Much left to sort out as regular season heads toward homestretch
As we hit halftime of the boys basketball season in DuPage County, it's a perfect time to look at a few interesting questions as we head toward the stretch run.
Who will be most affected by the four-class playoff system? Driscoll and 6-foot-10 Jake Lindfors leap off the brackets in Class 2A. And maybe not in a good way.
While the Highlanders boast an 11-5 record, a dominant player and plenty of potential when healthy, two superpowers lurk in the Luther North sectional. Hales Franciscan and North Lawndale, which soundly beat Driscoll at Thanksgiving, are heavy favorites to emerge.
This may be a season where the Highlanders, one of the bigger schools in Class 2A, wish their enrollment had been multiplied into an even higher class.
Then again, they could be facing Fenton's possible scenario in Class 3A. The Bison enjoy home-court advantage in the regional, but they'd better leave a trail of bread crumbs if they advance to the sectional.
Fifty miles separate Bensenville from Antioch, the site of the Class 3A sectional into which Fenton feeds.
So much for the IHSA's goal of reducing travel for teams in the playoffs.
Class 4A will become much more interesting once the seeding and regional placement occurs. With Waubonsie Valley, West Aurora, Batavia, Neuqua Valley and Wheaton North all in the East Aurora sectional, no doubt it'll be a meat-grinder.
Where are the guards? Standing in the shadow of DuPage County's big men.
Not every top area team is led in the frontcourt, but it's surprising how many teams have built their success with a top player in the post.
Wheaton North (12-2), while potent on the perimeter, leans on the consistency of 6-7 John Bagge. Neuqua Valley (11-4), through its balance, holds the trump card of 6-8 Dan Pawelski.
Willowbrook (11-3), winner in eight of its last nine games, thrives on the double-doubles of 6-5 Milton Colbert. Same with Hinsdale South (9-4) and 6-4 Eric Travis.
The list goes on and on … from Driscoll (11-5) and Albany-bound Lindfors to Glenbard West (8-5) and 6-8 Northwestern recruit John Shurna.
In no recent season have so many strong area teams relied so heavily on their men in the middle.
But have no fear, guard lovers. Waubonsie Valley's 14-3 record stems from a fierce backcourt that includes Josh Daniels, Justin Peaster and Kevin VandenBerg.
So what now? In the wake of the holiday tournaments, welcome to the dog days.
Although the conference races need time to heat up, it's still an intriguing stretch of season as teams shorten rotations and fine-tune playbooks. If the ongoing conference schedules don't jazz your interests, at least the shootouts are in full swing.
Saturday's slate of games includes the second annual Wheaton Shootout. Wheaton Warrenville South plays Wheaton Academy at 6 p.m. followed by St. Francis and host Wheaton North at 7:30.
Five games are scheduled for Saturday's Downers Grove North shootout, the final three featuring local boys teams. Hinsdale Central plays Glenbard East at 4 p.m., followed by Downers South and Naperville Central at 5:30. The day concludes with Downers North playing Hinsdale South at 7 p.m.
If that's not enough to stir your basketball soul, keep the faith.
The playoffs begin in less than six weeks.