Scouting the Barrington sectional semifinal
Class 4A Barrington sectional semifinal
No. 1 Zion-Benton (28-3) vs. No. 5 Buffalo Grove (20-8)
7:30 p.m. today
How they got here: Zion-Benton defeated No. 13 Libertyville 60-34 and No. 7 Mundelein 79-74 to win the Mundelein regional. Buffalo Grove defeated No. 12 Rolling Meadows 53-51 and No. 14 Lake Zurich 57-41 to win the Palatine regional.
Postseason history: Buffalo Grove won its 12th regional title and third straight. The Bison lost to Stevenson in last year's finals and to Glenbrook South in the semifinals two years ago and won their only sectional title in 1984. Zion-Benton won its 16th regional title and 12th since 1994. The Zee-Bees lost to Warren in last year's final and won the last of three sectional titles in 2003.
Probable starters
ZION-BENTON BUFFALO GROVE
Player Ht. Yr. Player Ht. Yr. PPG
G Rodney Clinkscales 6-1 Sr. Brian DeSimone 6-1 Sr. 15.8
G Ronald Steward 5-10 Jr. Paul Timko 6-0 Sr. 9.2
F/G Antonio Stewart 6-4 Sr. Chris Timberg 6-1 Sr. 8.2
F/G Lenzelle Smith 6-3 So. Kevin Mulligan 5-10 So. 7.6
C/F Markus Yarbrough 6-7 Jr. Mike Ricciardi 6-3 Sr. 11.1
Outlook: Don't look down or away in a matchup that doesn't figure to have fans clamoring for a shot clock. One of the keys will be on the misses with Ricciardi in his usual battle against a bigger opponent in Yarbrough, who had 16 of his 23 points Friday after halftime, and the Bison guards trying to contain the Zee-Bees, who are bringing junior scoring leader Quintrell Love off the bench. "We have to try and do what we can to stop dribble penetration," said BG coach Ryan O'Connor, "and keep the ball out of the big guy's hands the best we can." Defensive rotations will be crucial for the Bison against Clinkscales and Steward. "They are very good at breaking guys down off the dribble," O'Connor said. "If we force them to shoot some contested shots from the perimeter that will be a pretty successful defense." The Zee-Bees will have to get out and contest everyone on a team that can shoot from long-range led by DeSimone (55 3-pointers), Timko (38) and Timberg (23 in eight games since return from injury). DeSimone has also thrived against athletic teams with a career-high 39 points on 18 shots against Thornwood, 26 against St. Joseph and 22 against Elgin. Many observers consider this the best of Don Kloth's Zion teams which have lost in three supersectional berths. The North Suburban Conference champions won their first 16 before suffering their losses to Lake Forest, Stevenson and 28-2 Rockton Hononegah by a combined 9 points in a six-game January stretch. "They've certainly earned the No. 1 seed," O'Connor said. "They haven't done anything to think they don't deserve it."
Advancement: The winner advances to Friday's 7:30 p.m. title game against the winner of Wednesday's semifinal between No. 3 Highland Park and No. 7 Schaumburg.
-- Marty Maciaszek
At Evanston
Top-seed Evanston (26-3) hosts No. 5 Loyola (20-9) at 7:30 p.m. today at Beardsley Gym in the first semifinal. The Central Suburban League champion Wildkits are balanced and deep with CSL South player of the year Zachary Morton leading the way. "If the game was played 13-on-13 I don't think anyone would have a chance," joked Maine East coach Glenn Olson. But Loyola does have 6-5 sophomore Chance Carter, who had 19 points and 10 rebounds in Friday's overtime win over St. Viator, to complement Penn-bound Rob Belcore and junior Matt Sullivan. The winner advances to Friday's title game against the Wednesday semifinal winner between Hersey and Maine East.