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Scouting DuPage County boys basketball sectional finals

By Dave Oberhelman and Kevin Schmit

doberhelman@dailyherald.com

kschmit@dailyherald.com

No. 1 Boylan Catholic (30-2) vs. No. 3 Glenbard South (20-9)

Class 3A Woodstock North sectional final

Game time: 7 p.m. Friday.

Road to the sectional final: Boylan beat No. 11 Rochelle 75-55 and No. 7 Marian Central 77-58 to win the Freeport regional title and beat No. 2 Kaneland 59-40 in Wednesday's sectional semifinal. Glenbard South beat No. 6 Marmion 68-53 and No. 1 Burlington Central 60-57 to win the Glenbard South regional title and beat No. 6 Belvidere 56-47 in Tuesday's sectional semifinal.

Outlook: Depth, pace and versatility fuel Boylan, a perfect 16-0 in the NIC-10 bound for its 30th regional title. Seeking a 19th sectional crown and first since 2013, the Rockford school is led by 6-foot-7 post Sam Fehrle, 6-5 wing Zach Couper and 6-3 guard Luke McDermott, but coach Mike Winters will go 11 deep to facilitate pressure defense and up-tempo pace. Eight Titans average at least 4 points, and though Fehrle and Couper can hit from outside, Boylan scored 44 points in the paint against Kaneland. In a sectional final for the first time since 2000 when it won its sole sectional title, Glenbard South will look to 6-5 banger Charlie Bair and rugged 6-foot guard Tim Marks while 6-5 Billy Bair scores from post to arc. Six-four Johnny LaPonte surprises foes from 3, a skill shared by Povilas Riauba. Pressure "D" has caused trouble but Riauba, Marks, guards Jonathan Walker, Cullen Cuchetto and Brandon Whiteside play clean down the stretch. Add Kyle Carli and experience tilts to the Raiders.

Advancement: The winner advances to play the winner of Friday's Bradley University sectional final between No. 2 Peoria Manual and No. 4 Bloomington at the Class 3A Northern Illinois University supersectional at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

No. 1 Benet (28-3) vs. No. 6 York (20-12) Class 4A East Aurora sectional final

Game time: 7 p.m. Friday.

Road to the sectional final: Benet beat No. 17 Willowbrook 56-46 and No. 9 Naperville Central 41-37 to win the Benet regional title and beat No. 4 Hinsdale South 60-43 in Tuesday's sectional semifinal. York beat No. 11 West Chicago 38-37 and No. 3 Naperville North 47-40 to win the Glenbard East regional title and No. 2 Glenbard West 41-32 in Wednesday's sectional semifinal.

Outlook: If anyone can slow down Benet, it might be York. The Dukes' zone and ball press defense completely stymied Glenbard West on Wednesday, to the point where they held the Hilltoppers scoreless the entire third quarter. Benet beat York 51-46 on Dec. 8, but the Dukes surged to a 17-4 lead that night. What turned around the game for Benet? It was defense, which means scoring for both sides in this rematch might be akin to pulling teeth. The Redwings also received a burst of 3-pointers from Jack Nolan, who will be key again breaking down that defense. The rest of Benet's starters - Dan Sobolewski, James Dockery, Jason Malonga and Liam Lyman - all consistently contribute double-digit scoring. York is similar with Ryan Camp, Nick Kosich, Jack Julian, Jack Morrissey and 6-foot-5 post Patrick Grabowski, who didn't play in the first meeting. Considering York eliminated Benet in last year's regional final, this should be a good one.

Advancement: The winner advances to play the winner of Friday's Lockport sectional final between No. 4 Oswego and No. 3 Joliet West at the Class 4A Northern Illinois University supersectional at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

  Benet will meet York at the Class 4A East Aurora sectional final Friday night. Paul Michna/pmichna@dailyherald.com
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