Boys Basketball

Scouting the NIU boys basketball supersectional

Posted March 16, 2015 1:01 am

By Dave Oberhelman and Kevin Schmit

doberhelman@dailyherald.com

kschmit@dailyherald.com

Class 4A Northern Illinois University

supersectional

Lake Park (25-6) vs. Geneva (29-3)

When: 8 p.m. Tuesday at the NIU Convocation Center, DeKalb.

Road to the sectional: Lake Park beat Hoffman Estates 50-33, Grayslake North 54-50, Palatine 38-32 and St. Viator 58-39. Geneva beat DeKalb 66-52, St. Charles East 73-70, Rockford Jefferson 63-54 and Rockford Auburn 65-62.

Outlook: Look at the heights listed below and you'll find Lake Park's biggest challenge. Matching up with Buffalo-bound Navigato, Fuzak and Vollbrecht will be a handful, although there are post options with 6-2 Michael Karas, 6-4 Chris Filip and 6-5 Mitch Jarosinski. St. Viator became the 21st team held to less than 45 points by the Lancers. Hynes and VanAswegen combined for six 3-pointers as Lake Park won its first sectional title. That kind of perimeter effort again will be critical. Better not fall asleep on Vance in the post. He scored 25 points on Friday. Before Geneva had this much talent, depth at height - eight rotation players from 6-3 to 6-10 - the Vikings relied on defense and tempo. Now they've got Buffalo recruit Navigato. Geneva's all-time leading scorer came out against Auburn with three straight 3s, his fourth 3 triggered a 19-2 fourth-quarter run, and Navigato capped his 24-point night with the game-winning three-point play. Point guard Pace Temple heads a backcourt that has improved its ball possession, and 6-foot-8, 305-pound center Loudon Vollbrecht is a load inside.

Probable starters

Lake Park Geneva

Name Ht. Yr. PPG. Pos. Name Ht. Yr. PPG.

Stefan Meccia 5-10 Sr. 6.5 PG Pace Temple 6-2 Sr. 8.0

Danny Hynes 5-9 Jr. 2.5 G Daniel Santacaterina 6-1 Sr. 1.1

Marcus McDaniel 5-10 Sr. 12.4 G/F Nate Navigato 6-7 Sr. 20.3

Cameron VanAswegen 6-3 Sr. 5.4 F Bennett Fuzak 6-7 Jr. 6.4

Connor Vance 6-3 Sr. 8.0 F/C Loudon Vollbrecht 6-8 Jr. 10.7

Advancement: The winner advances to the Class 4A semifinal against the winner of the Illinois State supersectional between Simeon and Normal, 8:15 p.m. Friday at the Peoria Civic Center.

- Dave Oberhelman and Kevin Schmit

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