The quarterfinals had two blowouts and two very exciting games with one going into overtime(Morgan Patk/Whitney Young). All four teams are from the Red South/Central Super Conference which has been very dominant this year. Also three of the teams are from the old Red South(Bogan, Morgan Park, Simeon). Both games are rematches from the regular season. Semifinals and Title Game are at the Jones Armory at 5200 South Cottage Grove(never been in there). Here's the games in order (rankings are according to Big Tim's rankings):
#1 Curie(24-1) vs #23 Simeon(20-8) 5pm: Defending City Champ Curie is coming off a one point win over Orr, while Simeon beat Kenwood Academy by double digits. Curie has player of the year candidate senior wing Ramean Hinton a Southeast Missouri State signee. He has had an outstanding season. Junior point guard Nick Owens has played nice steady basketball on both ends of the court. The addition of senior forward Savion Williams has given the Condors some strong inside play on both ends of the court. Curie has not lost to an Illinois team and has had a great two year run to this point. Simeon for the second year in a row has had a tough regular season up till the CPS playoffs where once again they are starting to put it together. Senior wing Jeremiah Williams has really come on as of late, as has junior guard Fred Poole. DePaul commit junior guard Ahamad "Black Cat" Bynum is scoring as usual but starting to get others involved. Once again the key is sophomore point guard Jaylen Drane who will once again have to play solid basketball against the pesky defense of Owens. Curie beat Simeon 67-66 in December at Simeon. Curie is still playing without it's coach Mike Oliver who has been suspended pending a CPS investigation. I say Curie wins another one and advances to the City Title game once again. This group of Condors seems to put it together in tight games. Also this could be a rematch in a couple of weeks in the Illinois Class 4A LaGrange Lyons Sectional probably a semifinal.
#2 Bogan(23-2) vs #14 Morgan Park(18-8): I know folks say the Battle of Vincennes(Morgan Park/Simeon) is heated but I think this one is more heated. Why? Because not only are they Red South/Central rivals, but they are both in Class 3A and usually either in the same Sectional or Super Sectional. Bogan won in the St Laurence Sectional Final last season and 71-68 in December at home. This year they could be on a collision course for a third match up in the Illinois Class 3A Hoffman Estates Sears Centre Super Sectional. Let's get to the City Semifinal matchup. Bogan has a great backcourt of junior point guard Darrion Jones, the mid range king, and senior guard Antoine Bloxton. Both are explosive scoring the basketball along with Bloxton being a thief in stealing the ball from other guards. Senior wing Kyndall Davis, a Long Island University signee will be a key third scorer in this game. He will have to be aggressive offensively. Bogan's bigs will have to control the glass with senior forwards Tremear Fraley and Ideary Mooney. Bogan has a great back court but I raise you Morgan Park's backcourt of senior point guard Marcus Watson Jr a Wake Forest signee, and senior guard Adam Miller, an Illinois commit. They were huge in the overtime win over Whitney Young, Watson Jr the whole game, Miller in the second half. The Mustangs will have to get junior wing Brandon Weston more involved in the offense. He's an inside and outside force and is playing a very controlled game on both ends of the court right now. He is key not only in his game, but how far they go in the Illinois State Playoffs. Senior wing Isaiah Burrell is a junk yard dog on the glass. The key to me once again is will Weston have a big game? I believe he will and Morgan Park will win this one in a close contest. This will not finish the business I don't think as I see a third match up coming.
There you have it two great semifinal games but I think we will see a rematch of last years controversial title game with Curie and Morgan Park going at it again. Simeon and Bogan are both very capable of ruining that party. We will see. Blessings to all the teams participating.
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