High school basketball weekend forecast: Previewing and predicting the top games

With the Martin Luther King holiday weekend upon us, we have a bit of an extended forecast that reaches into Monday. Breaking down and picking the weekend’s biggest games.

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North Lawndale’s Jamar Wilkins (0) looks to dribble around Orr’s Demarius Splunge (24).

North Lawndale’s Jamar Wilkins (0) looks to dribble around Orr’s Demarius Splunge (24).

Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times

With the Martin Luther King holiday weekend upon us, we have a bit of an extended forecast that reaches into Monday. Breaking down and picking the weekend’s biggest games. 

Friday

▪︎ Buffalo Grove at Rolling Meadows

The place will be packed. This is a key Mid-Suburban League East game –– both teams are unbeaten in league play –– as well as a night to recognize and honor the Mike Lipnisky-led Rolling Meadows team that reached the Elite Eight in Champaign in 1990. 

While Buffalo Grove is led by high-scoring sophomore Kam Craft, the Bison’s Matt Brunelli has been smoking hot. The senior guard hit a school record 10 three-pointers and scored 33 points last week in a win over Elk Grove. He followed that up with five more three-pointers and 24 points in a win over Glenbrook North. Craft is the catalyst but Brunelli must be accounted for. 

But this is Max Christie we’re talking about. Christie is at an entirely different level as a junior in terms of how he’s impacting games, doing so in all facets and at a higher level. The all-everything 6-6 junior guard and his improving supporting cast, including younger brother, freshman guard Cam Christie, have emerged as the class of the MSL East and will look to show it Friday night. 

Hoops Report pick: Rolling Meadows 64, Buffalo Grove 58

▪︎ North Lawndale at Young

North Lawndale is a sneaky dangerous team right now, albeit one that can be a bit inconsistent. 

The Phoenix have played multiple ranked teams –– all losses –– with varying degrees of result. There were tight losses to Mundelein and Lincoln Park but losses to Curie and Rock Island by a combined 32 points.

There are some talented young players in the program and seniors to lean on. Plus, coach Carlos Tolliver’s team is balanced.

Young, meanwhile, tends to have a hiccup in league play over the years. Lincoln Park has gotten them in each of the last two seasons. North Lawndale beat the Dolphins three years ago.

North Lawndale has three talented, double-figure scoring guards. Seniors Daveon Rogers, a 5-8 scoring spark plug who averages 11.2 points, and get-to-the-basket leading scorer Jamar Wilkins (14.9 ppg), along with junior Daequan Davis (13.8 ppg) lead the way.

D.J. Steward, though, inspires confidence in any game he plays. Steward, fresh off a monster showing last weekend at the Highland Shootout where he scored 40 points, senior guard Tyler Beard and the Dolphins get it done at home. 

Hoops Report pick: Young 73, North Lawndale 64

▪︎ Lincoln-Way East at Bolingbrook

Are the roles reversed? Bolingbrook is always the favorite in this Southwest Suburban Blue battle. But Lincoln-Way East has fared well over the years as the underdog.

Very few people have noticed that Lincoln-Way East is ranked, winners of nine straight and sport an impressive 12-2 record on the year. Are the Griffins the favorite? People will take notice if Lincoln-Way East can go on the road and knock off Bolingbrook.

This is a very balanced attack with junior point guard Jhei-R Jones, 6-4 Ryan Sierocki, Ryan Sucha and Ty Slager all taking turns and stepping up. 

Lincoln-Way East’s focus is simple: Keep Bolingbrook, especially jet-quick guard Darius Burford, from repeatedly scoring in transition. Burford just went for 38 points Tuesday night while leading the Raiders to a 92-87 win over Marian Catholic. 

Lincoln-Way East can’t win this game if the score is in the 70s. The Griffins must control the tempo and limit turnovers. 

Hoops Report pick: Bolingbrook 66, Lincoln-Way 60

Saturday

▪︎ Glenbrook South vs. Mundelein at Lake Zurich

These are two ranked, rock solid teams having outstanding seasons and that have big, legitimate hopes the rest of the way. But each of these teams are trying to fight their way into the upper echelon of teams. A win here in this big non-conference game is a step in that direction. 

Figuring out a way to limit Dom Martinelli’s impact on a game will test any Glenbrook South opponent. Even when game-planning for the impactful Martinelli, the highly-productive 6-4 forward just finds a way. 

Junior-dominated Mundelein has the 1-2 punch of guard Conor Enright and 6-8 Scottie Ebube. The latter gives Mundelein a huge advantage. 

A tight, down-to-the-wire finish is almost a guarantee in this one, especially on a neutral floor. 

Hoops Report pick: Mundelein 60, Glenbrook South 58

▪︎ Loyola vs. Homewood-Flossmoor at New Trier

A fun one between two ranked teams. They are from different geographical areas with an opportunity for each to boost their impressive early-season resumé that they’ve built to this point. 

Homewood-Flossmoor makes the trip to the North Shore for the annual War on the Shore at New Trier. Fresh off a stinging loss to Thornton earlier this week, H-F hopes to regroup against a tough, feisty Loyola team that hasn’t lost to a single team from Illinois. 

R.J. Ogom is a versatile threat with his size, strength and athleticism around the basket and an ability to take defenders out to the three-point line with his shooting. Josiah Palmer has been a steady scorer and efficient shooter for the Vikings. 

Loyola, which has just one loss on the season, falling to Santa Fe Catholic in Florida, hasn’t allowed 40 points in a game since early December. No one has scored more than 50 points all season against the Ramblers. This is a disciplined defensive team that’s clearly bought in to the style and culture of the program. 

While H-F can play at different paces, Loyola will be a monumental test for the Vikings from a style standpoint. Look for the Ramblers, led by 6-8 twins Bennet and Jordan Kwiecinski, a pair of Division I players headed to Siena and Drake, respectively, and a host of unheralded pieces like 6-3 Matt Enghauser and point guard Billy Palmer, to make things difficult for H-F.

Hoops Report pick: Loyola 52, Homewood-Flossmoor 48

▪︎ Evanston vs. Hillcrest at New Trier

The final game of the three-game War on the Shore event at New Trier.

As one of three big schools in the state still unbeaten, Evanston has passed every test and done so in impressive fashion. 

Juniors Blake Peters and Jaylin Gibson are the backbone, but the Wildkits are sharing the wealth, receiving impactful minutes and production from the likes of Isaiah Holden, Elyjah Bull, Rashawn Bost and Daeshawn Hemphill. Plus, this group defends and puts pressure on you out on the perimeter. 

It’s only the middle of January, but the season will soon come to a crossroads for a struggling Hillcrest team. The Hawks had high hopes with budding talent in the junior class. It hasn’t gone their way with six losses, albeit against a very strong schedule. 

Here’s another chance. Can Hillcrest pump life and a jolt of confidence into its season by handing highly-ranked Evanston its first loss of the season? A team that hasn’t received the type of guard play needed to beat the very best will be up against it facing Evanston’s pressure. 

Hoops Report pick: Evanston 69, Hillcrest 58

Monday

▪︎ Morgan Park vs. Notre Dame at Fenwick

We’ll have to wait until Monday for the game of the weekend. Then we may have to wait two months for these two to meet again in Peoria in a Class 3A semifinal showdown. 

This is a star-studded cast of players and college prospects going at it on a neutral floor. 

Notre Dame has been on cruise control since the return of point guard Anthony Sayles from injury in December. The Dons already own wins over five ranked teams –– Bogan, DePaul Prep, Marian Catholic, Fenwick and Glenbrook South. There may not be a better trio in the state than Louis Lesmond (16.8 ppg), Troy D’Amico (14.5 ppg) and Sayles (13.3 ppg). 

Morgan Park needs this game. No, it’s not make or break for Nick Irvin’s team, but it needs a big in-state win, particularly after losing to another East Suburban Catholic Conference team, Marian Catholic, last weekend. 

Adam Miller and Brandon Weston are forces. Miller, the Illinois commitment, is a high-scoring guard with unlimited range and scoring ability. Weston is a physical wing with athleticism and capable of going for 20 points himself. Then there is point guard Marcus Watson, who when he’s creating and setting up teammates Morgan Park is at its best. 

Look for Morgan Park to dig in deep on this big stage and rise to the occasion. 

With so much talent on the floor, this will be appointment television for the high school basketball fan. The game will be televised on at 1 p.m. on the U.

Hoops Report pick: Morgan Park 67, Notre Dame 64

▪︎ Simeon vs. Fenwick at Fenwick

You get the feeling that Simeon is getting closer and closer to figuring things out and taking a big step forward. Coach Robert Smith is still tinkering with roles and his rotation, but there have been signs of individual players stepping up in support of junior star guard Ahamad Bynum. 

After making the move from St. Laurence to Simeon, Jeremiah Williams is becoming more comfortable and, as a result, more aggressive offensively. The 6-4 guard brings so much versatility to the floor. Dylan Ingram, a 6-5 junior, has turned into a double-figure scorer since the Pontiac Holiday Tournament. 

Fenwick is on its home floor and with Bryce Hopkins the Friars have the best player in this showdown. The 6-5 junior puts up monster numbers and is capable of carrying a team. And at this point in time, Hopkins, who has committed to Louisville, has to against elite teams. Sophomore Trey Pettigrew is an emerging star and been a solid second scorer in support of Hopkins. 

Hoops Report pick: Simeon 55, Fenwick 50

▪︎ Lincoln Park vs. Joliet West at Hyde Park

A pair of ranked teams, led by two dynamic guards who have become marquee names this season, square off in what could be an up-and-down, back-and-forth game. 

Joliet’s Jamere Hill, with his length and athleticism as a 6-3 combo guard, facing off with Ismail Habib, an electric 6-0 junior guard, is an added bonus to two ranked teams meeting. 

Hill receives great scoring support from junior Jaiden Lee, but he’s filling the stat sheet while averaging 20 points a game. Habib is red-hot. He has nearly doubled his average from 10 points a game as a year ago to close to 20 points a game this season and is averaging 34 points a game.

Hoops Report pick: Joliet West 68, Lincoln Park 66

Last week: 6-1

Overall: 18-6

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