Loyola Academy Christmas Tournament: Sponsored by Credit Union 1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2024 Loyola Academy Christmas Tournament, sponsored by Credit Union 1, brought together top high school girls' basketball teams from across Illinois. This exciting four-day event showcased incredible talent, strong competition, and unforgettable moments, making it one of the most anticipated holiday tournaments in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Host school Loyola Academy claimed the championship, led by <strong>MVP [player_tooltip player_id='352114' first='Aubrey' last='Galvan']</strong>, who delivered as she always does—with a ton of highlights and key plays that helped her team secure the title. But beyond the victory, this tournament gave athletes a chance to compete, connect, and create memories that will last a lifetime.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The tournament wasn't just about basketball—fans enjoyed a fun raffle with prizes ranging from lottery tickets to wine and charcuterie boards. Plus, each day's Player of the Game received a cozy crewneck, adding even more excitement to the event.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The All-Tournament team featured top players like [player_tooltip player_id='773806' first='Abby' last='Ramel'] (Rolling Meadows), [player_tooltip player_id='625058' first='Grace' last='Lee'] (DePaul Prep), [player_tooltip player_id='514895' first='Xyanna' last='Walton'] (Butler Prep), [player_tooltip player_id='661254' first='Kate' last='Donovan'] (Hersey), and [player_tooltip player_id='461884' first='Josie' last='Hartman'] (Carmel Catholic). <strong>Second Team:</strong> Brooke Katzman from Lincoln-Way Central, [player_tooltip player_id='732512' first='Sadie' last='Marks'] from Hersey, [player_tooltip player_id='852975' first='Katie' last='Peetz'] from Lockport, Julia Arulandu from Batavia, [player_tooltip player_id='514931' first='Molly' last='Finn'] from Lincoln-Way West, [player_tooltip player_id='509126' first='Clare' last='Weasler'] from Loyola Academy, and [player_tooltip player_id='486548' first='Layne' last='Nordstrom'] from Lake Zurich. These players stood out throughout the tournament for their impressive performances and contributions to their teams.<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key player stats from the tournament included:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>SCORING LEADERS:</strong></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>•</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='514895' first='Xyanna' last='Walton'] (Butler Prep) – 18.3 ppg</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>• [player_tooltip player_id='461884' first='Josie' last='Hartman'] (Carmel Catholic) – 18.0 ppg</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>• [player_tooltip player_id='352114' first='Aubrey' last='Galvan'] (Loyola Academy) – 17.8 ppg</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>STEAL LEADERS:</strong></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>• Kerminicia Wellington (Taft) – 16 steals</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>• [player_tooltip player_id='352114' first='Aubrey' last='Galvan'] (Loyola Academy) – 15 steals</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>• [player_tooltip player_id='674528' first='Cyra' last='Conwell'] (Butler Prep) / [player_tooltip player_id='661254' first='Kate' last='Donovan'] (Hersey) – 13 steals each</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>ASSIST LEADERS:</strong></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>• Brooke Katzman (Lincoln-Way Central) – 24 assists</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>• [player_tooltip player_id='514844' first='Gabriela' last='Gonzalez'] (Joliet West) – 20 assists</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>• [player_tooltip player_id='352114' first='Aubrey' last='Galvan'] (Loyola Academy) – 18 assists</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>TOP REBOUNDERS:</strong></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>• [player_tooltip player_id='514895' first='Xyanna' last='Walton'] (Butler Prep) – 62 rebounds</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>• Abbey Vancil (Taft) – 39 rebounds</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>• [player_tooltip player_id='515550' first='Makayla' last='Chism'] (Joliet West) – 34 rebounds</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The tournament was a huge success, and Credit Union 1 was proud to support the event, helping to build community and celebrate the incredible talent on display.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><a href="https://www.creditunion1.org/">About Credit Union 1</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Credit Union 1 is celebrating 65 years of helping members reach their financial goals. CU1 is a member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative serving 120,000 members nationwide with 30,000 surcharge-free ATMs and 5,000 shared-branch locations. Credit Union 1 strives to exceed our members' expectations by delivering innovative financial solutions and personalized member service to help achieve their maximum economic potential.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->