Scouting the weekend in the Fox Valley
Friday
Cary-Grove (12-10, 6-1) at McHenry (15-5, 5-1), 7 p.m.: The winner takes sole possession of first place and gains the inside track to the Valley Division title in the Fox Valley Conference. The Trojans have won 5 straight games and 7 of their last 8. Cary-Grove defeated McHenry 58-51 in Cary on Jan. 20.
Crystal Lake South (12-9, 5-2) at Jacobs (3-18, 0-6), 7 p.m.: Every Valley Division game is a must win for the Gators, who sit one game back of Cary-Grove and McHenry in the loss column with 3 games to play. Jacobs has dropped 10 straight, including a 43-39 overtime loss at CL South on Jan. 20.
Dundee-Crown (2-17, 1-5) at Huntley (13-9, 2-4), 7 p.m.: Huntley snapped a 4-game losing streak on Tuesday with a home win against Jacobs. The Red Raiders avoided an upset in the first meeting with a 45-43 victory in Carpentersville on Jan. 20.
Aurora Central Catholic (12-9, 6-1) at St. Edward (10-13, 2-6), 7:30 p.m.: The Green Wave play host to the second-place team in the Suburban Christian Gold. The Chargers defeated St. Edward 73-42 on Jan. 9.
Mooseheart (10-9, 4-3) at Westminster Christian (14-8, 6-1), 7 p.m.: A win in this Northeast Athletic Conference matchup would keep the host Warriors within a game of Rockford Christian in the loss column.
St. Charles East (11-10, 3-4) at South Elgin (15-7, 5-2), 7:30 p.m.: The Storm aim for their third straight victory against the suddenly hot Saints, who have won 4 straight games and 7 of their last 8.
Harvard (8-15, 3-5) at Burlington Central (10-11, 5-2), 7:15 p.m.: The Rockets have won 3 of their last 4 games, losing only to Richmond-Burton in overtime. The Hornets enter this Big Northern East tilt on a 3-game winning streak.
Hampshire (14-8, 5-2) at North Boone (5-18, 1-7), 7:15 p.m.: The Whip-Purs look to extend their winning streak to 4 games in a road game against the last-place team in the Big Northern East.
Saturday
Elgin (5-18, 0-8) at Bartlett (12-9, 5-2), 1 p.m.: The action should be back and forth between these two fast-breaking Upstate Eight Conference foes. The Maroons seek their first UEC victory. The Hawks will play for the first time in 11 days after Tuesday's game with Glenbard North was postponed.
South Elgin at McHenry, 7 p.m.: A nonconference game between two quality teams. South Elgin was named the No. 1 seed at the upcoming Class 4A Bartlett regional on Thursday. McHenry earned the No. 2 seed at the Crystal Lake South regional. They wouldn't meet in the postseason until the Boylan sectional.
Jacobs at Libertyville (11-11), 3:30 p.m.: Matt Schmidt (12.2 ppg.) and Sean Meyer (10.8) lead the Golden Eagles in this nonconference affair. The Wildcats are coming off back-to-back losses to Mundelein and Maine South.
Westminster Christian vs. East Dubuque (17-5), 3 p.m.: The Warriors travel to the River Ridge Shootout to take on a fellow No. 1 regional seed in the upcoming Class 1A playoffs.
Larkin (7-14, 1-6) at Streamwood (6-13, 2-5), 2:30 p.m.: The Royals need a win. Larkin has dropped 11 straight and has not won in 2010. The competitive Sabres have dropped their last 3 games by a combined total of 9 points.
Elgin Academy (4-16) at Ida Crown, 8:30 p.m.: The Hilltoppers look to end a 5-game losing streak in this nonconference game.