Scouting Wheaton North vs. Naperville North
By Kevin Schmit
kschmit@dailyherald.com
No. 4 Naperville North (24-5) vs. No. 6 Wheaton North (24-6)
Class 4A Hinsdale Central sectional final
Game time: 7 p.m. Friday.
Path to the final: Naperville North beat No. 20 Metea Valley 76-34, No. 12 Addison Trail 71-51, and No. 1 Wheaton Warrenville South 40-35. Wheaton North beat No. 11 DeKalb 51-45, No. 3 Benet 64-55, and No. 10 Hinsdale South 55-53.
Playoff history: Naperville North has won two sectional titles, in 1994 and 1998. Wheaton North won its only sectional title in 1986.
Outlook: The DuPage Valley Conference is guaranteed a sectional champion for the sixth time in seven seasons. Who will it be? Considering Naperville North won the two regular-season meetings by a total of 4 points — including the first matchup in overtime — this is a tossup. Six-foot-six Huskies senior forward Mitch Lewis scored a total of 45 points in the wins, carrying the Huskies to victory just as he did while scoring 12 of his game-high 16 points in the second half of Tuesday's win over WW South. Tyler Carlson and Youcef Merabet each knocked down clutch 3-pointers to help beat the Tigers, and it's that kind of scoring depth that's allowed Naperville North to win 18 of its last 19 games. With 6-7 Chris Johnson and 6-6 sophomore Tom Welch, the Huskies typically have a size advantage over most opponents. That won't be the case in this one as Wheaton North counters with 6-6 Josh Sorenson, 6-6 sophomore Deng Reng, 6-4 Matt Brcka and 6-2 Jack Bennett. The Falcons thrive with their tandem of Luke Anthony and Rowan McGowen, who average a combined 30 points a game. Both can be lethal from the perimeter, evidenced by McGowen's game-winning shot in Wednesday's victory over Hinsdale South.
Intangibles: Naperville North purposely fouled WW South to prevent the Tigers from shooting 3s, but don't expect the Huskies to utilize that strategy again. That's because another key part of the strategy was dictating pace and not allowing WW South to run extensive time off the clock on offense. Wheaton North, however, likes to quicken the pace more to the Huskies' liking. Senior experience drives both teams, so neither side will shy away from pressure. Lewis, Anthony and McGowen are each three-year starters. If the game is on the line at the end, the ball likely will be in one of their hands.
Advancement: The winner advances to Tuesday's Northern Illinois University supersectional to face Friday's Lincoln-Way East sectional title game winner between Bolingbrook (27-1) and Joliet West (26-3).
— Kevin Schmit