This deep in the playoffs there are some juicy matchups. What do you expect when it's one and done. March Madness at it's finest and excitement builds with each step in the playoffs. Moat of the top matchups are on Wednesday, as Tuesday the 1 seeds play and are expected to advance. Could have some surprises though on Tuesday. Who's on upset alert? Here we go:
Class 4A:
Upset alert: #25 Evanston Township at #2 Glenbrook South(Glenview): I would normally not call this one a possible upset, not with Glenbrook South hosting the Sectional. This will depend on the status of senior guard Cornell commit Cooper Noard. He had a violent collision with a Niles North player in regional final. Lots of blood from a gash over his eye. What will be his availability? If he's out that gives the Wildkits a great chance to pull the upset. They lost by 16 on this court in December and lost by 6 at home. It is said it's hard to beat a good team three times. Will that be the case on Tuesday?
Upset alert: Neuqua Valley(Naperville) vs #9 East(Oswego): East is looking for the first sectional title in the history of the school. Neuqua Valley with their star guard Jayden Dean and senior forward Cole Vonnahme have to be huge in this game for the chance. East has lost only once this season and has not lost in 2022. Will the pressure of trying to make history get to them in this round?
Upset alert: #20 Bloom Township(Chicago Heights) vs #8 Kenwood Academy(Chicago): Cobb brothers(junior KJ, sophomore Gianni) will have to handle the pressure of Kenwood to have a chance. Bloom Township has a big man who could end Kenwood's dreams of their first sectional title. He's senior Emondrek Erkins Ford(6'9") who has had 3 triple doubles this season which includes block shots. Kenwood has no one to really deal with him with possible exception of junior forward Solomon Mosely(6'6"). Broncos may use sophomore forward Jaden Smith(6'9") to keep Ford off the glass.
Bartlett Sectional: #23 Benet Academy(Lisle) vs #5 Wheaton Warrenville South: 3 vs 2 seed this could be a tight one as both teams play at a methodical pace. Two of the top coaches in the state in Gene Heidkamp and Michael Healy. Point guard Danny Healy will be key to control tempo for South. Junior Brady Kunka will be key for Benet.
Glenbrook South(Glenview): #16 Rolling Meadows vs #7 New Trier(Winnetka): Rolling Meadows lost by 4 to New Trier a month ago at the War On The Shore at Loyola Academy. Meadows led at halftime and halfway through the third quarter, then junior Cameron Christie missed a lot of shots he usually makes, and New Trier took the lead for good. Have the Mustangs grown up since then? Senior forward Dartmouth commit Jackson Munro had a huge game offensively. Junior forward Mark Nitkovich-Wilson went right at Munro in the first half. If he can maintain that the entire game in this matchup AND Christie can shoot like he normally does, Could be an upset here.
Proviso West(Hillside): #18 Lyons Township(LaGrange) vs #14 Curie(Chicago): Will Curie's youth catch up with them? They only have one senior on the roster, Phoenix Bullock. Lyons is an experienced team and can win playing any kind of tempo. Can Lyons point guard Akron commit Tavari Johnson handle the Condor's full court pressure defense? Could open up a lot of open three point shots for their wing shooters. Lyons will have to stay even on the glass. Playing(and losing) to #1 Glenbard West three times may actually help them in this game.
Thornwood(South Holland): St Rita(Chicago) vs Homewood Flossmoor: What a battle this could be inside. St Rita sophomore Bigs Illinois commit Morez Johnson Jr(6'9") and James Brown(6'9") vs senior forward Christian Meeks(6'6"). I was told by someone in the St Rita camp they could make a surprising run in the playoffs. Sophomore point guard Jaedin Reyna left the team a couple of weeks ago. Could this be addition by subtraction? Guard play will be a big time key in this game, which team can get their Bigs involved.
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