Sectional Final time. Two games from Champaign and some big time matchups of course this late in the tournament. I plan on being at Pontiac for a seismic matchup. Here we go:
CLASS 4A:
EAST AURORA:
Bolingbrook vs North (Downers Grove):
Top two seeds made it to Final of the toughest sectional in the state. The Brook has a great guard package of seniors DJ Strong, Josh Aniceto, and KJ Cathey along with junior Trey Brost and freshman Davion Thompson. North counters with seniors Jack Stanton and Owen Thulin. The Brook has double/double machine junior JT Pettigrew up against senior Jake Reimer. The Brook has more talent but North is trying to win a second consecutive sectional title.
ELGIN:
Stevenson (Lincolnshire) vs Palatine:
Stevenson (Lincolnshire) is a talented team. I talked to some of the parents at the Hinsdale Central tournament asking what was wrong? I said I couldn't put a finger on it but thought they would come together. They have and are in a Sectional Final. They have senior Jack Dabbs who's been a leader. Juniors Atticus Richmond and Aidan Bardic can score and get their own shot. Sophomore point guard Rocco Pagliocca runs the show. Palatine has talented senior Connor May, Tommy Elter, and sophomore Tony Balanganayi.
MAINE SOUTH (PARK RIDGE):
New Trier (Winnetka) vs Glenbrook North (Northbrook):
Rematch of last years sectional final which New Trier won on a last second layup. Senior Josh Fridman of Glenbrook North (Northbrook) did not play in that one and they came that close. Split the regular season meetings. New Trier sophomore Chris Kirkpatrick dominated the regionals and had assistance from seniors Logan Feller and Ian Brown. Watch for sophomore sharp shooter Danny Houlihan off the bench. Glenbrook North has experience besides Fridman. Seniors Owen Giannoulias, Sam Lappin, and Patrick Schaller are looking to win a sectional title. Fridman told me last summer they'd be in Champaign. They are two steps away. So is New Trier from a repeat trip.
RICH TOWNSHIP (RICHTON PARK):
Homewood Flossmoor vs Bloom Township (Chicago Heights): HF has been in my top 5 rankings all year. Senior point guard Gianni Cobb has showed the way, along with fellow senior Carson Brownfield and Mac Hagemaster. Juniors Bryce Heard and JT Tyler have made it a balanced team. Bloom has been a dark horse and dropped out of my rankings right after Christmas. Tough schedule and fighting through some tough losses. Junior point guard Elijah Lovemore has been a triple double machine this season. Fellow junior Payton Edwards has helped with the scoring slack. Seniors Jayden Clark, Marcus Everhart and Santana Flowers have given scoring and rebounding.
PEKIN:
Quincy vs Normal Community:
Quincy has good guards in Junior Bradley Longcor III and Senior Camden Brown. Junior Keshaun Thomas is a load on the interior. Normal though has enough size and brawn to contain him. Seniors Jaheem Webber (6'10"), and Noah Cleveland (6'9"). Key will be senior guards Braylon Roman and Niko Newsome.
RIVERSIDE BROOKFIELD:
Curie (Chicago) vs Simeon Career Academy (Chicago):
Curie has dominated all season losing only two games, one against Illinois teams. They blew out Simeon by 26 points in City Semifinals. Senior point guard Carlos Harris III is making his Mr Basketball case. Senior Taevion Collier is manning the interior very well. Senior wings Will Gonzalez and Christian Brockett are knockdown three point shooters. Simeon is a young team led by veteran Rashard "RJ" McKinnie and talented sophomores Andre Tyler, Lorenzo Shields, Isaiah Coleman, and Kassidy Nelson. First year Coach Tim Flowers has done better than most thought he would guiding a young team. Can they pull another upset?
GUILFORD (ROCKFORD) GAME PLAYED AT ROCK VALLEY COLLEGE:
Warren Township (Gurnee) vs McHenry:
Warren will be heavily favored as they have freshman point guard Jaxson Davis and sophomore Braylen Walker, junior Javerion Banks, seniors Immanuel Brown and Alex Daniels. McHenry has seniorsMarko Visjevac, Hayden Stone, junior Caleb Jett, sophomore Adam Anwar is an inside/outside force. Warren is two games from Champaign. They told me at a football game they'd meet me down there.
CLASS 3A:
THORNTON TOWNSHIP (HARVEY):
Thornton Township (Harvey) vs Brother Rice (Chicago):
Heavyweight matchup. Teams matched up in Vikings United Fall League at Homewood Flossmoor with Brother Rice winning. This one is on the old school home floor of Thornton. Senior Morez Johnson Jr is one of the few matchup nightmares in the state on the interior. He has quality senior guards Isaiah Green, Chase Abraham, and Meyoh Swansey. The recliner boys aka Brother Rice have quality guard play in senior Cale Cosme, junior Marcos Gonzales, and senior Ty Wooten. Senior Zavier Fitch and junior Caden Workman have to hit the glass and keep Johnson from dominating inside.
FENWICK (OAK PARK):
Walter Payton College Prep (Chicago) vs St Patrick (Chicago). Payton is looking for first sectional title ever, St Pats is looking for their first one in a long time. Payton is led by high scoring senior Jakob Blakely but got contributions from everyone in upset of Westinghouse College Prep (Chicago). Seniors Kyle Fogelson and Myles Townsend have picked their games up lately. St Pats has balance in seniors AJ Thomas, Harper Krolak, juniors EJ Breland, Neveah Hawkins, and Cooper Kavanaugh
PONTIAC:
Metamora vs Richwoods (Peoria):
Matchup of the year. The one I predicted would happen months ago. Metamora is defending champ in Class 3A. They have knocked Richwoods out of the playoffs two years running. These teams have circled around each other all year. Well it is time and the matchup is here on the historic court of the first holiday tournament in America. That would be Pontiac. How appropriate in the middle of the state. Metamora seniors Tyler Mason, Luke Hopp and junior Matt Zobrist have championship rings. Senior Cooper Koch transferred in so he's looking for one. Metamora runs their system and does it well. They will make Richwoods guard for long stretches. Richwoods will have to be patient on defense and try to put pressure on Metamora's guards. Senior Lathan Sommerville transferred back into the state and is tough to deal with on the interior. He'll have to get some outside shooting help in this one. Seniors Tavie Smith and Nick Louderman will have to hit some jumpers. Seniors JT Etherly and Jarred Jackson will have to get rebounds in gaps left by keeping Sommerville off the glass.
CLASS 2A:
Wendell Phillips Academy (Chicago) vs Hansberry College Prep (Chicago):
Phillips is clearly the favorite now that Manual (Peoria) is out. Quick team that gets it out and runs with junior guards Armani Edwards and EJ Horton. Seniors Elijah Harris and Michael White Jr contribute. Junior wing Phoenix Childs does a little bit of everything. Sophomore Claude Mpouma is the big that cleans the glass. They'll all have to deal with the Brooks brothers (not the suits) juniors Al Jr and Ikee. Al Jr is a versatile wing and Ikee is a point guard. They will need a third scorer to win this one.
CENTRAL (CLIFTON):
Fieldcrest (Minook) vs Beecher:
Don't know much about Fieldcrest but Beecher is undefeated at 33-0 so trying to complete a historic season. Senior point guard Adyn McGinley runs the team while his teammates are fellow seniors Ethan Rydberg, Jack Hayhurst, Zack Johnson. Junior Orlin Nesbitt handles the interior.
TIMOTHY CHRISTIAN (ELMHURST):
Latin (Chicago) vs Christ The King (Chicago):
Coach Aubery Denard talked to me in September sitting in Jeremy Fears Sr's restaurant on the South Side right down the street from White Sox park. He told me he had a good team that would surprise everyone. His team is in a Sectional Final trying to win the schools first one ever. He has a couple of good players in seniors Ryan Mbouombouo and Nick Rotter Ryan McLaughlin and Rogan McClendon. Christ The King has an inside force in senior Calvin "CJ" Worsham, a double/double machine. Has a partner in the interior in junior Aaron McClure. Guards are junior Darien Green and Christian Buford. This would be their first sectional title.
CLASS 1A:
ORR (CHICAGO):
Marshall (Chicago) vs Hope Academy (Chicago):
Have not seen these teams play this year but Marshall has senior Antonio Tyler, Jalin Jackson, and Britt Williams. Coach Ronnie Fields is trying to get his Hope team to the state finals just like he did as a player at Farragut Academy (Chicago) his junior year in 1995.
HARVEST ACADEMY (ELGIN):
Christian (Aurora) vs Serena:
Aurora Christian has senior Cam Morel and sophomore Marshawn Cocroft who are high level scorers. They are helped by another sophomore Jacob Baumann. Serena only has 3 losses on the season. Top players are seniors Richie Armour, Carson Baker, and Tanner Faivre.