Tuesday lacked the major top-25 matchup we saw to open the season. There were still plenty of local IHSA storylines to keep tabs on, however, as Thanksgiving events continued.
Here's a look at some Tuesday storylines, and a brief look at three top-25 matchups on the schedule for Wednesday.
If you have scores, stories, highlights or updates, don't be shy to hit us up on Twitter @NBCSPreps or @Phillipshoops. Coaches, players, ADs, parents and fans are also encouraged to email me (phillipshoops@gmail.com) with any stories we should be tracking this season.
Be sure to catch High School Lites this Saturday at 11 p.m. on NBC Sports Chicago as we'll have highlights and reactions from the eight football state title games as well as some basketball happenings from the first week of the season.
THINGS TO KNOW FROM TUESDAY (11/26)
1. Fenwick junior Bryce Hopkins puts up huge game against Westinghouse
It didn't take long for Fenwick star junior forward Bryce Hopkins to make headlines this season. Following an opening-night win for the Friars, Hopkins added 44 points in an 87-74 Tuesday night win over Westinghouse.
The Louisville commit is clearly showing that he's a serious force to contend with this season -- and it's a big reason why Fenwick is in the preseason Preps Power Rankings despite being a rather young team. Hopkins has a rare combination of size and skill that is tough to contain at the high school level -- particularly if teams don't have frontcourt size.
Fenwick gets a major test against Benet on Wednesday night, a defense that should at least have a proper scheme that Hopkins will have to attack.
2. No. 3 Bloom gets huge lift from new starter Christian Shumate in win over Thornwood
The addition of Plainfield East transfer Christian Shumate should make a major difference for the Blazing Trojans this season. The ultra-athletic wing gives Bloom yet another Division I-caliber weapon to use on a team that already had four returning Division I starters.
But for Shumate to get 24 points and 14 rebounds for the Blazing Trojans in a win over Thornwood is a great sign. It shows that a chemistry and trust is already starting to develop between the familiar starters and Shumate. The double-double also confirms that Shumate can more than hold his own if asked to take over in some games.
I'm still interested to see who ultimately becomes the closer at the end of tight games for Bloom. Will it be a committee approach or will someone step up? That's an early-season storyline to follow when they play in close games.
3. Freshman Jabe Haith's buzzer-beater lifts Elgin Academy over Elgin
Perhaps our first buzzer-beater of the season! And a fun David-vs.-Goliath angle to boot.
Elgin Academy, with an enrollment of just over 100, toppled crosstown school Elgin, with an enrollment of over 2,500, with a 73-70 win in the Westminster Christian Thanksgiving event.
Freshman Jabe Haith is the hero for the Hilltoppers, as he not only buried the game-winning three-pointer, but he scored 13 of his team-high 23 points in the fourth quarter. Elgin Academy found itself down by 10 in the fourth quarter before clawing back for the win.
It's tough to project how Elgin Academy might fare after this. But Haith is certainly a freshman to monitor with a gutsy performance like that. And this is a potential program-changing win for a school that has a minimal basketball presence in the area.
THREE THINGS TO WATCH FOR WEDNESDAY (11/27)
No. 17 Homewood-Flossmoor at No. 8 Marian Catholic, 6:00 p.m. -- Things really start to get interesting in the Chicago Heights Classic with this matchup of top-20 teams. Both teams are already 2-0 -- although H-F scraped by with a close one against Rich East on opening night.
No. 11 Hillcrest at No. 3 Bloom, 6:30 p.m. -- Another awesome game as part of the Chicago Heights Classic. Bloom gets to face an intriguing Hillcrest team that features a lot of talented juniors. Can the Hawks prove that they can compete with the area's best this season? Looking forward to seeing how Julius Rollins and company battle the Blazing Trojans in an early-season, high-stakes game.
No. 20 Niles North at No. 15 DePaul Prep, 7:00 p.m. -- I haven't mentioned the annual Battle of the Bridge Thanksgiving event between hosts Lane and DePaul Prep but this will be a great one on the North side. DePaul Prep is starting mostly non-seniors, so I'm interested to see how they fare against an All-Area candidate in Niles North senior Aquan Smart.
FINAL THOUGHT
What's the IHSA free-throw record for makes and highest percentage in one season?
Because based on Glenbrook South senior Dom Martinelli's Harden-like production early this season we might need to keep an eye on this throughout the year.
After 37 points and 18-for-19 free-throw shooting in a win on Monday over Uplift, Martinelli had another ridiculous game on Tuesday in a win over Zion-Benton. Martinelli went 18-for-18 from the free-throw line to finish with 29 points.
That makes Martinelli an absurd 36-for-37 from the free-throw line this season. The sheer number of makes, and the percentage, likely leads the state through two nights of the season.