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A must-see weekend for Fremd's basketball program

Matt Panzino certainly remembers when he and his 1993 Fremd basketball teammates traveled to the state finals.

"It was the greatest time of my life as a kid," said Panzino, who was a point guard on that '93 squad, which finished fourth in AA. "There was a huge buzz about us. There was nothing like spending time with your buddies and your family and being on TV."

Panzino, who now lives in Arizona with his family, will be watching the 2017 version of the Vikings on his phone.

Fremd will take on Whitney Young in the semifinals of the Class 4A boys basketball tournament state at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Carver Arena in Peoria. Bolingbrook will meet Simeon in the other semifinal.

Fremd (31-0) has become the first area team to advance to the finals since Schaumburg in 2006. They are also the first large school to head to the finals undefeated in the last 20 years, and the first from the Mid-Suburban League to reach 31 wins.

"It feels great to be headed downstate," said Fremd coach Bob Widlowski. "I am really happy for our seniors. They really came in every day with a great focus."

Widlowski has been at the helm for the Vikings for the past 15 seasons, compiling a career-mark of 273-142. His previous best season was in 2014, when his team was also undefeated and lost in the sectional title game to a Jalen-Brunson led Stevenson team.

This year's Fremd seniors were freshmen then. Kyle Sliwa, who leads the team in scoring with his 16.5 average, says he and his teammates learned from that group.

"We were at that game," Sliwa said. "They fought until the end and we wanted to play as hard as they did. And we have all season."

Sliwa has had a flair for the dramatic, beating Conant in the sectional title game on a 3 at the buzzer after knocking off the Cougars earlier in the season on a 4-point play.

It is that kind of grittiness that has epitomized this Fremd team all season.

Led by Sliwa, Viking starters Shaan Patel, Ryan Martin, Brian Dompke and Luke Scoffstall are able to control the ball and tempo like a soccer team. And when Widlowski heads to the bench with Mark Kating, Bryce Hopkins, Elliot Kim and Austin Schwantz, they don't miss a beat.

Fremd has rarely trailed all year long. But when that's happpened, panic has never sunk in.

"This is a mentally tough group," Widlowki said. "They focus and concentrate so well. They play together as one."

These Vikings will need that focus as they head downstate. They face powerhouse Whitney Young (25-5), which won state titles in 2014 and 2009 and was second in 2010 under head coach Tyrone Slaughter.

This year's Dolphins have played a power-packed schedule which featured 4A semifinalist Simeon, 3A semifinalists Morgan Park and Simeon and 2A champion Orr - as well as teams from Texas, Florida, New York and Maryland.

Whitney Young is led by 6-foot-5 forward Lucas Williamson, who is averaging 17.6 points and 5 rebounds. Javon Freeman, who averages 14.1 points, and Xavier Castaneda, who averages 10.3 points and more than 3 assists, will also be key.

Fremd has allowed just two teams to score over 50 points this season. Notre Dame tallied 53 in overtime in the championship of the Wheeling Hardwood Classic, and Prospect scored 55 in the MSL title game.

On the flipside, Whitney Young has been held under 50 points just 3 times this season.

"Whitney Young is a very good team," Widlowski said. "Our kids will be prepared and ready to play on Friday."

Suburban boys basketball state champions

Fremd High School (31-0) will be playing in the boys basketball state semifinals on Friday at Carver Arena in Peoria, with a chance to join these suburban teams that won state titles:

1908-09: Hinsdale Twp. (22-3) beat Washington 18-13

1911-12: Batavia (27-2) beat Galesburg 28-25

1923-24: Elgin (25-3) beat Athens 28-17

1924-25: Elgin (24-2) beat Champaign 25-17

1937-38: Dundee (34-1) beat Braidwood (Reed-Custer) 36-29

1978-79 AA: Maine South (31-1) beat Quincy (Sr.) 83-67

1999-00 AA: West Aurora (32-1) beat Westinghouse 60-57

2000-01 AA: Schaumburg (29-3) beat Thornwood 66-54

2004-05 AA: Glenbrook North (32-2) beat Carbondale 63-51

2014-15 4A: Stevenson (30-3) beat Normal Community 57-40

Unbeaten Illinois boys basketball champions

1943-44: Taylorville, 45-0

1949-50: Mt. Vernon, 33-0

1952-53: Lyons, 29-0

1957-58: Marshall, 31-0

1960-61: Collinsville, 32-0

1969-70: Lyons, 31-0

1971-72 AA: Thornridge, 33-0

1977-78 AA: Lockport (Twp.), 33-0

1980-81 AA: Quincy (Sr.), 33-0

1981-82 Class A: Lawrenceville, 34-0

1982-83 Class A: Lawrenceville, 34-0

1983-84 Class A: McLeansboro, 35-0

1985-86 Class A: Teutopolis, 33-0

1989-90 AA: King, 32-0

1991-92 AA: Proviso East, 33-0

1992-93 AA: King, 32-0

2005-06 Class A: Seneca, 35-0

Source: IHSA.org

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