By Dan McGrath

Pekin Holiday Tournament, first round

Junior Asa Harris scored 11 of his 15 points in the second half Monday as the Leo Lions pulled away to a 56-36 victory over Springfield Lanphier in the first round of the Pekin Holiday Classic in Pekin, Ill. 

Harris also had five assists and two steals as Leo improved to 9-1 heading into the Tuesday winner’s bracket meeting with Washington (7-3) at 11 a.m. Fellow junior Brian Kizer led the Lions with 16 points, while freshman Andre Tucker had nine of his 11 in the first half.

Lanphier (3-7) endured an eight-minute dry spell over the second and third quarters, during which Leo stretched a three-point lead to 14 points. A brief 5-0 spurt, fueled by Demond Porter’s three-point play, got the Springfield squad within nine points with two minutes remaining in the third quarter, but Kizer’s three-point play restored the Lions’ 12-point lead, and Lanphier would get no closer. 

The 16-team tournament field also includes Chicago powerhouses Simeon, Mount Carmel and Crane. All games are available for viewing on the Pekin Community High School YouTube Channel.