A mix of new and very familiar faces downstate

The Illinois boys state basketball tournament always produces intriguing stories no matter how many champions are crowned.

The final weekend of the season, featuring the boys in Class 3A and 4A at the Peoria Civic Center, is no exception. Storied programs and star players and relatively unknown programs and players will take center stage in hopes of winning the ultimate trophy on Saturday.

Now it's time for our annual predictions of the eight games with the hopes of stepping up after consecutive 5-3 seasons.

Class 3A

Friday's semifinals

Lincoln-Way West (21-9) vs. Peoria Manual (26-4), 12:15 p.m.

This is an intriguing matchup between one of the state's most storied programs in six-time champion Manual against a 7-year-old Lincoln-Way West program with literally zero history since it went 0-31 in its first varsity season.

But West is the ultimate party-crasher this year after it upset Hillcrest for the sectional title and then stunned 2013 and '14 3A champion Morgan Park 68-60 in the supersectional. Six-foot-2 junior guard Marco Pettinato (20.1 ppg) scored 22 in the super and leads a solid core with 6-6 senior Jon Marotta (13 ppg, 50 3s) and guards Cam Gavin and Jay Bumstead.

The Knights only used six players Tuesday but coach Brian Flaherty has won 21 games in each of his two seasons in the program and knows a little bit about pulling upsets. His dad Mike, one of the state's legendary coaches who is now at Mt. Carmel, led now-shuttered Mendel to a stunning 1982 AA semifinal buzzer-beater that ended Quincy's 64-game winning streak.

Manual will be another huge test as it returns to state for the first time since 2A runnerup finishes in 2010 and 2008. The sixth-ranked Rams had a tough road, winning a regional title at 25-win Washington, followed by No. 9 Metamora and No. 7 Bloomington in the sectionals and a 61-58 win over No. 4 Rockford Boylan in the supersectional.

The centerpiece is 6-4 junior Da'Monte Williams (15.8 ppg), who recently committed to Illinois, where his dad Frank Williams starred after helping Manual to its historic four-peat (1994-97) of titles. Junior Romon Douglas-Watkins (17.1 ppg, 7 rpg) and junior A.J. Youngman (12.3, 72 3s) give opponents more to worry about than just Da'Monte Williams.

The pick: It should be a lot easier for Manual's students to get to the Civic Center after they didn't get to the NIU super until the final minutes after their bus broke down. It will also be a happy trip after Manual wins 65-49.

St. Joseph (25-8) vs. Belleville Althoff (30-2), 2 p.m.

A rematch of last year's 3A title game, won 67-63 by St. Joseph, didn't look good in late January. The Chargers were struggling through a stretch of six losses in eight games with 6-11 Nick Rakocevic (19.7 ppg, 14.5 apg) trying to lead a young team as the team's lone senior.

But they got it together and avenged a pair of losses to Fenwick in the sectional championship. Rakocevic, who has more than 15 Division I scholarship offers but is waiting until after the season to make a college decision, has continued to crank out the double-doubles with one in every game this season.

The young Chargers such as 6-3 sophomore Joffari Brown (10 ppg), 6-5 junior Lavon Thomas and 5-10 Marquis Walker (9.1 ppg) have grown up for 47th-year coach Gene Pingatore, who is just 13 wins shy of 1,000. Walker actually came in with a full year of varsity high school experience as he started as an eighth grader in Kentucky before transferring.

Top-ranked Althoff was expected to return to Peoria with 6-4 junior Jordan Goodwin (18.6 ppg, 9 rpg), one of the state's top D-I prospects, leading the way.

But it's not all Goodwin as everyone in the starting five is capable with 6-6 Brandon Gooch (50 3s), 6-4 Tarkus Ferguson (48 3s), 6-5 Marvin Bateman and 6-1 C.J. Coldon between 13.6 and 10.2 ppg. Senior Keenen Young (8.9 ppg, 50 3s) is another big threat off the bench for a team that has scored more than 100 points three times.

The pick: Althoff may not have anyone who matches up with Rakocevic, but the Chargers' defense is going to have an even tougher task with Goodwin and crew. Althoff avenges last year's loss 78-66.

Saturday's games

Third place, 12:15 p.m.: Both teams should be motivated for this one - Lincoln-Way West since this is its first time on the state's biggest stage and St. Joseph because of the combination of youth and Rakocevic looking to go out on a high note.

The pick: Pingatore returns to St. Joseph with its second third-place trophy, 64-52.

Championship, 2 p.m.: Fans should get a nice show of two of the leading 2017 Mr. Basketball candidates with Manual's Williams and Althoff's Goodwin. But those battles often cancel each other out so who will get more production from other sources?

The pick: Althoff was second last year and Goodwin, Ferguson, Coldon and Young all started on a Class 4A football runnerup finish in November. This time they get their hands on the top prize with a 70-66 victory.

Class 4A

Friday's semifinals

Rockford Auburn (25-6) vs. Curie (26-5), 6:30 p.m.

Auburn doesn't have anyone like Wichita State star Fred VanVleet, who led the way to a third-place finish in 2012. And the Knights lost all of their starters, including two D-I players, from a team that went 29-2 and lost in last year's sectional final.

They also have only one player over 6-1 and guard Trayvon Tyler (18.9 ppg, 70 3s) is their only player who averages double figures. But they used their fearlessness inside, pressure defense and long-range shooting by 5-9 Daevion Dixon (9.1 ppg, 63 3s) to beat Conant 57-43 in Tuesday's supersectional.

Curie does have a future D-I player in DePaul-bound 6-2 Devin Gage (16 ppg, 7 rpg, 4 assists per game), who was the MVP at the prestigious Pontiac Holiday Tournament. Landers Nolley III, a 6-5 sophomore, is one of four starters who average in double figures as the Condors have faced their share of pressure and a rugged schedule to prepare for their first trip to state.

The pick: It's easy to write off Auburn because it doesn't get as much attention up in Rockford and this year didn't get a single vote all season in the AP polls. The Knights will be tougher than people expect but Curie will handle their pressure and win 65-58.

Simeon (29-3) vs. Benet (30-3), 8:15 p.m.

A two-year absence from the state finals seems like an eternity for Simeon, which completed a four-peat in 2013 and now has seven titles (six under coach Robert Smith since 2006).

The Wolverines don't have a Derrick Rose or Jabari Parker but 6-5 Gonzaga recruit Zach Norvell (18 ppg, 8 rpg, 4 assists per game, 56 3s) has stepped up not only with his production but also his leadership. He is complemented nicely by 6-3 Josh Thomas (13 ppg), who is getting interest from DePaul, and 5-10 junior Evan Gilyard (13.5 ppg, 54 3s). An X-factor on a team loaded with D-I prospects is 6-7 senior Ben Coupet (5.3 ppg).

Benet doesn't have any D-I prospects like Frank Kaminsky (Wisconsin), who is now in the NBA, Dave Sobolewski (Northwestern) or Sean O'Mara (Xavier). But a starless group has matched the program record for wins and is back in Peoria after finishing second two years ago in a 46-44 loss to Whitney Young and Jahlil Okafor.

What the Redwings do have is a balanced attack with James Dockery (36 3s), 6-4 Jason Malonga, 6-3 Dan Sobolewski (37 3s) and junior Jack Nolan (66 3s) averaging between 10 and 12 points a game. Coach Gene Heidkamp is one of the best around and his team has been tested by rugged East Suburban Catholic Conference and nonconference schedules.

The pick: What Benet did against Whitney Young two years ago and a double-overtime loss to Simeon in the 2010 supers is proof this shouldn't be a runaway. Benet is too disciplined to let that happen, but Simeon is also one of Chicago's most disciplined programs and will prevail 56-50.

Saturday's games

Third place, 6:30 p.m.: Both coaches - Bryan Ott of Auburn and Benet's Heidkamp - will make sure their teams are ready to play in this one. Can Auburn's pressure rattle Benet and what kind of legs will two guard-oriented teams have?

The pick: Benet gets a school-record 31st victory 62-54.

Championship, 8:15 p.m.: The Chicago Public League takes center stage with Simeon trying to add to its state record of seven titles and Curie trying to claim its first. Curie won their matchup in the Pontiac Holiday Tournament semifinals 80-78 as Gage and Elijah Joiner scored 23 apiece and Norvell had 24 for Simeon. If that matchup is any indication this could be a fun ending to the 2015-16 season.

The pick: It's going to be fast-paced and exciting with a lot of runs on both sides. But title No. 8 will be great for Simeon after an 86-80 victory.

marty.maciaszek@gmail.com