Get there early: No. 10 Proviso East at No. 6 Hillcrest

We are in for a treat tonight with No. 10 Proviso East at No. 6 Hillcrest. The Pirates nearly knocked off St. Joseph over Thanksgiving and have approached this season with an underdog mentality. The key will be Jacob Pullen. He’s one of the most talented players in the area, but he hasn’t really hit his stride yet this season. Proviso East is getting excellent production out of Jamal Jones, Nate Fuqua and Tydus Townsend. If Pullen steps up and carries them the way he is capable of, Hillcrest may be in trouble.

The Hawks will once again rely on their daunting 1-3-1 trapping defense. Every team knows that it’s coming, but that doesn’t limit its effectiveness. Hillcrest is without a big-time Division I player this year, but Kellen Thornton, Justin Berry and Justin Taylor are all very talented. That’s why Pullen is the key to the game. If he gets hot, the Hawks may not be able to match his firepower.