Boys basketball: Scouting Friday's Fox Valley/Tri-Cities title games
By John Radtke and Dave Oberhelman
jradtke@dailyherald.com
doberhelman@dailyherald.com
Class 4A Bartlett regional The matchup: Bartlett (19-10) vs. Larkin (19-8)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
The skinny: No. 1 seed Larkin rolled to a 62-35 win over South Elgin in the semifinals behind 17 points from Daniel McFadden and 13 from Christian Negron. No. 3 Bartlett used Tyler Pauletti's baseline drive and scoop with 1.5 seconds left in OT to upset No. 2 Jacobs 42-40. The U46 rivals have not met this season.
Class 4A Geneva regional The matchup: Geneva (26-3) vs. St. Charles East (24-3)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
The skinny: It's unfortunate two of the Western Suburbs' top teams have to meet this early, but so be it. Aiming for a second straight regional title, Geneva's only better season historically was 30-3 in 1962-63. St. Charles East looks to tie its record for victories, 25 in 1977-78. These two went 1-1 in Upstate Eight River Division play to share the title, each winning on its home court. If the first two games are an indication, to advance Geneva has to own each possession against St. Charles East's withering man-to-man defense; and St. Charles East will want to capitalize in transition and continue its 39-percent 3-point shooting. The superstars - Geneva Vikings all-time scoring leader, Nate Navigato, Saints point guard Cole Gentry, River MVP - they'll get theirs. But the tide might turn on any number of key players such as Geneva guard Pace Temple and St. Charles East defensive stopper Evan DiLeonardi.
Class 4A West Aurora regional The matchup: Wheaton North (20-5) vs. West Aurora (19-8)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
The skinny: Surviving Naperville North in overtime, 49-42, West maintained its goal of a 40th regional title. Senior Tommy Koth scored 17 points, his highest total since Dec. 5. Coach Gordie Kerkman, 802-game winner, will need it all from Roland Griffin, Matt Dunn and Marquis Howard to beat a tough No. 3 seed.
Class 4A Huntley regionalThe matchup: Crystal Lake South (18-10) vs. Rockford Jefferson (20-8)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
The skinny: The second-seeded Gators beat top seed Jefferson 58-52 on Dec. 23 at the Jacobs Christmas tournament behind 19 points from Kyle Bartusch and 17 from Alex Reich. South slipped past Prairie Ridge 44-41 in the semifinals; Jefferson nipped Huntley 61-56 as ML Moore scored 25 points.
Class 3A Burlington Central regional The matchup: Hampshire (16-11) vs. Kaneland (14-15)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
The skinny: Brennen Woods and the top-seeded Whip-Purs re-established their defense to extend retiring coach Bob Barnett's season, rallying from a 25-15 first-quarter deficit. Kaneland seeks its second straight regional title. Ryan David, Connor Fedderly and Mark Lilly have all been solid in a 2-0 playoff start.
Class 3A IMSA regional
The matchup: Glenbard South (16-12) vs. Aurora Central Catholic (14-14)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
The skinny: Glenbard South is 2-0 against ACC in Metro Suburban West play, but that won't faze the Chargers. They avenged a regular-season loss to Marmion behind 6-4 Mario May, freshman bomber Kyler Czerak and sophomore brother Brett Czerak. The older Czerak is averaging 23 points in his last five games..
Class 2A El Paso sectionalThe matchup: St. Edward (25-5) vs. Reed-Custer (25-5)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
The skinny: It's another 2-hour plus bus ride for St. Edward, which survived horrid fourth-quarter free throw shooting to win a defensive battle 39-36 over Fieldcrest in the semifinals Wednesday. This Sweet Sixteen game does not figure to be that low scoring as Reed-Custer brings a Grinnell-style offense to the court, according to St. Edward coach PJ White.
"We know they like to shoot a lot of 3s," White said. "They run that Grinnell thing, a lot of guys in and out, and they trap a lot. If we can hit our 3s and withstand that trap maybe we can give them a game."
The Green Wave, who got balanced scoring in the semi led by 9 points each from Joe French and Kelvin Cortez-Harvey, can set a school record for wins in a season by advancing to the Elite Eight round Tuesday at NIU.
Reed-Custer has been a scoring machine all season, eclipsing 100 points four times including a 119-54 win over Wilmington. The Comets have scored in the 90s 13 times including hitting 99 in two different wins. Senior Zach Zoltani had 21 points and junior Brent Headrick 17 in their win over Illiana.
The Comets, who play in the Interstate Eight Conference, and St. Edward have one common opponent: Westmont. Reed-Custer beat the Sentinels 99-40; St. Edward downed Westmont 59-56.
St. Edward is seeking its first sectional title since 1997. R-C lost to Paris 60-55 in last year's sectional finals.