earlier as H-F rallied from 10-0 deficit to…

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Hoops: Give These Girls a High Five

Sports Editor Ron Kremer ranks the top area girls basketball teams from 1-5, plus the five knocking on the door.

1. Marian Catholic (22-4): Spartans score sweep at Sweet 16 tourney, but blizzard puts ESCC title tilt vs. Fenwick on hold until Friday, Feb. 11. Next: Saturday at St. Viator. 2. Lincoln-Way East (19-5): Kelly McGovern (injury) is missed. But Caitlin McMahon and Taylor Johnson have picked up the slack for the Griffins. 3. Marist (22-4): Life is good. RedHawks dominate in win at Loyola. JeTaun Rouse scores 30 points in 80-43 victory over Johnsburg. Next: Saturday vs. Carmel. 4. Homewood-Flossmoor (18-5): Vikings’ guard Charnelle Reed (17 points) shines in 54-45 victory over Lockport. Amena Brent (10 rebounds) makes an impact on the boards. 5. Andrew (19-2): Molly Franson continues to play more like a senior than a freshman. T-Bolts will …

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