Who will emerge as this year's prime-time performers?

With the Class 3A and 4A basketball tournaments starting Monday, here's all the Do's and Dont's you need to know.

Do: Appreciate the senior season by Geneva's Lauren Wicinski.

How easy would it be for someone whose future is set in volleyball to not play basketball, or to go out and go through the motions?

That's just not in her DNA. She said after their 54th straight regular season win Friday that it is how much she and her teammates hate losing that has kept them winning. (And the same goes for her two-sport teammate Kelsey Augustine.)

Wicinski has done her share and then some with her numbers. There's no better rebounder around, which she demonstrated once again in the final three games of the regular season with 16 rebounds against DeKalb, 18 vs. Bartlett and 12 (with 22 points) against Batavia.

Don't miss: The Class 4A St. Charles North regional.

From Monday's game between South Elgin and Batavia to whichever two teams are left playing for the championship Thursday, there figures to be one competitive matchup after another. The only surprise here would be if a game is not on the line late in the fourth quarter.

Do: Dare to dream.

It's a coach's job to make sure their team is focused on the game in front of them, to make sure they don't look past an opponent.

But why shouldn't the fans and media types like myself have a little fun thinking about what might be, especially for a 27-0 squad like Geneva.

If the Vikings get through the regional, they'll go west to Huntley next week for sectionals instead of east to Addison Trail like last year. The supersectional site also has changed, Streamwood High School instead of Loyola University.

A likely sectional semifinal opponent would be Cary-Grove, who just improved to 25-3 by beating St. Charles North 64-58 Friday. A possible sectional final opponent could be Rockford Boylan, who played St. Charles East way back at the Schaumburg Thanksgiving tournament and won 62-56.

Boylan's three losses are to Montini, Moline and Rockford Auburn. Geneva was ranked fourth and Boylan eighth in this week's Class 4A state poll.

The Vikings played what I thought was perhaps their best game of the season last year in their supersectional win over New Trier (maybe 1A with the dismantling of Lake Park in the sectional finals being 1B.) There's no doubt Geneva will draw another power if it gets back to the supersectional, with Wheeling and Hersey among the heavyweights at the Libertyville sectional that meets the Huntley sectional winner.

Don't overlook: Senior experience.

We've got two of the most senior dominated teams you'll find in Rosary and St. Charles East. So many seniors in fact that it's hard to picture either team in 2010-11 - though I'm sure Dave Beebe and Lori Drumtra will find a way to keep their programs succeeding.

Do: Watch the point guards at this week's St. Charles North regional. Sami Villareal has been a starter since Day One as a freshman at Batavia, while sophomore Becca Smith averages 20 points a game for South Elgin.

A regional final between Geneva and either St. Charles school would match Vikings junior Kat Yelle (14.0 ppg, 3.8 apg, 3.2 spg) against her travel teammate Kiley Hackbarth (11.0 ppg, 4.3 apg, 1.8 spg) at St. Charles North or Lexi Baltes (13.4 ppg, 3.3 apg, 2.7 spg) at St. Charles East. You won't find a better display of ballhandling, decision-making and in-your-face defense from any other group.

Don't sleep on: Aurora Central Catholic.

It's been the year of the turnaround for girls sports at Aurora Central, with Mark Fitzgerald doing for the basketball program this winter what Jeanne Czipri did for volleyball in the fall. Rosary ended the Chargers' breakthrough volleyball season, a scenario that could repeat itself if the Chargers and Royals meet in the regional semifinals Wednesday at Yorkville.

That wouldn't take a thing away from what ACC has done by quadrupling the 3 games it won last year. Sophomore Jacqueline Cardona is averaging 11.5 points a game and leads a young nucleus that is primed for even more success in the near future.

Do: Get out and get to the games.

As important as momentum is in basketball, I'm a firm believer that the size and volume of the crowds can make a difference in the outcome. If your team is in a rut, the crowd can get it going. When your team is on a run, the crowd noise can rattle the opponent into another mistake. So be sure to get out and support the next few weeks.

Don't forget: What happened between St. Charles East and St. Charles North in last year's postseason.

It would be easy to look back at how much the Saints struggled in a 33-21 regular season loss to St. Charles North and pencil a victory for the North Stars in the rematch Wednesday night.

But St. Charles East stunned the North Stars in last year's regional final, and almost all the players - Baltes, Jaime Rust, Kara Schnier, Steph Roan - will be back to try to do it again.

My colleague Josh Welge covers all the outstanding teams that play in DuPage County. He saw both St. Charles schools lose in the past 10 days to Upstate Eight champion Waubonsie Valley and Josh came away impressed with the Saints in defeat.

Don't: Commit silly fouls.

This is directed to the players. I want to watch games that are decided with the best players on each team going at each other, not games that turn when a couple key stars are on the bench.

Do: Drive south to Yorkville.

It would take a major upset if anyone but Rosary and Oswego are playing for the Class 3A Yorkville title Thursday night.

The two have developed a strong rivalry the last three years, meeting four times with each game tight. The Royals won the first two, but it's the Panthers who have taken the last two including wins in last year's regional final and this year's Geneva Thanksgiving tournament. Rosary has been pointing to this game all season.

Don't discount: Homecourt advantage.

Both St. Charles North and West Aurora are hosting regionals, and both teams would love to get a boost playing in familiar surroundings.

That surely could help the 12th-seeded Blackhawks Tuesday against No. 7 Oswego East, though No. 2 Waubonsie Valley is playing so well the Warriors are going to be hard for anyone to beat in a Thursday title game. West Aurora features two outstanding seniors in double-double Kiara Towles and Devin Vaughn, who just surpassed 1,000 career points.

Could that homecourt give the North Stars the edge they need to shock Geneva? It can't hurt. When the Vikings lost as the No. 1 sectional seed in 2007 it came to Rosary on the Royals' home court.

Also, credit first-year North Star coach Colleen Brennan for playing a schedule that should have the North Stars more than prepared for the challenge Geneva presents. Geneva, who beat the Jenna Bell-less North Stars 45-32 on Nov. 27, is just one of a dozen strong teams the North Stars have faced.

Do: Be thankful for what the season has brought.

Consider Rosary senior Jordan Rettig, who set the school's all-time scoring record this year and her emotions after she played her final home game Feb. 4.

"It's been an amazing experience," Rettig said. "I couldn't have asked for anything better. Especially being able to play four years on varsity. I met a lot of great people, played with a lot of my close friends and great players. I'm going to miss it."

And her coach Beebe, who in addition to Rettig is losing senior starters Lane Richmond, Katie Petrando, Stephanie Haugen and Katie Eckberg.

"I love the kids, they mean so much to the program," Beebe said. "They are the heart and soul of the program. It is the best four years we've had. They work so much and there is so much for the juniors and sophomores to learn from. They are just great kids."

Emotions are going to be running high this week. Unfortunately there are going to be tears whenever these seniors play their final game. But that's OK, those tears are proof of what a great run it's been.

And let's hope to put that date off as long as possible.