PONTIAC - Sixteen points in the game's first five-plus minutes fit the blueprint of an offensive outburst. Yet Bloomington High School basketball coach Jamie Codron was praising his defense after a hefty early lead held up for a 72-63 victory over Joliet Thursday in a first round game of the 77th Pontiac Holiday Tournament. | Box scores, stats, schedules

"We're capable of that," Codron said of the Purple Raiders' 16-2 first-quarter launch. "But that was more our defense. We really locked them up."

No. 8 seed BHS (8-3) extended an 18-5 first quarter lead to 36-18 entering halftime as Tylon McAllister scored 13 of his 16 points and D'Mitri Riggs contributed 10 of his 18 points.

"We were excited about the first half, being in the Pontiac atmosphere," said Riggs, who led all players with 18 points and seven assists. "We were hyped to play."

Joliet (5-6) scored the first five points of the third quarter. After a Bryan Huff basket off a Riggs assist, Riggs turned a steal into a dunk, connected on a 3-pointer and converted a back door cut into a left-handed dunk and a three-point play.

"If he plays hard all the time, he can play anywhere (in college) he wants," Codron said of his 6-foot-3 junior. "He's an extremely gifted offensive player."

Huff joined McAllister at 16 points, while McAllister led all rebounders with 10. Joliet got a team-high 17 points from Matt Sturdivant.

BHS meets two-time defending state and tournament champion Chicago Simeon in the quarterfinals today at 4 p.m.

"We have a chance to play the state champs," said Huff. "We're ready to step up to the opportunity."

Senior Kenny King, a top BHS reserve at guard, sat out the game and is under an indefinite disciplinary suspension, according to Codron.

Warren 58, Pontiac 39: Pontiac was already struggling in the second quarter. Then Warren's Brandon Paul really made it hurt.

Eight straight points from Paul, a junior guard committed to the University of Illinois, were part of an 18-0 run to close the first half that gave the Blue Devils a 35-15 advantage.

"As a fairly young team, we're going to play pretty well for awhile and we're going to play pretty bad for awhile," said Pontiac coach Jake Krause. "That was pretty bad. We didn't take care of the ball. That led to easy baskets for them."

The Indians (7-6) were outscored 20-2 in the second quarter and by just one point in the other three periods.

"We've got to understand we can play with people," Krause said. "But we can't go through extended droughts."

Pontiac, which rallied within 12 points in the third quarter, shot 33 percent from the field and committed 25 turnovers. The Indians, who meet Plainfield North at 6 p.m. today in the consolation bracket, were paced by Matt Hunter with 11 points and Cody Hillier with 10.

Paul led Warren (6-3) with 16 points, 15 rebounds, four blocks and five steals as the Blue Devils outrebounded Pontiac, 42-20.

Simeon 62, Niles West 43: Illinois recruit Stanley Simpson and Illinois State recruit Kenyon Smith carried top-seeded Simeon (4-2) to a first-round victory.

The 6-foot-9 Simpson finished with 21 points, 16 rebounds and three blocks, while Smith hit 5 of 6 shots and scored 13 points to go with four rebounds, three assists and three steals. Smith nailed a 3-pointer at the third-quarter buzzer to give the Wolverines a 38-18 margin.

Danny Zahos topped Niles West with 14. Nik Garcia added 13.

Lockport 47, Jacksonville 38: The second-seeded Porters (8-0) prevailed on the strength of Derrell Williams' 19 points and Rob Carroll's 16.

Chaser Todd scored 18 points for Jacksonville (4-6) on six 3-pointers as the Crimsons matched a tournament record with 10 3-pointers.

Oak Park-River Forest 45, Plainfield North 39: The fifth-seeded Huskies led by just one after three quarters but pulled away for the victory.

Eastern Michigan recruit Daniel Barnes had 21 points and Georgia Tech-bound Iman Shumpert 12 for Oak Park.

Danville 48, West Aurora 45: Mikel Brigham's 20 points and 10 rebounds helped Danville (4-7) upend No. 3 seed West Aurora.

"We defended. To hold a team like that in the 40s, you're playing well," said Danville coach Gary Tidwell, a former Prairie Central standout. "Our big guy, Brigham, was huge on the glass. He got a lot of put-backs when the offense was struggling."

Corbin Spearman and Jamal Blackmond scored 13 points each to top West Aurora.

East Moline United 52, Chicago Curie 49: Sixth-seeded Curie let leads of 14-0 and 34-20 at halftime get away.

East Moline got 17 points from Kannon Burrage.

Peoria Manual 67, Schaumburg 57: Paris Gulley's 21 points sparked Manual (7-4) past No. 7 seed Schaumburg.

DePaul recruit and junior guard Cully Payne had 20 points for the Saxons (8-4).

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