Pairings set for Wheeling Hardwood Classic

Pairings for the 33rd annual Wheeling Wildcat Hardwood Classic boys basketball tournament have undefeated St. Viator and Vernon Hills in the bottom half of the bracket.

Pairings were released Monday morning for the 16-team tournament which runs Dec. 27-30.

The tourney begins with Stevenson facing Loyola at 9 a.m. St. Viator, which has reloaded from last year's Class 3A supersectional finish, plays Streamwood at 3;45 p.m. Vernon Hills and standout Davaris Daniels face Wheeling at 7:15 p.m.

Other first-round games in the top half of the bracket are Prospect vs. Naperville Central (2 p.m.), Libertyville vs. defending champion Deerfield (10:30 a.m.) and Notre Dame vs. Kenwood (12:15 p.m.). The other games in the bottom half of the bracket are Lake Park vs. Maine West (5:30 p.m.) and Niles North vs. Carmel (8:45 p.m.).

The championship game is scheduled for 8:45 p.m. on Dec. 30.

York pairings: Five-time champion Conant looks to continue its even-year magic in the 37th annual Jack Tosh Holiday Classic at York on Dec. 27-30.

Conant has won titles in 1996, 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008 and opens with Lyons Township in the first round at 1:30 p.m. on Dec. 27. Palatine opens against York at 7:15 p.m.

Other first-round games are St. Ignatius vs. St. Francis (12 p.m.), Brother Rice vs. Naperville North (3:30 p.m.), Maine South vs. St. Charles East (5 p.m.), Downers Grove South vs. Glenbard South (2:30 p.m.), Wheaton Warrenville South vs. Riverside-Brookfield (4 p.m.) and South Elgin vs. Oswego (5:45 p.m.). The tournament uses two gyms.