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In the Fremd sectional, they're ready to jump to it

With regional play beginning on Leap Day on Monday, boys basketball teams from the Mid-Suburban League and surrounding areas are hoping to vault their way to a Class 4A sectional title.

The entire MSL along with St. Viator are among the 22 teams that will vie for the Fremd sectional title in 12 days.

"It is a very even sectional," said Fremd coach Bob Widlowski, whose team received the second seed. "So teams better be ready to ball if they want to move on."

MSL champion Conant (19-6) is the top seed in the sectional and will host its own regional. The Cougars, who were regional champs last year are looking for their first sectional title since 2007, and the program's fifth under coach Tom McCormack.

"The thrills get even bigger when you accomplish things down the road," McCormack said. "We are excited to continue that."

Conant, which is led by MSL West player of the year Jimmy Sotos along with Ryan Davis and Michael Downing, will meet the winner of Monday's game between Buffalo Grove (9-17) and Rolling Meadows (7-19). The MSL East rivals split their two games this year.

The other matchup in the Conant regional will be one of the top first-round games.

It features Elk Grove (18-9), which shared the MSL East title with Prospect. The Grens are led by MSL East player of the year Joey Gatziolis along with Fulton Wingba, Bradley Hubley and and Tyree Howard.

The Grens will face Palatine (17-12), which was a regional champion last year and is led by Matt Ulrich and sophomore Johnny O'Shea.

Fremd (21-6), which has won six sectional titles, is looking for its first under Widlowski, who has been there for 13 seasons. The Vikings, who have received strong play all year from Kyle Sliwa, Patrick Benka and Payton Kim, will meet the winner of Wheeling (7-19) and Grayslake Central.

With a win there, the Vikings would have either MSL each co-champ Prospect (14-11) and the hot shooting Frankie Mack and strong inside play of Matt Szuba to contend with, or regional host Barrington (14-13) which features Will Reinhard, Ben Weber and Jackson Perkins.

St. Viator (17-7), which is the No. 4 seed, is seeking its fifth consecutive regional title. The Lions, who played in the rugged East Suburban Catholic Conference, have lost 3 games this season by 1 point and are led by Danny Walsh, Jake Stepuszek and Kyle Hammarlund.

"We have been battle-tested," St. Viator coach Quin Hayes said. "And we hope it pays off in the end. But you can't win a regional if you don't win your first-round game."

The Lions will meet the winner of Hoffman Estates and Schaumburg, who play in Monday. Hoffman Estates, despite its 10-17 mark, can be dangerous thanks to the play of Jorden Thornton and Brandon Hall. Schaumburg (6-21), which has lost 8 of its last 9 games, has split its two games with Hoffman this year.

McHenry hosts the last regional, which features just one area team in Hersey. The Huskies (13-13), who are led by Joey Coffaro, will play Monday against Dundee-Crown.

A victory would pit the Huskies against defending sectional champion Lake Park (16-10), the No. 6 seed, which has lost 6 of its last 8 games.

Lake Zurich (21-9), who is the No. 3 seed and set a school record for victories this year, could await. But the Bears have also had their struggles recently, going 5-5 in their last 10 games.

Maine West opens play on Monday in the Glenbrook South sectional. The Warriors, who are seeded 20th, will play Waukegan at Loyola Academy.

Leyden, which is the 21st seed in the Riverside-Brookfield sectional will meet Chicago Prosser on Monday in the Whitney Young regional.

  Conant's Ryan Davis and Prospect's Dan Marshall compete for a rebound Wednesday in the Mid-Suburban League championship game in Hoffman Estates. Both teams will compete in the Fremd sectional, with Conant hosting a regional and Prospect hoping to advance in the Barrington regional. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Fremd senior guard Payton Kim shoots over Warren's Jayson Dorsey. The Vikings are hosting a boys basketball sectional which includes all of the Mid-Suburban League; Fremd begins its postseason in the Barrington regional. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
  St. Viator's Danny Walsh tries to get a shot over Hinsdale Central's Peter Blust during nonconference play in January. The Lions begin their postseason with a regional semifinal at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Schaumburg High School. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
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