Boys basketball: Scouting the Class 2A Bureau Valley sectional final
Class 2A Bureau Valley sectional final
IC Catholic (23-6) vs. Newman Central Catholic (28-2)
Outlook: IC, which won its first regional title since 2008, 62-57 over Aurora Christian, seeks its first sectional title. Newman Central did it in 1980 and 2012, the latter in 1A. The Knights have been led all season by 20-point scorer Rhashaun Epting, a 6-3 sophomore. Yet in the Knights' 65-63 overtime win against Winnebago senior Clark Brinkman scored 24. Sterling-Newman, No. 3 in Class 2A with three tournament championships to its credit, will go up-tempo and run a dribble-drive offense, IC coach T.J. Tyrrell said. Noah McCarty, a 6-7 sophomore, mans the middle for a good 3-shooting team. Senior guard A.J. Sharp helps provide balanced offense for his father, Comets coach Ray Sharp.
Advancement: The winner advances to play the winner of the Olympia sectional final between Bloomington Central Catholic and Rockridge in Tuesday's Northern Illinois University supersectional.