The transfer of junior point guard Marshawn Cocroft from Aurora Christian to Kaneland has been like putting the band back together for many of the Knights.
Senior forward Freddy Hassan indicated why.
“We’ve known him since fourth grade,” Hassan said of Cocroft. “I just played basketball in recess back then and didn’t get serious about it until freshman year, but we’ve always been close.
“Marshawn and I have grown up in the same (Montgomery) neighborhood. We always talked, always did stuff together.”
Their connection was evident Saturday night as they teamed up to lead top-seeded Kaneland in its successful defense of the tournament title at the 61st annual Plano Christmas Classic.
Hassan scored a team-high 23 points and Cocroft added 20 before a packed house as the Knights squeaked out a 91-85 win over sixth-seeded Yorkville Christian.
Cocroft, who had 71 points and 20 assists over four games, was named tourney MVP for Kaneland (12-1). He was joined on the all-tournament team by Hassan, the 2023 tourney MVP who had 70 points and 37 rebounds.
Junior guard Jayden Riley kept Yorkville Christian (11-4) close by scoring a game-high 39 points for the second time in the tournament. Sophomore guard Tray Alford added 23 points.
Riley made the all-tournament team but also made a strong case for MVP with tourney-best 116 points and 28 assists.
Junior guard Evan Frieders, however, is happy the band that includes sophomore center Jeffrey Hassan and junior guard Isaiah Gipson is playing again at Kaneland.
“We’re a family,” Frieders said. “We all grew up together and we’ve all played on the same AAU team coached by Marshawn’s dad.
“First day of summer league, Marshawn fit right in. Everything came right back. The kid’s a baller — does it all. He makes it easy for us. And, he gets his.”
Cocroft played for Aurora Christian’s varsity the past two seasons, leading the Eagles last winter to a fourth-place finish in Class 1A.
“He’s quiet but a leader,” Kaneland coach Ernie Colombe said of Cocroft. “He’s not cocky, just confident, and he’s been in big games before, which kind of helps us steady the ship.
“He plays both ends of the floor, plays hard and has been a pleasure to have so far.”
Frieders opened the championship game assigned to defend Riley, whose strong suit is driving to the basket, much like that of Cocroft.
In the previous three tournament games, Riley went 6 of 19 on 3-pointers.
“Our game plan was to turn him into a shooter,” Frieders said. “We knew he liked to get down low, kick it out or make his move to the lane and get layups. But the game plan changed halfway through when he hit multiple 3-pointers.”
Riley made five of his seven 3-pointers in the first half, including one at the buzzer to give the Mustangs a 35-34 lead.
Kaneland went to a zone in the second half to give help on Riley, who still came up with 19 points.
The game was tied six times in the fourth before Cocroft sliced through traffic, his layup giving the Knights the lead for good at 79-77 with 2:00 remaining.
“Marshawn finishes through contract and gets through tight spaces,” said Colombe, who could have been describing the 6-foot-1 Riley as well as the 6-0 Cocroft. “He’s just crafty. He gets in there, doesn’t get his shot blocked much and plays the game really balanced.”
Cocroft said you couldn’t beat the atmosphere.
“We haven’t been in a close or high scoring game like this,” Cocroft said. “I felt it was a good challenge. I try to be a playmaker, get my big men open for dunks and shooters for threes.
“Hopefully, I fit in pretty well.”
There’s no doubt about it.
“It’s good to have him back and playing with his buddies,” Colombe said of Cocroft. “They’ve got good chemistry.”
