What's the best way to get a view of tomorrow's area high school basketball talent?
For two weekends in January, the Notre Dame High School gymnasium is transformed into a giant window into the future as the 16-team Notre Dame High School Invitational Grade School Tournament is held.
The tournament, which held its opening round on Jan. 3, concluded Jan. 11 with Immaculate Conception of Jackson emerging as champion. Immaculate Conception defeated St. Vincent of Cape 58-52 in the championship game.
The long-time tournament has always been a stop along the way for future high school players.
"A lot of these kids will go to Notre Dame, but a lot go elsewhere," said tournament organizer and Notre Dame coach Chris Janet. "Probably everyone on our team played in this tournament."
Janet isn't sure how many years the long-standing tournament has been around, but notes, "I played in it when I was in grade school. It's really a big tournament for the eighth grade kids."
The tournament has grown in size. Once an eight-team field, the tournament grew to 12 teams before it expanded to 16 teams seven years ago.
The 16 teams in the tournament are comprised of eight teams in the North League and eight from the South League. The first-round games pit North against South.
"It's kind of a North-South challenge, if you will," said Janet. "Everybody get to play everybody different.
"I think a few more teams would like to be in it. It's been a pretty popular tournament."
Janet said no team is usually dominant from year to year, which makes for an interesting tournament.
The North fared well in this year's tournament, winning six of the eight first-round games against the South. The four semifinal teams all hailed from the North.
Immaculate Conception of Jackson, the top seed in the top half the bracket, defeated St. Vincent of Perryville in the one semifinal, while St. Vincent of Cape, the No. 2 seed in the bottom bracket, bumped off St. Mary's in the other semifinal.
Along the way, Immaculate Conception of Jackson also beat Immaculate Conception New Madrid and St. Paul Lutheran.
St. Vincent had also defeated St. Ambrose, and Immanuel Lutheran.
In the championship game, Bryant Beussink led Immaculate Conception's charge to the title with 20 points. His teammates Seth McDowell, Brent Knaup and Steven Sauer each scored nine points.
Nathan LeGrand led St. Vincent with 19 points. Paul Unterreiner added 11 points and Tim Wencewicz tallied 10.
The other tournament placements: St. Vincent of Perryville, third; St. Mary's, fourth; St. Paul Lutheran, fifth; Immanuel Lutheran, sixth; St. Denis, seventh; Nell Holcomb, eighth; CTLS, ninth.
Named to the all-tournament team: Bryant Beussink (I.C., Jackson), Seth McDowell (I.C., Jackson), Tim Wencewicz (St. Vincent, Cape), Nathan LeGrand (St. Vincent, Cape), Marcus LeGrand (St. Mary's, Cape), Chad Ozark (Immaculate Lutheran, Perryville), Michael Birk (St. Paul, Jackson), Major Burger (Kelso C7, New Hamburg), Tyler Wengert (St. Vincent, Perryville), Tim Winningham (CTLS, Frohna).
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