Toughest trip to Peoria
If Young wins it all, the Dolphins certainly will deserve the title. They conceivably could have to face Julian, King and Farragut in the Public League playoffs.
A walk in the park
You’ve got to like Zion-Benton’s chances. Its path in the Waukegan sectional is strewn with North Suburban Conference teams the Zee-Bees have handled all winter. Their only test would be at the Evanston supersectional against Maine West or New Trier.
Second chances
A number of appealing rematches could materialize in the postseason. An intriguing matchup would have Galesburg playing Fenwick in the Class AA semifinals. When the teams met at Hoops in the Loop in January, Corey Maggette’s last-second three-pointer won it for Fenwick. Maggette has guaranteed a rematch with Young, a team that barely beat Fenwick at the City-Suburban Showdown a couple weeks ago. A rematch would be for the championship. Peoria Manual’s loss to Lincoln could be avenged at the Normal supersectional. Richards’ only loss was to Hillcrest, a team the Bulldogs could meet in the East Aurora supersectional. Galesburg could face back-to-back rematches before even making the semifinals–against Moline in the sectional final and Rockford Boylan in the supersectional.
Cinderella watch
It happens every year, and last winter West Aurora emerged from nowhere to reach the championship game, where it lost to Peoria Manual. Here are 10 who could surprise:
St. Joseph
New Trier
West Aurora
Chicago Vocational
Evanston
Fremd
East St. Louis Lincoln
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Proviso East
Peoria Central
Buffalo Grove
City slickers
The Public League’s unique postseason setup could have quarterfinals such as Young vs. Julian and Farragut vs. Vocational. King and DuSable have clear paths to the final four. Adjustments are made in the semifinals to avoid pairing up teams from the same section. Figure on Young and Farragut from the Red West and King and DuSable of the Red Central advancing to the March 14 semifinals at the UIC Pavilion. It would be West teams vs. Central teams by virtue of a drawing. That could leave Young having to beat King and Farragut in a 24-hour span for the city title.
Detour
Five teams to avoid along the tournament trail.
Young: For obvious reasons.
St. Joseph: Chargers are 13-1 in ’98 and welcome back 6-5 impact player Mark Treadwell from injury.
West Aurora: Always seems to make a postseason run.
Julian: Has physical talent to beat anyone in the state.
New Trier: Non-athletic looking ballclub breeds overconfidence among opponents.
Youth be served
Five underclassmen likely to have the greatest impact on the postseason:
– Brian Cook, Lincoln: The 6-10 junior is a force on both ends of the court.
– Darius Miles, East St. Louis Lincoln: Of the 6-9 sophomore, Young’s Quentin Richardson said: “He’s the next Kevin Garnett.”
– Imari Sawyer, King: The 6-0 sophomore can pass, shoot and handle the ball with anyone.
– Jabari Harris, Fenwick: The 6-8 1/2 junior could be the difference in the Friars’ title bid.
– Kent Williams, Mt. Vernon: The 6-3 junior could almost singlehandedly lead his team back to Carver Arena.
Beat the clock
10 players most likely to hit a game-winning shot
Matt Lottich, New Trier
Henry Domercant, Naperville North
Eddie Hebert, Fremd
Kent Williams, Mt. Vernon
Marlon London, St. Joseph
Traves Wilson, Moline
Gibran Carter, Rich South
Frank Williams, Peoria Manual
Josh Komnick, Lincoln
Corey Maggette, Fenwick.
Can’t miss
Get your tickets early if these showdowns materialize:
– Fenwick vs. St. Joseph in Lyons Township sectional semifinal.
– Young vs. King in Public League semifinal or title game.
– Richards vs. Hillcrest in Aurora supersectional.
– Elgin vs. Fremd in Hersey sectional final.
– Galesburg vs. Rockford Boylan in Rockford supersectional.
SPECIAL EVENTS:
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Five happenings that would make for a memorable postseason.
– Manual wins a fifth straight title.
– Farragut takes the crown with Michael Wright when it couldn’t with Kevin Garnett and Ronnie Fields.
– Young’s Quentin Richardson and Fenwick’s Corey Maggette go head-to-head with a state title on the line.
– Young’s 5-9 Cordell Henry wins the slam-dunk contest.
– Richards advances to the final four in its dream season.
Sizing up the sectionals
– At Hersey: Elgin is the No. 1 seed and junior Sean Harrington does it all, but Fremd is our choice with Eddie Hebert leading the way. Keep an eye on Buffalo Grove and Hoffman Estates.
– At East Aurora: Guards traditionally key postseason runs, and Naperville North is loaded with Henry Domercant and Chad Plotke. Dark-horse contender–a healthy West Aurora.
– At Joliet: Nobody can match up to Hillcrest’s lineup featuring 6-foot-10-inch Reo Logan and 6-6 Ryan Blankson. Will Hawks coach Tom Cappel elevate 6-5 Odartey Blankson, Ryan’s younger brother, from the sophomore team? Slumping Joliet hopes to regain its midseason magic.
– At Oswego: Richards is on a record-breaking run with the best record in school history while Demetris McDaniel sets the school scoring record, David Bridgewater gets the rebounding mark and William Carter the career assist record. There doesn’t appear to be anybody here who can upend the Bulldogs, although Brother Rice is dangerous with Pat Harvey and Tim O’Neill.
– At Peoria Richwoods: This should come down to a duel of the two best guards in town, Manual’s Frank Williams and Peoria Central junior Jerrance Howard. Both of these dominant backcourt performers are headed to Illinois. Williams will have a little more support in Robert Johnson and Marlon Brooks.
– At Springfield: Lincoln is the clear choice behind guard Josh Komnick, 6-4 Mike Lee and 6-10 Brian Cook, regarded as the top junior in the state. The biggest challenge will come from Quincy, led by Kori Douglass and 6-6 Luis Rivas.
– At East Moline United: Figure Galesburg and Moline in the title game, with Galesburg beating Moline for the second time. Iowa recruits Rod Thompson and Joey Range give Galesburg the best one-two scoring punch in the state, combining for almost 40 points a game. Moline is led by Arizona signee Traves Wilson, who is averaging 20 points, 10 rebounds and five assists.
– At Rockford Boylan: The host Titans have it all–home-court advantage and the best talent in town. Nobody here will be able to shut down 6-8 Illinois recruit Damir Krupalija. There’s also perimeter-shooting specialists Joe Tulley and Jeff Myers. Rockton Hononegah will challenge behind 6-5 Drew Demond.
– At Collinsville: Edwardsville with 6-6 Marquette-bound Jon Harris and 6-10 Dan Lytle is the top seed, and Belleville East 6-4 Josh Helbig is No. 2. But watch out for huge East St. Louis Lincoln, with 6-9 Dwayne Watson, 6-4 Terrence Slater and 6-9 Darius Miles, considered the top sophomore in the state.
– At Salem: Mt. Vernon is the choice behind do-everything guard Kent Williams, leader of the four starters who return from last year’s Elite Eight qualifier.
– At Maine West: The host Warriors have jelled since Christmas as 6-7 Kevin Frey and 6-7 Lucas Johnson learned to play together. New Trier is capable of toppling Maine West behind 6-4 sophomore Matt Lottich. Don’t overlook Evanston with Karlton Mims and Davis Robinson.
– At Waukegan: Nobody should come close to Zion-Benton with Quiande Moore, 6-6 Darnell Fields, 6-7 Carl Krass and 6-6 Al Lainio. Second-seeded Warren and No. 3 seed Libertyville both lost twice to Z-B in the North Suburban Conference.
– At Thornridge: Welcome to the Chicago area’s most competitive sectional. Thornridge, Bloom, Rich Central, Rich South or Thornwood could emerge from this gathering of SICA powers. Could Thornwood’s emerging 6-9 freshman Eddy Curry be the difference? Thornridge has been the most consistent, and the Falcons have home-court advantage.
– At Lyons Township: Everybody will be chasing Fenwick and 6-6 Corey Maggette. The Friars’ toughest challenge should come in the sectional semifinal against St. Joseph, which has regained 6-5 Indiana recruit Mark Treadwell.