Scouting Fox Valley area Class 1-2A regionals

The IHSA postseason for Class 1A and 2A boys basketball teams begins Monday. Here's a look at regional play involving Fox Valley area teams.

Class 1A Somonauk sectional

Regional sites: Westminster Christian, Mooseheart, Serena, Gardner-South Wilmington

Top seeds: Westminster Christian, Chicago Hope Academy, Newark, Dwight

Westminster Christian regional: The top-seeded Warriors (19-8) are the favorite to win this eight-team regional on their home court. Westminster Christian seeks its second regional title in three seasons and enters the postseason having won 13 of 15 games since a 6-6 start.

"We worked hard to get the No. 1 seed," Westminster Christian coach Bruce Firchau said. "We want to play well this week so we can keep playing."

The Warriors think defense first. They lead Fox Valley area teams with the fewest points allowed per game for the second straight season (39.3). Last Saturday, they held East Dubuque, another No. 1 regional seed, to 11 second-half points in a 55-36 victory.

This season Westminster Christian has defeated No. 2 Chicagoland Jewish Academy (60-43), No. 3 Christian Liberty Academy (56-30), No. 5 Elgin Academy (47-31) and No. 6 Alden-Hebron (39-27). But previous results mean little in the postseason, according to Firchau.

"We stressed to our players that on Monday it starts all over and everyone is 0-0," he said. "Our goal since Christmastime was to get better every week and I think we've accomplished that. I would say that our team is a minimum of 20 points better than we were back in early December or late November."

Westminster Christian will open the playoffs against Roycemore Academy of Evanston on Monday at 6 p.m.

Elgin Academy (4-20) will face No. 4 North Shore Country Day in Monday's second quarterfinal at 8 p.m. The Hilltoppers are led by Paul Leonardis (12.2 ppg.) and Aaron Thomas (11.1).

NCSD edged Elgin Academy twice this season: 64-62 on Dec. 12 and 63-48 on Jan. 26. Elgin Academy was missing a starter in the second meeting but will be at full strength for the regional opener.

"I think we're in good shape," first-year Elgin Academy coach David Vogt said. "It's tough to beat a team three times in once season, so we've got that going for us. Still, we have to earn the win. It's just a matter of putting four full quarters to together."

Mooseheart regional: Hope Academy (16-11) will get a stiff test from the host Red Ramblers (15-10) in this rematch. Hope eked out a 54-51 win in Chicago on Feb. 10.

Serena regional: Top seed Newark (18-3) will likely face the winner of No. 2 Ottawa-Marquette vs. No. 3 Serena for the regional title.

Gardner-South Wilmington regional: No. 1 seed Dwight (24-3) finished second to Herscher in the Interstate Eight Conference with a 9-2 record.

Class 2A Byron sectional

Regional sites: North Boone, Stillman Valley, Princeton, West Carroll

Top seeds: Rock Falls, Winnebago, Princeton, Genoa-Kingston

North Boone regional: This is the time of year when St. Edward (12-15) expects to reap rewards for playing a tough regular-season schedule loaded with Class 3A and 4A teams. It paid dividends last year when the Green Wave entered the playoffs with a record of 9-18 mark yet proceeded to win their first regional championship in six years by knocking off top seed Genoa-Kingston on its home court. The Cogs (18-7) are the top seed at North Boone.

"I think (the schedule) does help because it gives our kids a little more confidence, especially after we played Winnebago tough on Tuesday night," St. Edward coach Keith Chuipek said. "Their coach told us we played them harder than any team they've played out west, so we felt pretty good about that."

The Green Wave will play No. 2 Rockford Christian (22-4) in a regional semifinal on Wednesday at 8 p.m. The Royals defeated St. Edward 49-32 on Dec. 5.

"I think we're going to be much better," Chuipek said of the postseason rematch. "I think a lot of our guys have grown. (Junior point guard) Mike Ellis is a big key. He understands his role a lot better than he did when we played them six games into the season." Ellis leads St. Edward in scoring (10.5 ppg.).

Stillman Valley regional: Winnebago is the odds-on favorite to win the sectional. The undefeated Indians (27-0) have depth at guard and height in the middle few Class 2A teams in the state can contend with. Winnebago finished fourth in Class 2A in 2009.

Princeton regional: Princeton heads a four-team regional that also includes No. 2 Riverdale.

West Carroll regional: Rock Falls (16-7) is the top seed, but No. 3 West Carroll (18-8) can't be discounted on its home court.