No easy way to predict this game

It's not football, but games between Nos. 5 and 12 seeds are recognized as the deadliest picks in the NCAA basketball tournament.

That's what we have here: No. 5 Waubonsie Valley (7-2) hosting No. 12 Hinsdale Central (6-3) is a tough call.

The sole first-round playoff game between DuPage County teams, it's the Upstate Eight Conference versus the West Suburban Silver.

It may remind some of last year's first-rounder in which No. 15 Hinsdale Central defeated No. 2 Neuqua Valley.

That's naturally the furthest thing from the mind of Paul Murphy, coach of a Waubonsie team on a six-game winning streak behind ball-control offense and fast, experienced defense.

The Warriors won 7 games and a share of the UEC title for the first time since 1997.

"I don't think we have played our best game yet," said Murphy, who got the Warriors back to the playoffs after a one-year break. "I think we can get better, we can continue to grow."

That's a scary thought for those who've seen Waubonsie allow an average of 8 points in the Upstate Eight.

Or those who saw the 1-2 punch of running backs Kenny Harrington and Rich Tronolone combine for 1,435 yards and 14 touchdowns behind an all-senior offensive line averaging 240 pounds.

Yet Hinsdale Central won't be in awe. The Red Devils, led defensively by nose tackle Pat Clegg, were 15 yards from a WSS co-championship and a higher playoff seed when a late fumble clinched a Week 9 loss to Glenbard West.

Their other losses? To 9-0 Wheaton Warrenville South and 7-2 York.

Coach Mike DiMatteo, whose team dealt 8-1 Lyons Twp. its only loss, said against Glenbard West receivers dropped 3 touchdown passes delivered by star sophomore quarterback John Whitelaw -- whose containment is Waubonsie's defensive focus.

"If we play like we're supposed to we have a chance," DiMatteo said. "If we play like we have the last four weeks, off and on, we have no chance."