Loyola grabs big rebound win, New Trier takes another close loss in annual War on the Shore

Evanston, Loyola Academy and New Trier high schools again welcomed talent from outside the region to the friendly confines of the North Shore on Saturday, Jan. 27.

It was New Trier’s turn to host the annual War on the Shore basketball tournament, held for the 13th time raising money for the Danny Did Foundation.

After the Wildkits downed St. Patrick’s, 49-45, Loyola Academy took advantage of a chance to rebound with an impressive performance against highly ranked Bloom Township.

The Ramblers, just a few hours following a Friday night defeat at the hands of St. Pat’s, jumped all over Bloom. Thanks to a 23-1 run, Loyola took a 30-10 lead into the halftime break.

From there, the Ramblers rolled to a 53-39 victory, improving to 20-6 overall.

Donovan Robinson led the way with 17 points for Loyola, while Brendan Loftus grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked two shots. Andrew Hollerich added 10 points and Jimmy Tarjan and Miles Boland 9 apiece.

In the nightcap, New Trier went back and forth with West Aurora.

The Trevians’ early lead slipped away in the second quarter and they never could reclaim it for long, falling 66-65.

New Trier dropped to 21-5. Four of the Trevians’ losses have been by four points or fewer.

With a 62-48 victory on Friday night against host Glenbrook South, the Trevians moved to 6-1 in the Central Suburban League South with three more league games (Evanston, Feb. 2; Glenbrook South, Feb. 6; Glenbrook North, Feb. 9 — all at home) remaining.

Loyola coach Tom Livatino founded the War on the Shore 13 years ago to showcase North Shore basketball, while also raising money for the Danny Did Foundation. The foundation was started in 2010 by Loyola graduate Mike Stanton and his wife, Mariann, who lost their 4-year-old son, Danny, to a seizure in his sleep.

The organization fights to prevent deaths related to seizures and epilepsy. Epilepsy impacts more than 3.4 million people in the United States and one on 26 Americans will develop epilepsy.

Livatino previously said of the shootout, “When I started this 12 years ago, it was to celebrate basketball on the North Shore, specifically Loyola, New Trier and Evanston. It quickly pivoted to have a much more important role and that’s to celebrate Danny Did for the great work that they do.”

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