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Scouting DuPage County boys basketball sectional semifinals

By David Oberhelman and Kevin Schmit

doberhelman@dailyherald.com

kschmit@dailyherald.com

No. 6 Belvidere (16-16) vs. No. 3 Glenbard South (19-9)

Class 3A Woodstock North sectional semifinals

Game time: 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Road to the sectional: Belvidere beat No. 9 Woodstock North 48-30 and No. 5 Genoa-Kingston 63-55 to win the Woodstock regional title. Glenbard South beat No. 6 Marmion 68-53 and No. 1 Burlington Central 60-57 to win the Glenbard South regional title.

Outlook: Belvidere coach Aaron Pearson admitted the Bucs have been up and down, 8-8 in a NIC-10 that includes Rockford Boylan, playing in Wednesday's semifinal. The young Bucs have played 21 games against Class 4A opponents. Strong and tough on defense, Belvidere averages 30 rebounds and 9 steals. Rock Valley College recruit DeAnte Barnes is the tallest, a 6-5 guard averaging 13 points and 7 rebounds. Junior two-year starting guard Austin Revolinski is the top defender and joins guard Eric Munoz as top 3-point threats, though overall Belvidere shoots about 37 percent. Povilas Riauba's 3-point basket at the buzzer against Burlington Central gave Glenbard South its first regional title since 2009. The hero may get more chances from the arc, but the overall height advantage of 6-5 Billy Bair and Charlie Bair and 6-4 Johnny LaPonte could create that high-low post game the Raiders like. Guards Jonathan Walker, Cullen Cuchetto and Brandon Whiteside will be key to handling the Bucs' pressure.

Advancement: The winner advances to play winner of Wednesday's sectional semifinal between No. 1 Boylan Catholic and No. 2 Kaneland in the sectional final at 7 p.m. Friday.

No. 1 Benet (27-3) vs. No. 4 Hinsdale South (22-9) Class 4A East Aurora sectional semifinals

Game time: 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Road to the sectional: Benet beat No. 17 Willowbrook 56-46 and No. 9 Naperville Central 41-37 to win the Benet regional title. Hinsdale South beat No. 13 Metea Valley 55-40 and No. 5 Downers Grove South 74-55 to win the Glenbard East regional title.

Outlook: For the top-seeded Redwings to continue their march toward a second Peoria appearance in three years, they'll need to contain one of the state's dominant players. Six-foot-10 Northwestern-bound center Barret Benson scored 24 points and grabbed double-digit rebounds in the regional final win over Downers South, and Benet doesn't have one player who can defend him. It'll take a cumulative post effort from Dan Sobolewski and others. The Redwings also must be wary of the perimeter presence of Brian Kern, who matched Benson's 24 in Friday's win, and 6-5 Sean McCormack's impact around the basket. Benet hasn't shied away from any challenges this year, including a pair of regional wins by a combined 14 points. While seniors Sobolewski, James Dockery and Jason Malonga bring consistency, Benet's at its best when getting a 3-point threat from Jack Nolan, who knocked down three 3s against Naperville Central, and others.

Advancement: The winner advances to play the winner of Wednesday's sectional semifinal between No. 2 Glenbard West and No. 6 York in the sectional final at 7 p.m. Friday.

No. 2 Glenbard West (25-3) vs. No. 6 York (19-12)

Class 4A East Aurora sectional semifinals

Game time: 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Road to the sectional: Glenbard West beat No. 15 Proviso West 69-40 and No. 10 Hinsdale Central 48-44 to win the Hinsdale Central regional title. York beat No. 11 West Chicago 38-37 and No. 3 Naperville North 47-40 to win the Lyons Twp. regional title.

Outlook: Now that Glenbard West dispatched two conference foes that beat the Hilltoppers in the regular season, they must beat a third Silver rival to advance to the sectional final. Glenbard West, which broke a program record for wins in a season by claiming its first regional title since 2008, received 35 of its 48 points from William & Mary-bound Justin Pierce and Alex Passi in its regional final win. Connor O'Shea, Chris Langan and others need to keep contributing, especially from 3-point range, to keep York's defense honest. The Dukes, regional champions for the fourth straight year, make a habit of frustrating teams with their matchup zone. The offense relies on the balance of guards Ryan Camp, Jack Morrissey and Jack Julian, and Patrick Grabowski in the post. Grabowski led all scorers with 16 points in Friday's win over Naperville North. The Hilltoppers won both Silver meetings by double-digit margins but haven't played York since the first week of February.

Advancement: The winner advances to play the winner of Tuesday's sectional semifinal between No. 1 Benet and No. 4 Hinsdale South in the sectional final at 7 p.m. Friday.

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