That part of the season where we are really, really getting close to the end of the regular season has quickly snuck up on us. Sectional seeding time is here next week, so it’s one last opportunity to make an impression, though there aren’t a whole lot of marquee matchups.
There are some pivotal conference clashes to keep an eye on.
Here is a preview and some picks for the weekend’s top games.
Last week: 5-1
Season: 25-11
Kankakee (21-3) at Rich (16-7)
Here are a pair of talented, ranked teams each looking for a big late-season win for different reasons.
Rich has been so topsy-turvy with extreme highs (win over No. 1 Kenwood) and some real lows (the start of the season blues and walloped by Benet). So an impressive performance and win over a ranked team would instill more confidence in the Raptors for everyone.
Take a look at Kankakee’s pretty glitzy record. The season has been successfully steady overall, but it’s lacking the signature wins. The Kays have fallen to Bolingbrook, Rich and Curie in their three biggest tests. Lincoln Williams and Company have two more shots at signature wins — Friday at Rich and Feb. 17 at Waubonsie Valley.
But this one is for first place in the Southland Conference and a week before sectional seeding time.
The pick: Rich 70, Kankakee 63
Hersey (18-4) at Rolling Meadows (21-3)
A win here would clinch the MSL East for Rolling Meadows and guarantee yet another trip to the MSL title game later this month. These two already met a month ago with Rolling Meadows claiming a 48-45 win.
Hersey is a talented group led by a veteran coach in Bob Widlowski who is familiar with Rolling Meadows. But it’s also a team that has suffered three lopsided, double-figure losses. Hersey has gone out and walloped three teams they should take care of since a head-scratching 15-point loss to Prospect two weeks ago.
This veteran senior group at Rolling Meadows, led by Marquette recruit Ian Miletic, has been there and done it in key MSL games. They get it done again — barely.
The pick: Rolling Meadows 58, Hersey 55
St. Ignatius (21-4) at DePaul Prep (23-3)
Can St. Ignatius muck up the top of the Catholic League with what would be a huge road win?
DePaul Prep and Brother Rice have one loss apiece atop the Catholic League while Ignatius sits right behind those two with a pair of league losses. Ignatius, however, has very winnable games to close out the season; Brother Rice still has a road date at Mount Carmel. So an Ignatius win here over DePaul would throw everything up in the air.
Northwestern recruit Phoenix Gill and junior Chris Bolte continue to carry St. Ignatius. Those two together consistently put up 35 points a night. But senior Ryan Cavanagh has provided steady play, outside shooting and some clutch moments.
DePaul went through the meat-grinder part of its schedule, playing six ranked teams in a three-week period that ended with two tough one-point losses to H-F and Brother Rice. The Rams are rejuvenated with a few easy wins since.
The defense is still DePaul-like, but the offense has more punch with the combination of Rykan Woo, AJ Chambers, Makai Kvamme and big man Rashaun Porter, who is a legit problem inside for the Wolfpack in this one.
The pick: DePaul Prep 55, St. Ignatius 48
Saturday
Brother Rice (22-3) at West Aurora (16-8)
A unique game from a team, conference and geographical standpoint as two highly-regarded historical basketball programs meet in a late-season matchup.
There is a definitive favorite, yes. Brother Rice just keeps knocking off ranked teams and has climbed to No. 5 in the Super 25. West Aurora’s record won’t jump out at you, but the Blackhawks welcomed back Terrence Smith in January and have ripped off 11 straight, including a nice pat-on-your-back win over Geneva.
Smith, the Iowa football recruit, is the athletic veteran and double-figure scorer since his return, but sophomore scoring point guard Travis Brown is one to watch.
Brother Rice just keeps humming along behind Marcos Gonzales and Jack Weigus. The Crusaders, however, begin a tough stretch to close out the regular season with games against West Aurora, St. Laurence, Mount Carmel and Lincoln Park.
Those down-the-stretch games could very well determine if this Rice program can wrap up a third straight 30-plus win season, which is no small accomplishment.
The pick: Brother Rice 66, West Aurora 57
Fenwick (18-8) at Hinsdale Central (24-2)
Since a 13-2 start to the season, which included a surprise run to the title game of the Jack Tosh Holiday Classic at York, Fenwick is just 5-6 since. But it’s a balanced team that has surprised this season and owns wins over Mount Carmel and Rich Twp.
The grit of guard Ty Macariola and the spirit of 6-5 Nate Marshall, a burly football star headed to Michigan, resonates with this team. Plus Dominick Ducree and Kam Hogan provide some offense.
But can the Friars add another signature win on the road against one of the hottest teams in the state?
Hinsdale Central has been on an absolute tear. If the Red Devils can take care of league rival Downers Grove North on Friday night — no small task — they will be riding a 22-game win streak into its matchup with Fenwick.
Vincas Buzelis is playing at an all-state level for the Red Devils, while Dillon Orozco delivers leadership and some big perimeter shots in the backcourt.
The pick: Hinsdale Central 55, Fenwick 50