Hinsdale Central's winter basketball tournament boasts a stellar lineup of teams
A week from today, local high school basketball fans will get what's been on their holiday wish list.
The ninth edition of the Hinsdale Central Holiday Classic basketball tournament tips off Thursday, Dec. 26, beginning a four-day hoops fest featuring 16 teams from across the region and some of the area's top prospects.
Joe Spagnolo, Red Devils assistant varsity boys basketball coach and HCHC organizer, said he looks forward each December to witnessing the hard work of the preceding year materializing into thrilling hard court action.
"Our focus is to get good programs with good players and good coaches," Spagnolo said.
Some teams have become familiar participants over the years, while new entrants also are welcomed each year.
"We've never had a year where we've kept the same field," he said. "I've always tried to keep it fresh so it's a good blend. It's not something where we just dust off a folder in December."
With a roster of teams representing 15 different conferences, Spagnolo said that diversity results in intriguing match-ups. Brother Rice head coach Conte Stamas certainly appreciates that element.
"We're able to see a lot of different styles, and lot of quality teams that I don't normally see," said Stamas, whose Crusaders placed fourth in the HCHC last year.
And rarely are games one-sided, noted Stamas, after his team played two overtime contests.
"There's so much depth to the tournament. It's not just a couple marquee teams and then a lot of teams that don't have a lot of notoriety," he said.
This year Burlington Central and Wheaton Academy are making their HCHC debut, while Brother Rice, Hinsdale Central, Lane Tech, Maine South, Marian Catholic, Morgan Park, Morton, Niles North, Oswego East, Plainfield East, Rockford Auburn, Schaumburg, Saint Charles East, and Saint Rita are previous participants.
The Red Devils, for their part, will begin their quest for the title against Plainfield East at 5:15 p.m. Dec. 26.
In addition to compelling on-court dynamics, Spagnolo said spectator enjoyment is a priority.
"From college coaches looking at talent to parents watching their kids on the team to local basketball fans, we want their experience to be a positive one," he said.
Online ticket sales streamlines the process, and parent volunteers keep the concessions stand operating smoothly. Innovation has always fueled the HCHC, Spagnolo asserted, like when it became one of the first tournaments to institute a shot clock three years ago. All high school games in Illinois will have a shot clock starting with the 2026-27 season.
"You have to roll with the times and you have to be a good listener and be a good observer," he said. "We want to be a frontrunnner in everything we do."
Forward thinking requires advance planning. Spagnolo started assigning referees three months ago for the tournament - in 2025.
"It's kind of a 15-month process. We want to get the best officials, and officials want to work this event because they know that they've arrived when they've gotten here," he said.
Stamas said he's glad he switched his squad from its previous longstanding winter break trip to the HCHC.
"I knew that (HCHC) would be run as a first-class tournament, so I wanted to get into it as soon as we could," he said. "Good organization, keeping games on time, getting quality officials."
Spagnolo praised his tireless volunteers and also thanked local businesses for providing refreshment for tournament officials during the 14-hour days. He even enlists college sports information directors to help compile player stats and oversee social media coverage. Stamas said he expects his team's HCHC performance to shape the trajectory for the remainder of the schedule.
"I've seen teams take advantage of a Christmas tournament and use it as a springboard for success the rest of the season," said Stamas, with Brother Rice winning 16 of their 18 post-HCHC games last year. "I think (our good play) really helped us last season, and we are definitely using it as a measuring stick going forward."
Spagnolo is gratified to see how the tournament has been embraced by so many in the Hinsdale area.
"We want this to be a community event. We want this to be their event, and I think we've succeeded in that," he said, adding that even he can relax a little once games start. "The easiest four days for me are the days the tournament runs."
The HCHC runs Dec. 26-30. Tickets prices are $8 for one full-day admission and $25 for a tournament pass. They can be purchased at the gym entrance or in advance at http://www.hcholidayclassic.com.
