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DuPage County Class 3A and Class 4A boys basketball playoff preview

By Kevin Schmit and Dave Oberhelman

kschmit@dailyherald.com

doberhelman@dailyherald.com

Class 4A East Aurora sectional

Top four seeds: Lyons Twp., Benet, Wheaton North, Hinsdale Central.

Regional hosts: Downers Grove South, Glenbard West, Proviso West, West Aurora.

Players to watch: Barret Benson, Hinsdale South; Colin Bonnett, Benet; Roland Griffin, West Aurora; Nick Jordan, Wheaton North; Mark Konkle, Metea Valley; Harrison Niego, Lyons Twp.; Justin Pierce, Glenbard West; Matt Rafferty, Hinsdale Central; Josh Ruggles, WW South; Jayvon Thomas, York; Alonzo Verge Jr., Willowbrook.

Outlook: Good luck finding a favorite to make it through to the Hinsdale Central supersectional. Lyons Twp. (22-5) and Niego earned the No. 1 seed behind an outright West Suburban Silver championship, but that came as a result of No. 4 Hinsdale Central losing four straight Silver games with 6-7 Rafferty out with a broken hand. Now that the Furman recruit, averaging 20 points and 9.5 boards, is back, the Red Devils (20-6) may be the favorite. But don't count out No. 2 Benet (21-7), the sectional's defending champion. The Redwings are battle-tested after playing DuPage County's toughest schedule. Bonnett, averaging 17 points, is the lone returning starter from last year's Class 4A runner-up team, but a new cast led by Dan Sobolewski helped the program notch its sixth straight 20-win season. Third-seeded Wheaton North has the toughest task among the highest seeds. The Falcons (19-5) have the unfortunate draw of having to play at No. 6 West Aurora (18-8) in regional play. Willowbrook (21-7), which had its 15-game winning streak ended Wednesday, may have the sectional's top player in Verge, a sophomore averaging a DuPage County-high 23 points. Verge, however, didn't play Wednesday and his playoff status is unclear. If Verge is back in the mix, a Willowbrook-Hinsdale Central regional final at Downers South would be must-see basketball. The scariest part of the East Aurora field is its immense depth. Eighth-seeded Metea Valley has won eight straight games and could face Lyons Twp. at Proviso West. Benson, Hinsdale South's 6-10 center, is a nationally ranked junior for the 13th seed. Eighteenth-seeded WW South has one of the state's top shooters in Ruggles. With the Tigers, Glenbard West, No. 7 York and No. 10 Naperville Central, Benet anchors the most-balanced regional at Glenbard West. Not only are several teams capable of making a run to the title at East Aurora, there are numerous players capable of taking over games and spurring upsets.

They said it: "It's about as wide open as I've ever seen it," said Benet coach Gene Heidkamp. "Anybody can beat anybody. There are a lot of dangerous teams at the back end of the sectional, more than there's been in a few years."

Class 4A Bolingbrook sectional

Top four seeds: Neuqua Valley, Bolingbrook, Plainfield North, Providence.

Regional hosts: Joliet West, Lincoln-Way North, Romeoville, Yorkville.

Players to watch: Myles Boykin, Providence; Demond George, Neuqua Valley; Eliyjah Goss, Plainfield East; Troy Howat, Providence; Aaron Jordan, Plainfield East; Kevin Krieger, Plainfield North; Prentiss Nixon, Bolingbrook; Connor Raridon, Neuqua Valley; Trevor Stumpe, Plainfield North; Julian Torres, Bolingbrook; Brodric Thomas, Bolingbrook; Zach West, Oswego.

Outlook: No. 1 seed Neuqua Valley (24-4) is on an island here. Seeking its eighth regional title in the program's 17-year history, the Upstate Eight Conference Valley Division champion is the sole team in the DuPage County coverage area to be competing among this group heavy on Southwest Prairie and Southwest Suburban schools. Neuqua beat No. 18 seed Oswego East, No. 2 Bolingbrook and No. 6 Plainfield East in the regular season, but aside from that when Wildcats coach Todd Sutton opened his drawer of scouting folders shortly after the sectional seeding, he had little on the bulk of these teams. Neuqua has lost to two of them in recent postseasons, by 2 points apiece: Wofford commit Stumpe and No. 3 seed Plainfield North (21-4) beat the Wildcats last season, and Illinois recruit Jordan and Plainfield East (15-11) won in 2012. Plainfield North's losses this season have come by 8 total points. Another lonely team, from the Chicago Catholic League, balanced No. 4 seed Providence (19-9) gets the tab as favorite not only by Sutton but also by former Immaculate Conception coach Darren Howard, who as Oswego athletic director sees many of these teams. (Oswego itself, the No. 5 seed, has won eight of 10 and enters the playoffs at 16-12, tied with Plainfield East at 10-4 in the Southwest Prairie behind 12-2 Plainfield North.) Bolingbrook (18-6) has won 12 of its last 13 games headed by returning all-state guard Prentiss Nixon, a Colorado State commit averaging 18 points. Several coaches noted Plainfield East, which has athleticism, size and senior experience, as the darkhorse winner. Yet Providence coach Tim Trendel said any of the top seven seeds could win it, and Oswego coach Matt Borrowman went even further, stretching into the teens.

They said it: "Providence seems to be the hottest team," said Neuqua Valley coach Todd Sutton. "They had a great run to win the (Chicago) Catholic League tourney. If they can beat Loyola, St. Rita, Hales (Franciscan) and St. Joseph, they can win the supersectional and go to state."

Class 4A Barrington sectional

Top four seeds: Barrington, Lake Park, Palatine, Lake Zurich.

Regional hosts: Cary-Grove, Fremd, Rolling Meadows, Wheeling.

Players to watch: Justin Chaney, Palatine; Jason Gregoire, Cary-Grove; Payton Haas, Hersey; Dan Hadler, Elk Grove; Rapolas Ivanauskas, Barrington; Marcus McDaniel, Lake Park; Patrick McNamara, St. Viator; Kiwaun Seals, Dundee-Crown; Dan Sotos, Conant; Mike Travlos, Lake Zurich.

Outlook: On the heels of winning its first conference title since 2007, Lake Park heads to a sectional filled with Mid-Suburban League teams as the No. 2 seed. The "reward" looks more like a punishment. The Lancers (21-6) play at Fremd, where the No. 7 Vikings (18-8) could await in the regional final. The teams split two games in the regular season. After allowing 45 points or fewer 18 times, McDaniel and Lake Park clearly lean on defense. The Lancers took a step back with Wednesday's loss to Wheaton North, but look for renewed energy as they chase the program's second regional title in four years and first sectional title. Top-seeded Barrington (22-6) claimed the MSL title by beating No. 6 Hersey on Wednesday. Ivanauskas, a 6-9 forward regarded among the state's top juniors, scored 24 points. Third-seeded Palatine (21-8) may be a surprise success story this season, but the Pirates won't sneak up on anyone at this point. Travlos is a 1,000-point scorer for No. 4 Lake Zurich (22-8), another threat to win the sectional title. Fifth-seeded St. Viator enters the postseason well-prepared from facing stiff competition in the East Suburban Catholic Conference.

They said it: "I think you could see anyone from one to eight win the sectional," said Lake Park coach Josh Virostko. "You'll see some upsets and I think it'll come down to the last man standing"

Class 3A Rochelle sectional

Top four seeds: Hampshire, Marengo, Marmion, Rockford Lutheran.

Regional hosts: Belvidere, Burlington Central, IMSA, Marengo.

Players to watch: Deante Barnes, Belvidere; Matt Bridges, Hampshire; Brett Czerak, Aurora Central Catholic; Jake Esp, Marmion; Ryan Fitzpatrick, Burlington Central; Jordan Glasgow, Marmion; Gabe Johnson, St. Francis; Joseph Kellen, Rockford Lutheran; Zach Knoblauch, Marengo; Mike Mooney, Montini; Tommy Lucca, Genoa-Kingston; Jason Sullivan, St. Francis; Nate Wieting, Rockford Lutheran.

Outlook: Except for Wheaton Academy (5-21), seeded sixth at the Burlington Central regional, local interest in this complex resides at IMSA. Last season Kaneland (12-15) beat the IMSA candidates to win its own regional and now is a No. 3 seed at Burlington Central, following 14-14 Burlington Central and No. 1 Hampshire (15-11), where retiring coach Bob Barnett will lend great motivation. IMSA's No. 1 seed, Marmion (17-11), went 6-0 combined against No. 2 St. Francis (15-11), No. 3 Glenbard South (14-12), No. 4 Aurora Central Catholic (12-14) and No. 5 Montini (5-25). Most games were close, such as the Cadets' 47-44 win over Glenbard South on forward Matt Fletcher's buzzer-beating 3-pointer. A prospective regional semifinal between Marmion and ACC, whose sophomore guard Brett Czerak scored 24 points Feb. 21 against the tight defense of Marmion's Jordan Glasgow, would fill every seat. Glenbard South, opening against No. 6 seed IMSA (which Montini just beat by 20 points) figures to send its balanced lineup headed by guard Tyler Scott against St. Francis' trio of guards Jason Sullivan, Gabe Johnson and forward Mike Shaw. Spartans coach Bob Ward knows what it takes, reaching a 2013 supersectional. To get there St. Francis beat Rockford Lutheran, which is a year removed from its 2014 third-place finish. The No. 1 seed at Belvidere and The Associated Press No. 3 team in Class 3A, Rockford Lutheran (24-2) comes off Friday's loss to 27-1 Dixon. Both Joseph Kellen and Nate Wieting have eclipsed 1,000 points for the Crusaders, whose other loss came against Winnebago. Marengo (24-5), seeded first at its own regional and runner-up to Richmond-Burton in the Big Northern East Conference, offers guard Zach Knobloch, who the Northwest Herald reported being 3 from the season record for 3-point baskets. However, the Marengo regional includes Marian Central. The No. 3 seeded Hurricanes (13-15) beat Benet, so anything is possible.

They said it: "There's really not a lot of statistical or on-floor production difference between, really, the top-four (IMSA regional) seeds," said St. Francis coach Bob Ward.

Class 3A Westinghouse sectional

Top four seeds: St. Joseph, Marshall, North Lawndale, Orr.

Regional hosts: Marshall, Orr, St. Joseph, Timothy Christian.

Players to watch: Joshua Adams, Farragut; Jordan Ash, St. Joseph; Darryl Curry, Orr; Ayo Dosunmu, Westinghouse; Robert McGivney, Timothy Christian; Ken Perkins, North Lawndale; Glynn Watson, St. Joseph; Tyresse Williford, Marshall.

Outlook: Timothy Christian's second season in Class 3A will be much like the first - a grind. The one advantage, and it's a big one, is the No. 11 Trojans will host a regional. For a team that improved throughout the season and surged late, it's perfect timing. Seniors McGivney, averaging 9.5 points and 8.2 rebounds, Riley Chapman and Joe Bishop combined with junior Ben Lodewyk, sophomore Joe Davidson and others to lead Timothy Christian to a share of the Metro Suburban East title. The Trojans have won six of seven heading into Wednesday's opener against sixth-seeded Westinghouse. The winner likely will face No. 3 North Lawndale in the regional final. St. Joseph is the clear favorite to win the sectional title with Nebraska-bound Watson, Northwestern-bound Ash and top-rated junior center Nick Rakocevic.

They said it: "I'm excited to host the regional," said Timothy Christian coach Jack LeGrand. "We'll have some tough competition, but playing at home at this time of year is always nice."

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