Neuqua hopes its on road to state

Between Jan. 10-19 Neuqua Valley traveled 1,000 miles in a six-game span, from Quincy to Naperville and twice to Rockton Hononegah.

Racking up a 27-1 record that earned the Wildcats the No. 1 seed in the Class 4A Oswego East sectional, Neuqua played six games on its home court.

Point being, Neuqua Valley isn't fazed by the road, a good thing as it attempts to reach Oswego East by winning the Batavia regional.

"It is what it is," said Sutton, who has two forwards, Derek Raridon and Dwayne Evans, who started in last year's Chicago State University supersectional against 4A runner-up Richards.

"We don't fear playing on the road. Actually, I think they enjoy going places and quieting the crowd," Sutton said of his squad, which has won 19 straight games and the Upstate Eight Conference title for the fourth time in five seasons.

"We're hopeful our schedule helped prepare us for it," Sutton said.

Neuqua starts the journey against the winner of Monday's regional quarterfinal between No. 16 Naperville North and No. 17 Benet. Sutton realizes anything can happen. A basketball buff with a small-school background at Pecatonica, he referenced Eureka's Class 2A upset Friday over 26-game winner Seneca.

"The team that plays the best will win, and it is not necessarily the best team," Sutton said.

Naperville Central (24-2) at least gets to play at its own regional. The No. 2 seed in the Oswego East complex with the sectional's top player in Drew Crawford, should the Redhawks defeat the Willowbrook-Marmion play-in winner they'll try to go 3-0 on the season against either No. 7 West Aurora or No. 10 Wheaton Warrenville South. Naperville Central was the first team in 15 years to go through the DuPage Valley Conference unbeaten. Now that everyone's 0-0 that means zip.

"It's one at a time, and if you stumble you don't get a second chance," said Naperville Central coach Pete Kramer, a sectional winner in 2005. "If we win our first game we'll need to beat a team for the third time. That's never easy."

If Naperville Central does reach the sectional it may find another DVC foe. No. 6 seed Glenbard East (19-6) has a hard road with a probable regional semifinal against No. 11 Bartlett, winner of its last nine games, and a final against No. 3 Bolingbrook (18-6). That's tough competition for a team seeking its fourth regional title in five seasons.

Since entering the Elgin Holiday Tournament, the Rams have lost only to Neuqua Valley, Naperville Central and West Aurora, twice, including Wednesday's two-overtime game.

"We've worked hard to keep getting better, and I think we've done that," said Glenbard East coach Scott Miller, who combines a deep frontcourt with solid guards Jack Merrithey and Zach Miller, Scott's son. "Every team in the state is trying to reach their peak. We're fortunate to be doing that right now. It's great timing."

While these battles rage in the Northern Illinois University supersectional, several local West Suburban Conference teams heat up the Chicago State University supersectional complex.

York coach Al Biancalana was none too pleased to have the Dukes pushed east. Though No. 12 seed York (13-13) hosts its own regional, should the Dukes win their play-in game against Kelly, No. 5 Foreman awaits in the semifinal and West Suburban Gold co-champ No. 4 Morton (21-5) in the regional final.

The other Gold co-champ, No. 5 seed Downers Grove South (21-5) seeks its first regional since finishing third in state in 2005. In the Hinsdale South regional of the Hinsdale Central sectional, it faces a possible regional final against No. 4 Mt. Carmel.

The Mustangs' coach, Paul Runyon is retiring, a situation that has sparked many teams.

"We have to play extremely well to win the regional," Runyon said, "and our treat would be Hyde Park (in a sectional semifinal). We'll do the best we can. It's no easy path."

In Class 3A Wheaton Academy (15-8) is by its lonesome at the Rochelle sectional, the top seed of the Burlington Central regional.

Big names crowd the Riverside-Brookfield sectional, where St. Joseph and Marshall dominate the bottom half of the bracket. In the upper half No. 8 seed St. Francis (14-11), last year's giant-killer with a win over St. Joseph, has to beat regional host Nazareth a second time this year for the honor of facing defending Class 2A champion North Lawndale (24-5).

"Getting the eighth seed, that's not something I think a lot of people want, to go up against the No. 1 seed," said Spartans coach Shawn Healy. "But for us, we've got to worry about Wednesday night, about Nazareth."

No. 6 Glenbard South (18-7) hosts its own regional. Chances are good the Raiders will advance to see high-scoring No. 4 seed Riverside-Brookfield (23-3). Again, possibly North Lawndale awaits in a sectional final.

"We've got a tough sectional, there's no doubt about it," said Raiders coach Wade Hardtke. "When you get thrown into a mix like that, I'm actually pleased with a sixth seed. The sectional's just loaded."