PHT: No. 3 New Trier understands challenge posed by Manual

New Trier will enter the Pontiac Holiday Tournament both well rested and riding a wave of momentum.

Peoria (Manual), meanwhile, will arrive at the PHT with a degree of uncertainty, perhaps exacerbated by a degree of rustiness, after its program was negatively impacted by the continuing ill-effects of the pandemic.

But the schools’ boys basketball programs are still determined to leave their mark on the PHT when tipping off the game of the 90th meet.

New Trier, the third seed, has won 12 of its 13 games and is hitting its collective stride as the new calendar year dawns by already winning an eight-team bracketed tournament in Arizona.

Versatility and resourcefulness have characterized the Trevians’ excellent play thus far.

“We are a team that can play different styles of play,” New Trier head coach Scott Friecke said.

“We want to run, we want to play fast,” Friecke said. “But we are also good in the half-court. We are basically playing five guards.”

Manual will counter the Trevians with a guard-oriented attack as well.

The Rams had two games leading up the tournament rescheduled due to COVID issues at the school.

But Manual head coach Willie Coleman, an indispensable member of the Rams’ time-honored PHT and Class AA state-championship teams at the school between 1993 and 1995, feels his youthful squad is up for any task thrown before them.

“We are not as deep as we normally are,” Coleman said of his current edition, which began the season 3-4. “We have some gaps (in our rotation). Defensively, we like to get after it.”

The Rams do not feature any illustrious scoring machines but instead rely upon a balanced attack.

Juniors Devonte Burse, the Rams’ point guard, and Justin Page average in the neighborhood of 13 points per game.

The remainder of the projected Manual starting lineup features Geuron Trapps and Kameron Causey, both of whom are wing players, and Idius Robertson, who mans the post duties in leading the team in rebounds at 8 per game while augmenting his paint work with 11 points per contest.

The Rams would almost certainly be a force in Class 2A this season once the team hits its expected potential, but Coleman and his administration elected to petition the IHSA to move up to Class 3A for the state series.

“We decided to stay up (in 3A) and play the best possible competition,” Coleman explained.

New Trier, however, has designs of its own on making noise in Class 4A this winter. The Trevians’ offense revolves around two-year starting point guard Peter Kanellos.

“He is invaluable to our team,” Friecke said of Kannelos. “Our point guard sees the court great.”

Josh Kirkpatrick is Kanellos’ running mate in the backcourt as the Trevians’ shooting guard. Jake Fiegen, the lone junior in an otherwise all-senior starting lineup, is another weapon in the Trevians’ arsenal.

“He will do whatever it takes to win games,” Friecke said of Fiegen, a sharpshooter from beyond the arc who can also cause havoc in transition.

Friecke said Noah Shannon has improved greatly as the Trevians’ fourth starter who also has an ability to connect from long range.

“He is an all-around great player,” Friecke said of Shannon.

But the undoubted front court leader for the Trevians is Jackson Munroe, the only New Trier senior starter who has committed — to Dartmouth University.

“(Munroe) is going to fit in real well there with what they like to do,” Friecke said.

Karlo Colak and Finn Cohan are expected to log crucial minutes for New Trier as its top-two reserves.

Donald Wilson and Marquis Woodson will fill the same roles for Manual as the sixth and seventh men, respectively.

Coleman certainly has worries about the defensive challenges New Trier presents.

“They are ranked No. 3 in the tournament for a reason,” Coleman said. “They are tough with that 1-3-1 zone. They are well-coached and are going to be a tough team to beat.”

Friecke is not about to let the Rams’ purported seed impact his players’ preparation for the opener.

“They are a good ballclub,” Friecke said of the Rams. “I know they are a storied program. If they are a 14 seed, then it must be the strongest tournament they have ever had. It’s not like they were 2-7 at the seeding meet. It’s inconceivable to me they could be a 14 seed.”

Coleman seeks to imbue his team with an awareness of potential pitfalls at the PHT.

“You play some of the best teams in the state,” Coleman said of a central message he conveyed to his players. “It’s not going to be a cakewalk. You have to do all the little things to win.”

The victor will face either West Aurora or Lockport in Wednesday quarterfinal action.

This article originally appeared on Pontiac Daily Leader: New Trier, Peoria (Manual) meet in pHT first round