We now have Supersectional Monday since the IHSA moved it up a day. Losing more tradition from Super Tuesday, it is now Super Monday. The biggest day on the calendar for Illinois High School basketball. For most teams now the rest of tournament is on college courts. This could change things for some teams. Teams are so close to the State Finals they can taste it, yet so far off. 32 minutes(maybe more) away from their dreams since they were kids playing basketball in Illinois. America's Original March Madness ratchets up another notch tomorrow night. Memories for these teams will last forever, getting so close to the promised land, or moving on with a chance for the big trophy. A few teams: Kenwood Academy(Chicago), Glenbard West(Glen Ellyn), Lemont, Yorkville Christian and Glenbrook South are looking for their first trips to the State Finals in school history. For Simeon Career Academy(Chicago), Whitney Young(Chicago) this is old hat. Quincy is back in this round after a long absence, used to be a powerhouse program. Here we go in bracket order:
Springfield(Bank Of Springfield Center):
Sacred Heart Griffin(Springfield)(32-3) vs East St Louis(28-5): Sacred Heart Griffin's top players are junior Zack Hawkinson(6'6"), junior point guard Jake Hamilton, and junior point guard KeShon Singleton. Hamilton is a 1000 point scorer. Lost first 2 games of season then won 28 in row before losing final regular season game to Normal Community. East St Louis is very talented and have a couple of big time players. Senior point guard Missouri commit Christian Jones(6'4") who's a 1000 point scorer along with junior forward 1000 point scorer Macaleab Rich(6'6). Rich is a high flyer who averages a double double of 19 points and 10 rebounds a game. Junior forward Demarion Brown(6'8") is dominant in the paint for East St Louis.
Hoffman Estates High School:
#25 St Ignatius College Prep(Chicago)(22-12) vs St Patrick(Chicago)(23-10): Chicago Catholic League vs East Suburban Catholic Conference. This should be a packed gym as they are not playing in a college gym. St Ignatius is starting to live up to preseason hype. I had them Top 10 in preseason. Had a rough schedule and finding a point guard made it tough sledding. Senior AJ Redd(6'3") has settled into the position. Senior forward Air Force commit Kolby Gilles(6'5") and junior guard Richard Barron Jr(6'5") are hard hitters on the wing. Well built and hammer you on the glass, though Barron Jr has a nice three point shot from the corner. St Patrick counters with senior wing Timaris Brown(6'5") who seems recovered from a knee injury. Point guard Brandon Adorno has gone on a scoring tear lately to support Brown. Senior Bryant Handley will be another key for St Patrick. Neither team has been to the State Finals.
University of Illinois Chicago:
#12 Lemont(27-7) vs #5 Simeon Career Academy(Chicago)(27-5): Upstart Lemont who won it's first Sectional Title since 1975 is very young. Best players are sophomore wing Nojus Industraitis(6'6") and junior twin guards Rokas and Matas Castillo(6'2). I call them the Lithuanian Three Headed Monster who has wrecked havoc on Hillcrest and Thornton Township. Will they do the same to Simeon? The guard matchup with seniors Jaylen Drane(6'3"), Avion Morris(5'8"), and junior Jalen Griffith(5'9") will be juicy. Game will be decided on can Lemont slow down the junior twin forwards Miles and Wes Rubin(6'8"). Two sets of twins in this game is intriguing.
Ottawa Township:
St Francis(Wheaton)(27-8) vs Metamora(28-6): I know more about Metamora than I do St Francis. I saw Metamora at the Illinois Spot-Lite Shootout: https://www.bigtimshsbballrevue.com/post/recap-of-2021-illinois-spot-lite-fall-classic. Metamora has two monster talents, junior wing Ethan Kizer(6'6") and junior guard Tyler Swanson(6'3"). Both are great athletes and can jump out of the gym. Senior guard Zack Shroeder(6'3") is another weapon for Metamora. St Francis upset Burlington Central in Sectional Title game. St Francis counters with senior guard Brendan Yarusso(6'1) and senior point guard Sebastian Miller(6'2").
Comments