There will be 128 IHSA regional championship games played throughout the state Friday night. Here are six of the best in the area.
Hinsdale Central (29-3) at Curie (22-9)
You have to feel a little for Hinsdale Central. The No. 4 ranked team in the area with 29 wins is going on the road to play a gritty Curie team, one that recently reached the city championship.
Both the Red Devils and Condors are two in-sync teams that play together. But Hinsdale Central is a senior-dominated group with a go-to player in Vince Buzelis.
The pick: Hinsdale Central 55, Curie 50
Lincoln Park (23-6) at Young (19-13)
A city rematch from a December dandy in which Lincoln Park pulled out a down-to-the-wire 74-71 win.
Lincoln Park leans on the balance of Chayse Turner, Kaydin Williams, Jaylen Dickerson and Ahmad Lee.
Young, which has taken its lumps while playing out-of-state teams, is led by athletic senior Antonio Munoz and dynamite junior guard Marquis Clark. The improved Dolphins are playing their best basketball of the season. Lincoln Park has lost three of its last four.
The pick: Young 62, Lincoln Park 60
St. Ignatius (25-6) at Simeon (20-7)
This is a compelling Catholic League-Public League showdown.
The upside of Simeon is of a team that could win the state’s toughest sectional as the No. 4 seed. But the Wolverines, led by Lorenzo Shields, Julien Doyle and Andre Tyler, must first get by Ignatius and a pretty potent 1-2 punch in Northwestern-bound Phoenix Gill (20 ppg, 7 rpg) and junior Chris Bolte (14 ppg, 8 rpg).
On the line for Simeon is an impressive streak of 21 consecutive regional titles while St. Ignatius just won a school record 25th game.
The pick: Simeon 52, St. Ignatius 50
Lane (19-11) vs. New Trier (21-11) at Maine South
The Trevians struggled late in the season without injured junior guard Christopher Kirkpatrick. But he’s back — in his return the 6-3 guard scored 31 in the regional semifinal — and together with senior Colby Smith combine to average 39 points a game.
Lane, looking for its first-ever regional championship, is just 3-10 against teams that have been ranked this year. But a win over New Trier was one of them.
New Trier must find a way to neutralize Lane’s Dalton Scantlebury, a 6-9 big man Lane plays through offensively and who helped lead the Champions to that mid-January win over the Trevians.
The pick: New Trier 57, Lane 52
Bloom (20-8) vs. Joliet West (21-9) at Joliet Central
Both teams finished the regular season strong. Bloom is riding a six-game win streak which includes a pair of wins over Rich; Joliet West has won seven straight.
Both teams feature size, length and athleticism on the perimeter. Bloom boasts the stat-sheet-stuffing Elijah Lovemore in the backcourt and Payton Edwards, an unheralded player and defensive whiz; Joliet West counters with 6-5 Zion Gross (17 ppg), 6-7 Ethan Hillsman (14 ppg) and 6-3 Mickeis Johnson (12 ppg).
The pick: Joliet West 64, Bloom 60
West Aurora (21-8) vs. Downers Grove North (24-8) at Downers Grove South
After winning back-to-back sectional titles, this is familiar territory for DGN. But this Trojans team has earned its plaudits as a no-named, overachieving group that finds ways to win.
West Aurora hasn’t lost since Dec. 27. The 16-game win streak has been fueled by the play of sophomore standout guard Travis Brown and athletic Terrence Smith, an Iowa-bound football star.
The pick: Downers Grove North 48, West Aurora 44