When word spread last week that Proviso West is cutting its boys basketball holiday tournament from 32 to 16 teams this year, Nazareth made a pre-emptive move.
“When we heard they were downsizing, we called [Proviso West athletic director] Calvin [Davis] and voluntarily removed our team from the tournament,” Roadrunners athletic director Duane Buturusis said in an email Tuesday. “We will be competing in the York Invite 2014-2015.”
Nazareth had appeared in the Proviso West tournament the past two years. Last year, the Roadrunners (14-13) struggled after being hit by the transfers of junior forwards George Kiernan (Hinsdale Central) and Tyler Jackson (Vermont Academy).
Other teams that won’t be returning to Proviso West include Glenbrook North, Libertyville, Oswego, T.F. South and Wheaton Academy.