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Class 2A teams going their separate ways

Two years ago all four Class 2A DuPage County boys basketball teams competed in the same regional.

This season they're split in half with paths that wouldn't cross until reaching Peoria.

Lisle and Westmont were assigned to different regionals within the far-reaching Northern Illinois University supersectional.

Timothy Christian and IC Catholic Prep are at Guerin in the Joliet Central supersectional. Defending 2A champion Orr heads that Chicago-heavy group.

Seeking a second straight regional title, Lisle coach Mark LaScala enjoys the scenario, especially when No. 1 seed Lisle hosts a regional.

"It's been a favorable path for us in the past, teams that we're very familiar with because they're teams from our league (Interstate Eight Conference)," LaScala said.

If successful against either Somonauk or Wilmington in its regional opener, presumably Lisle (19-9) would face Seneca for the title. In IEC play on Feb. 6 the Lions beat Seneca 37-24, part of their current 15-game winning streak. Guard Jay McGrath is four 3-pointers away from a program season record of 67.

The Lisle regional winner plays the winner from Watseka, where Momence and the host are the top seeds.

Corliss joins Lisle as the other No. 1 seed in the Clifton Central sectional. Iowa State commit George Conditt, 6-10, headlines the Carver regional.

No. 2 seed Westmont (17-10) gets to travel 110 miles to the El Paso-Gridley regional. Opening against either Eureka or the host, Sentinels such as Tyreke Winston, Caden Anderson and Matthew O'Leary will try to shake a second-half slump to probably face 15-10 Chicago Christian for a regional title.

"If we play really well I think we're definitely capable of making it to the regional championship, and Chicago Christian has got a really nice team. They've lost two games to Timothy Christian and we split with Timothy," said Westmont coach Craig Etheridge.

Sectional host Timothy Christian (21-5) had won 12 straight games before losing to St. Edward on Friday.

The Metro Suburban Red champion is a No. 1 sectional seed along with regional host Orr, which plays Simeon for the Chicago Public League Tournament title Sunday. Orr appears destined for a sectional semifinal against Uplift or possibly regional host Northridge Prep.

"It feels good to get the 1 seed," said Timothy Christian coach Scott Plaisier, led by 6-7 center Brandon Orange's 14 points and 10 rebounds a game. "The nice thing is if you can hold suit and you can play well, it puts you away from Orr for as long as possible."

As a sectional host it'd be nice to vie for a sectional title. No. 4 seed IC Catholic Prep will instead try to repeat its 2017 regional title win over the Trojans in the last seconds. On Jan. 19 Timothy beat the Knights 50-42.

IC Catholic (17-9) opens against Chicago Academy, and the backcourt of Kevin Cheng and Alex Meurer hopes to make it an all-Elmhurst regional final. A favorable draw awaits the Guerin winner, possibly Clark or Latin out of the Christ the King regional.

"We very well could have the state champion out of our sectional again this year with all the talent that's there," said Knights coach T.J. Tyrrell.

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