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:
Class 4A:
University of Illinois Chicago:
#3 Whitney Young(Chicago)(24-9) vs #6 Kenwood Academy(Chicago)(26-8): Well we know a Chicago Public League team will be in Champaign. Which one though? City Champ Young or first time Sectional Champ Kenwood Academy. They split their meetings with Young winning in City Semifinals, and Kenwood winning at Proviso West Holiday tournament title game. Veteran Coach and three time state champ Tyrone Slaughter vs second year Coach Mike Irvin who's more known for running the Mac Irvin Fire Nike EYBL travel club. First game neither junior point guard played but they will be key in this one. Will Dalen Davis(6'0") handle the Kenwood press? Is Darrin "Dai Dai" Ames(6'1") healthy enough to put his stamp on the game? Key to me for Young is junior guard Marcus Pigrim(6'3") will have to play a good game for Young to advance. Key for Kenwood Academy is they will need a huge game from junior wing Davius Loury. He will have to contend with senior wings Northern Illinois commit Xavier Amos(6'8") and Miami(FL) commit Andre Casey Jr.
Forest View Educational Center(Robert Morris University):
#19 Barrington(27-4) vs #2 Glenbrook South(Glenview)(33-2): Glenbrook South will be heavily favored. Can they handle the pressure? Just won their first ever Sectional title which was played on their home court. I will say they better not underestimate the Broncos. They have senior Washington University St Louis commit Will Grudzinski(6'6") and senior guard Daniel Hong(6'2"). Glenbrook South has senior forward Elon commit Nick Martinelli(6'7") and senior guard Cornell commit Cooper Noard(6'2") who had a huge game vs New Trier(Winnetka) in Sectional Final. Titans will have to get junior guard Rodell Davis Jr of Glenbrook South to get back to his double figure scoring and aggressiveness on offense. Grudzinski has to make Martinelli play hard on the defensive end. Senior center Nate Boldt(6'10") will have to be an intimidator in the paint for Barrington.
Illinois State University(Normal):
Quincy(28-5) vs #8 Bolingbrook(24-6): Quincy is a downstate team who used to be a powerhouse in high school basketball specifically in the 1980's. They upset Normal Community giving them their second loss in the Sectional Title game. Quincy has won 9 straight. Best player is senior New Orleans commit Jeremiah Talton(6'5" wing). Otherwise a very young team. Bolingbrook features junior guard Mekhi Cooper(6'0") along with senior Michael Osei-Bonsu(6'5") who is a monster in the paint. The Brook will need a big game from 6'9" junior forward Donoven Younger to get back to the State Finals.
Northern Illinois University(DeKalb):
#1 Glenbard West(Glen Ellyn)(34-1) vs #20 Larkin(Elgin)(31-3): Glenbard West is an overwhelming favorite as their closest game in the playoffs was 27 points in Sectional Final vs Wheaton Warrenville South. They played once this season and Glenbard West won by 23 points, and DID NOT PLAY WELL!!!!!! I was at that game and Larkin like most had trouble with that 1-3-1 zone. Will it be as effective on the college court? Glenbard West has 5 starters who will be playing division one basketball. Hilltoppers really top a bunch of hills with their size(6'4",6'6",6'7",6'9",6'11). Larkin's tallest player is 6'3" guard Fernando Perez Jr, and Armani Ivy. Their best player is North Dakota State commit senior point guard Damari Wheeler-Thomas. They will have to hit an ungodly percentage to have a chance to win this game. Glenbard West has the best player in the state with Gonzaga commit Braden Huff(6'11"). He's a guard, forward, center who can play all over the court. Princeton commit Caden Pierce(6'6") at the top of the zone and quick hands to get steals for breakaway layups. All can shoot, pass, score, rebound, and dribble. A total breakdown by Glenbard West would have to happen and I just don't see it. Hence games have to be played so we will see.
Comments