Previewing the weekend’s top high school basketball games

The week began with a whirlwind of a Tuesday as an uncharacteristic amount of weekday showdowns highlighted the high school basketball scene.

This weekend is highlighted by the two-day Team Rose Classic at Mount Carmel. Here is a preview of that event and other top games in this Weekend Forecast.

No. 5 Young at No. 10 Lincoln Park, Friday 5 p.m.

Do you remember last December’s matchup between these two? Lincoln Park went into Young and came out with an upset win, thanks to a terrific performance from 5-9 guard Julio Montes.

The Lions will welcome Young into a tough environment and lean on the guard play of Montes and Ismail Habib while hoping 6-8 Romelle Howard continues to be impactful. Another Lincoln Park win over Young would bring added relevance to a team that always seems to come up with a marquee win or two in the regular season.

Don’t be too concerned about Young’s two losses –– they came in the closing seconds to two high-level teams in Texas power Duncanville and Morgan Park. D.J. Steward has played like a Player of the Year candidate while waiting for some consistent support from his running mates.

It’s not going to be easy, but the Dolphins exact some revenge and get out of the North Side with a hard-fought win.

Hoops Report pick: Young 68, Lincoln Park 60

No. 11 Notre Dame at No. 24 Loyola, Friday 7 p.m.

Fresh off Tuesday’s East Suburban Catholic Conference showdown win over Marian Catholic, Notre Dame travels to unbeaten Loyola where possessions will be at a premium.

There is growing concern about the health of star junior guard Anthony Sayles, who missed the Marian Catholic game with an apparent knee injury. The Dons are still loaded. Do-it-all wing Louis Lesmond is evolving into a star, senior Jason Bergstrom remains an overlooked threat, and 6-6 junior Troy D’Amico is a versatile weapon.

Loyola will employ its often overlooked withering defense and offensive execution. But there is some star power of its own with Bennett and Jordan Kwiecinski and 6-3 scorer Matt Enghauser.

Playing without Sayles, coming off the big win over Marian Catholic and a collision with top five Bogan this weekend, it’s a tough spot for Notre Dame. The Ramblers upset Notre Dame and pull off their first significant win of the season.

Hoops Report pick: Loyola 46, Notre Dame 44

Neuqua Valley at Waubonsie Valley, Friday 7 p.m.

The DuPage Valley Conference is completely up for grabs, so this would be a step in the right direction for these district rivals.

Marcus Skeete and Ben Schweiger have been a pretty potent 1-2 punch for Waubonsie Valley during its 6-0 start to the season. Skeete, a veteran 6-5 senior, is averaging 16.4 points and 9.2 rebounds a game while Schweiger, one of the City/Suburban Hoops Report’s top 20 prospects in the junior class, is averaging 14.8 points a game.

Neuqua is led by 6-5 John Poulakidas, the best player in the DuPage Valley Conference and one of the top 10 junior prospects in Illinois. Poulakidas is averaging 15 points and six rebounds a game.

Hoops Report pick: Waubonsie Valley 47, Neuqua Valley 45

Geneva vs. No. 20 St. Charles North at Sears Centre, Saturday 3:30 p.m.

Geneva’s Josh Preston was the lone returning starter from last year’s 32-2 team that won a sectional title, yet the Vikings are off to a fast 5-1 start. While Preston is the leader for the Vikings, its a team with multiple shooters, including 6-8 Dylan Fuzak and Nathan Valentine. Geneva is also receiving a nice boost from 6-5 sophomore Chris Suger.

St. Charles North has size in 6-9 Connor Linke and a defense, anchored by the Bradley recruit, that has made things difficult for opponents. Solid guard play from Luke Scheffers and Christian Czerniak gives the North Stars the edge in this one.

Hoops Report pick: St. Charles North 55, Geneva 48

Joliet West at St. Rita, Saturday 3 p.m.

A pair of teams off to very good starts but are still looking to build their respective resumés. They are a combined 13-2, but is it still too early to say they have truly arrived?

Coach Roshawn Russell’s St. Rita team has been one of the early-season surprises. The Mustangs are 6-1, thanks in large part to the improved play of 6-8 big man Connor Serven and physical junior guard Christian Henry. Add in veteran senior guard Alec Millender and the Mustangs are out to prove they have some staying power.

Joliet West was cruising until Sunday’s loss to Niles North. But it’s a dangerous team with talent. Senior point guard Jamere Hill has been a breakout star while playing himself onto the radar of college coaches and moving up the Class of 2020 rankings.

Hoops Report pick: Joliet West 70, St. Rita 67

Oak Park vs. No. 6 Stevenson at Mount Carmel, Saturday 5:15 p.m.

Alright, Oak Park, it’s another chance to get the arrow pointing in the right direction as the Huskies face a high-level foe in a big-time event. Can Oak Park handle the discipline, precision and chemistry Stevenson brings each game?

There is no doubting the talent on the Oak Park rosters. Both 6-6 Isaiah Barnes and 6-3 Josh Smith are bonafide Division I talents in the junior class. But the consistency must start with those two players as Oak Park has been wildly erratic in its 2-3 start to the season.

Stevenson, meanwhile, is difficult to score on in the halfcourt and tough to defend because of its balance and how it shares the ball. This senior dominated team, led by 6-3 guard Matthew Ambrose,

Hoops Report pick: Stevenson 58, Oak Park 51

No. 16 Hillcrest vs. No. 8 Curie at Mount Carmel, Saturday 6:30 p.m.

The Saturday headliner as two ranked teams and perennial powers meet.

Hillcrest has fallen short in two early-season matchups with ranked foes, so this becomes another key early-season test for the Hawks. This talented junior group, headed by 6-5 Julius Rollins, is in need of a signature win.

Curie lost a lot from last year’s team but is off to a 4-0 start with seniors Ramean Hinton, Nick Owens and Elijah Pickens leading the way. But make not mistake, it’s Hinton who puts a charge into Mike Oliver’s team –– with his talent, toughness and motor.

In a down-to-the-wire game, Hillcrest uses its size and length to find a way and gets its first big win.

Hoops Report pick: Hillcrest 60, Curie 58

No. 2 Bogan vs. No. 11 Notre Dame at Mount Carmel, Sunday 2:45 p.m.

This game caps off a rugged 10 days for Notre Dame, which includes four games against ranked teams in Evanston, Marian Catholic, Loyola and Bogan. And Bogan, with a wave of pressure and quickness, may not be the type of team you want to end that rugged run against.

This is another great test for a Notre Dame team that has beefed up its schedule in preparation for a Class 3A run in March.

You want to be careful about overreacting to one win, but Bogan beating Simeon by 22 points on the road earlier this week was eye-opening. The Bengals, though, have been so impressive overall in its 8-0 start to the season. It’s more than just the senior duo of Antoine Bloxton and Kyndall Davis. Bogan has depth, size and athleticism.

Hoops Report pick: Bogan 61, Notre Dame 51

No. 12 Orr vs. No. 4 Evanston at Mount Carmel, Sunday 4 p.m.

This could be some appointment viewing featuring two teams who have had so much success in recent years. Orr has won three straight Class 2A state championships. Evanston finished third in Class 4A two years ago and was the state runner-up last March.

This is a matchup featuring dizzying amounts of speed and quickness. They both get after it and play with an attacking style.

Orr has been led in scoring by 6-5 Demarius Splunge and guard Bryce Hall, a transfer from Simeon, while Evanston leans on the junior tandem of Blake Peters and Jaylin Gibson. The supporting cast and relative no-namers for the Wildkits have produced, impressed and gives them the edge.

Hoops Report pick: Evanston 67, Orr 64