And your 4A regional champs will be …

SHARE And your 4A regional champs will be …

By Joe Henricksen

There were some scares and upsets in regional semifinal action this week, but the real fun begins Friday night with regional championships on the line in Class 4A and 3A around the state.

There will be a shocker or two. There always are, so the Hoops Report has tried to identify where that shocker will come Friday night, along with a look at the rest of regional title game matchups. The City/Suburban Hoops Report picks each Chicago area regional champion in Class 4A. (The Class 3A picks will be up later today.)

Class 4A

Stevenson Regional

Warren over Stevenson

Before we pencil Warren in as regional champs, Stevenson does have a little something going for it, including the home floor and knowing it beat Warren back in December. Plus, it has the best darn freshman in Illinois in Jalen Brunson. But … Sorry, Patriots, it won’t matter. Warren, led by the tandem of 6-9 Nathan Boothe and 6-8 Darius Paul, will prove to be too much as coach Chuck Ramsey’s Blue Devil farewell tour moves on.

Palatine Regional

Lake Forest over Fremd

This Lake Forest team, led by 6-5 senior Thomas Durrett, is a real sleeper in the Barrington Sectional as a No. 5 seed. Since a 2-6 start to the season, the Scouts are a rock solid 14-4. Fremd did upset Waukegan, but Lake Forest ends any thoughts of Fremd moving on as a low seed.

Rolling Meadows Regional

St. Viator over Rolling Meadows

With super sophomore Ore Arongundade healthy after missing some time with an ankle injury, the Lions are roaring with a conference title and 24 wins on the season. But there is something about this Rolling Meadows team, which boasts a couple of tough, competitive seniors in Brian Nelms and Tyler Gaedele. This could be tougher than people think, but St. Viator prevails 56-48.

Zion-Benton Regional 


Mundelein over Lake Zurich

Although just a No. 11 seed, Lake Zurich’s win over Barrington Tuesday night should not have been a surprise. No, not when you’re coming out of the tough North Suburban Lake and have unheralded Mirko Grcic (18 ppg). But it’s back to a North Suburban Lake opponent Friday night in Mundelein, which has beaten Lake Zurich twice already. The last matchup was a 68-65 barnburner. Hoops Report is taking high-scoring junior Robert Knar and Mundelein in a tight one.

Niles West Regional

New Trier over Foreman

Foreman is an 18-win team no one has talked much about. While it’s true the Trevians have been awfully vulnerable and shaky the last three weeks, including a tight, low-scoring opening night regional win over Niles West, this team is solid. There is size in rugged Connor Boehm and guard play that will handle Foreman’s pressure.

Niles Notre Dame Regional

Niles Notre Dame over Evanston

Although Evanston did beat Niles Notre Dame back in November and played pretty well down the stretch (a close 58-56 loss to a hot St. Pat’s team and wins over St. Charles East and New Trier), Notre Dame is much better than it was the last time these two met. This will be Notre Dame’s third regional title in four years.

St. Patrick Regional

St. Patrick over Maine South

Has anyone noticed St. Pat’s has gone 13-2 since late December, losing only to Benet and Marist by a combined 8 points? While junior guard Royale Ewing is the recognizable name, fellow junior Parish McCullom has provided a huge lift in that 13-2 run. Coach Mike Bailey has his Shamrocks playing well and at home, so despite a difficult matchup due to the offensive patience and defense Maine South throws at you, St. Pat’s moves on.

Joliet Central Regional

Bloom over Sandburg

What a season it’s been for Bloom, a team that has already exceeded many people’s expectations with a sparkling 25-3 record. But there are no plans for this postseason to end early for point guard Donald Moore and his Blazing Trojans. Sandburg, however, handed Bloom its last lost back in the middle of January. That may be just what top-seeded Bloom needed as there will be no looking past the Eagles in this one.

Thornton Regional

Joliet West over Thornton

Any other year and a Thornton appearance in a regional title game would be second nature, but the Wildcats are playing an unfamiliar role in this regional: underdog. The No. 13 seed Wildcats beat Shepard in the opening round, upset No. 4 seed Crete-Monee in the second round and now take on big Marlon Johnson and the fifth-seeded Tigers. Joliet West ends the Thornton run and moves on to a date with Bloom.

Andrew Regional

Andrew over Marian Catholic

There are certainly some Andrew doubters as a result of the suspect schedule the T-Bolts have played in running up a 23-2 record. But regardless, it’s still a solid team with a terrific talent in junior Jubril Adekoya. They may not wow you, but the T-Bolts just beat you.

Homewood-Flossmoor Regional

Homewood-Flossmoor over Thornwood

The first matchup between these two teams was probably too long ago to put much stock into — a 55-51 H-F win on the opening night of the season. Thornwood, led by the 1-2 punch of Darrell Combs and Khapri Alston, are sky high after stunning Andrew on the road to win a league title and riding an eight-game win streak. But the senior group of Vikings will get this one done at home and help H-F claim a ninth consecutive regional championship.

Proviso East Regional

Proviso East over Glenbard North

The Proviso East speed and quickness just wears on opponents and, ultimately, leads to 12-0, 14-2 or 15-3 type runs that generally puts teams away. This could potentially be a regional final that gets away from the underdog.

Lake Park Regional

York over Lake Park

Since late December, York has been on cruise control, winning 16 of 17 games behind star junior guard David Cohn and a group of players who have bought into their respective roles under first-year coach Tom Kleinschmidt. Although no one has talked about Lake Park, the Lancers are no slouch with 19 wins on the year and a player in Dominique Spencer who can impact games in a lot of ways.

Lyons Twp. Regional

Oak Park-River Forest over Morton

Morton is healthy and a dangerous (and a far too low) No. 10 seed that is capable of beating anyone in this sectional other than Proviso East. But Gabe Levin has been one of the best-kept secrets in prep hoops this season and will lead Oak Park into the sectional semis.

Glenbard West Regional

Schaumburg over Conant

A couple of coaches who are oh so familiar with one another square off, with Schaumburg having handled Conant twice already this season. Schaumburg’s Christian Spandiary coming off a monster 40-point game.

Neuqua Valley Regional

Plainfield East over Neuqua Valley

This is a scary one for the top-seeded Bengals, a program with its first real taste of success going on the road to face a program that has enjoyed a whole lot of it over the years. Neuqua Valley has quietly won 18 games this season. But Dee Brown and big man Brian Bennett win a nail-biter for the Plainfield East’s first regional championship.

Oswego Regional

West Aurora over Oswego

McDonald’s All-American coach Gordie Kerkman looking for his 21st regional championship. The Blackhawks, led by senior Juwan Starks, will be favored on the road. Junior guard Miles Simelton has played some very good basketball for Oswego, the No. 12 seed, which took care of Naperville North.

Downers Grove South Regional

Downers Grove South over Hinsdale Central

Hinsdale Central has shown it can pull off an upset (wins over Oak Park and Metea Valley). After receiving a huge scare from Oswego East in the regional semis, Downers Grove South settles in and takes care of the Red Devils. These two met in the regular-season finale, with DGS claiming a 71-56 victory.

Metea Valley Regional

Benet Academy over Metea Valley

Metea, already with 23 wins on the year, looks to add to its breakout season by making a little history – winning the program’s first-ever basketball regional title. Benet, the No. 6 seed, will enjoy playing the underdog role after playing with a bulls-eye on its back last season. Benet’s defense and sophomore big man Sean O’Mara pull off the upset.

Huntley Regional

Huntley over Larkin

This Huntley group of seniors, led by guard Troy Miller, have won a lot of games (49 games and counting over the past two seasons), while 6-6 sophomore Amanze Egekeze is a fast-rising sophomore. After a fast start to the season, Larkin struggled down the stretch but comes in with nothing to lose.

Cary-Grove Regional

McHenry over Crystal Lake South

A couple of sub-.500 teams play for a sectional semifinal berth. McHenry (11-15) and Crystal Lake South (9-18) split their two matchups this season. The winner will be a huge underdog against either Elgin or St. Charles East next Wednesday.

St. Charles North Regional

Elgin over St. Charles East

This one will be interesting and entertaining. These two Upstate Eight River foes split the two regular season matchups. Elgin’s Kory Brown and St. Charles East junior Kendall Stephens, a Purdue commit, are two stars to watch. But if sophomore guard Dominic Adduci, who scored 25 in the win over St. Charles North in the regional semis and 29 against Glenbard West, continues his torrid play, St. Charles East could very well pull off the upset.

Oak Lawn Regional

Simeon over Vocational

Quietly, coach Chris Pickett has done a nice job with this 18-9 Vocational team, but it’s Simeon they’re up against. Chalk up a 10th straight regional title for the Wolverines.

Whitney Young Regional

Whitney Young over St. Rita

Should be a fun one. Catholic League vs. Public League. A ton of impressive young talent on display. And a showdown featuring two teams that have deceiving records as a result of an out-of-state schedule and an endless list of injuries and absences throughout the season. But Whitney Young has played the toughest schedule in the state and has 6-10 super sophomore Jahlil Okafor.

Marist Regional

Marist over Curie

I love what coach Mike Oliver and the Condors have done this season, but this is the most dangerous game for any heavyweight in the state this Friday. Curie will be up against a tricky style and system, on the road and against a team with good guards and that has won 13 of its last 14 games. It’s not as if Curie isn’t easy to believe in, but there is bound to be a shocker on Friday night somewhere and this has the makings of one.

Mt. Carmel Regional

Bogan over De La Salle

You have to feel for the Meteors. Jaylon Tate transfers in the offseason. Now the state tournament rolls around and 6-8 Gavin Schilling is out and 6-4 Alvin Ellis is in between doubtful and questionable for Friday night. Those type of injuries are tough to overcome, especially against a team like Bogan who will bring relentless pressure.

Follow Joe Henricksen and the Hoops Report on Twitter @joehoopsreport

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