The theme of Friday night’s sectional championship games across the state? Rematches.
Of the 16 title games that will be played in Class 4A and 3A, half of them will be rematches of games played earlier this season. And two more — Normal vs. Quincy and Kaneland vs. Crystal Lake South — are rematches of sectional matchups from last season.
Here are the best of the bunch when it comes to sectional title games in the Chicago area.
Homewood-Flossmoor (30-3) at Rich (23-8)
Senior guard Jayden Tyler (19 ppg) has fueled the defending state champs, who are two wins from returning to Champaign.
But Rich is sky high. Coach Lou Adams’ team is playing on its home floor, won a sectional semifinal thriller in overtime and knows it can beat top-seeded H-F. Rich did just that in the Big Dipper title game in December.
The pick: Homewood-Flossmoor 68, Rich 66
Kenwood (30-1) vs. Curie (24-9) at Hinsdale Central
A rematch of the city championship where Kenwood knocked off Curie.
The state’s top-ranked team, led by superstar sophomore Devin Cleveland, needed a buzzer-beater in regulation and overtime to survive Simeon in the sectional semis.
Curie, meanwhile, has a new look in the second half of the season behind emerging junior Justin Oliver.
The pick: Kenwood 68, Curie 61
Loyola (26-8) vs. Evanston (28-5) at New Trier
The top two sectional seeds meet for the second time this season. Evanston won the first matchup, beating Loyola 49-33 back in January.
Evanston has been ascending all season. Coach Mike Ellis’ team is balanced, plays together and showcases an impressive display of defensive basketball. The Wildkits, led by Theo Rocca, have held their last nine opponents to just 38 points a game.
Loyola has discovered a newfound will to win following an early February hiccup. While Loyola is also extremely balanced — four players average in double figures — it was a single-digit scorer, physical wing Donovan Robinson, who erupted for 26 points in the 45-42 win over Niles North.
The pick: Evanston 48, Loyola 44
Rolling Meadows (29-4) vs. Fremd (27-3) at Schaumburg
Ian Miletic, arguably the state’s top prospect in the senior class, was a March monster in the semifinal win over Stevenson. The Marquette-bound 6-7 senior hit big, clutch shots while pouring in 37 points.
Rolling Meadows, looking for its first sectional title since 1990, beat Fremd 67-62 in the MSL title game a little over two weeks ago with Miletic scoring 20.
Fremd, which has lived a little dangerously and survived in the postseason, is led by junior Jordan Williams and the senior duo of Ryan Brown and Sam Hirsch.
The pick: Rolling Meadows 55, Fremd 53
Downers Grove North (26-8) at Benet (29-5)
Benet rolled over Waubonsie Valley on its home floor behind some hot shooting from 6-9 Daniel Pauliukonis and Jayden Wright, along with 7-footer Colin Stack doing some damage around the basket.
Downers North upset a potent Bolingbrook team in a slow down, grind-it-out 29-26 sectional semifinal win. But asking the Trojans, who have enjoyed a lot of March magic the last three years, to do it again feels like a bridge too far.
The pick: Benet 50, Downers North 42
Lemont (25-7) at Brother Rice (28-6)
Finding a way to contain the Brother Rice tandem of Marcos Gonzales, the Catholic League Player of the Year, and shooter Jack Weigus will be pivotal for a Lemont upset on the road.
Lemont’s Gabe Sularski (17 ppg), Matas Gaidukevicius (13 ppg) and Alanas Castillo (12 ppg) stand in the way of top-seeded Brother Rice winning its first sectional in 20 years.
The pick: Brother Rice 62, Lemont 56
St. Laurence (29-5) vs. Mount Carmel (28-5) at Glenbard South
The last time these two met St. Laurence guard EJ Mosley was dominant with 25 points and five assists, including seven three-pointers, in a 75-65 win. He’s the engine that makes this team go.
Mount Carmel features one of the most dynamic trios in the state in guards Cameron Thomas, Grant Best and Noah Mister.
The pick: Mount Carmel 65, St. Laurence 60