The Illinois High School Association announced sectional assignments over the weekend.
While there is obviously a ton of basketball to be played and so much will change before sectional seeds are submitted in nearly two months, the City/Suburban Hoops Report put together the top five seeds in each Class 4A sectional –– if the season ended today.
This at least provides an early idea and a look at the makeup of each sectional and where the top teams will be playing.
Thornton Sectional
1. Simeon
2, Homewood-Flossmoor
3. Kenwood
4. Marist
5. Sandburg
Comment: Some surprise starts in this sectional. But it’s still Simeon’s sectional to lose.
Riverside-Brookfield Sectional
1. Young
2. Curie
3. Oak Park
4. Fenwick
5. St. Joseph
Comment: This is without question the toughest sectional in the state and the powers in this sectional will be jockeying for position all winter long.
Lake Zurich Sectional
1. Fremd
2. Mundelein
3. Waukegan
4. Lake Zurich
5. Libertyville
Comment: Does the Fremd magic ever stop? Can Conant make a jump into the top five? Will surprising Mundelein (6-2) be among the top five two months from now?
Maine East Sectional
1. Niles North
2. New Trier
3. Evanston
4. St. Viator
5. Loyola Academy
Comment: This is going to be a fun one in the north suburbs.
Jacobs Sectional (Sub-Sectional A)
1. Larkin
2. St. Charles North
3. St. Charles East
4. Jacobs
Comment: Can Jacobs (or anyone else) shake up what looks to be an Upstate Eight River party?
Jacobs Sectional (Sub-Sectional B)
1. Rockford Jefferson
2. Rockford Auburn
3. McHenry
Comment: Highly-regarded Jefferson is the one to beat now and will be the one to beat in March.
Glenbard East Sectional
1. Naperville North
2. Wheaton South
3. Benet
4. Willowbrook
5. Batavia
Comment: A familiar look at the top with the top three seeds as all three were among the top four seeds a year ago.
Romeoville Sectional
1, Bolingbrook
2. Romeoville
3. West Aurora
4. Joliet Central
5. Lincoln-Way East
Comment: Romeoville hosts Bolingbrook this Wednesday. Imagine a rematch between these two district rivals in the sectional final?
Follow Joe Henricksen and the City/Suburban Hoops Report on Twitter @joehoopsreport