Saturday offers the third annual "Playing for Pride Shootout" at Lisle High School.

Of the 20 teams involved - including St. Francis, Wheaton Academy, Timothy Christian and the host Lions - St. Anne, Leo and Peoria Christian reached the 2004 Class A Elite Eight. The latter two made the Final Four, and Leo won the title.

As well, Rock Falls and Rock Island Alleman both are in the top 16 in the latest poll at Illinois Prep Hoops.com.

"It's going to be a good day of basketball," said Mark D'Amico, whose Lisle club plays Herscher in the last of the 10 games, which run in two gyms from 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m.

St. Francis plays St. Anne at 3 p.m. and Timothy Christian plays Rockridge at 5 p.m.

Wheaton Academy is matched up against Peoria Central at 1 p.m., a tough turn coming off tonight's game at Illiana Christian, which also is Playing for Pride.

Wheaton Academy is making 40 percent of its free throws and thus far has Jeremy Parker, Matt Almaraz, Mark Aloisio and John Tillery all scoring at least 9 points a game. The defense, though, has been iffy.

A week after beating Rockford Guilford 58-36, Wheaton Academy lost 81-68 to Chicago Christian.

"It's one of those things where a coach kind of pulls his hair out," said Warriors coach Andy Euler.

The Peoria Christian game should be fun. Euler jokes that Peoria coach Fred Fox stole the Warriors' offense - "and actually improved it" - after attending a clinic at which Euler spoke.

"Their kids just play so hard and so well together, they're always attacking - that's what you've got to stop," Euler said.

This year's Playing for Pride also offers North Lawndale, Manley, Latin, Illinois Valley Central, Hope, Eastland, Hartsburg-Emden and Springfield Cavalry.

"If you like basketball," D'Amico said, "it's a good day to see a lot of good teams from all over the state."