Benet, Glenbard E. will be on guard in sectional final
One look at the Class 4A Neuqua Valley boys basketball sectional, and the theme is obvious.
Guard play rules the day.
Tonight's title game between No. 1 Glenbard East (27-1) and No. 3 Benet (25-3) features a backcourt bonanza with guards who, in their own way, have been critical to their team's success.
It's not a coincidence.
"Guard play is going to be big, and it always is at this time of year," said Benet coach Gene Heidkamp. "I think these are two teams that deserve to be here, and the guards are a main reason why."
Entering this week all four regional champions boasted backcourt prowess.
East Aurora junior Ryan Boatright, courted by colleges from Kentucky to Wake Forest and all points in between and beyond, was spectacular in back-to-back 40-point regional performances. Oswego East's Jay Harris, perhaps the state's top unsigned senior, scored 39 points in the regional final and 30 points in the sectional semifinals.
Both electric players saw their seasons end in the sectional semifinals, leaving lesser-known but equally important guards to move on.
Glenbard East's Zach Miller and Benet's Dave Sobolewski, junior point guards, were players of the year in their respective conferences after both teams posted unbeaten league records.
That's only half the story.
The sleepers in the backcourt may not get the accolades of Miller or Sobolewski, but Benet and Glenbard East would be lost without them.
Glenbard East senior guard Jack Merrithey typically defends the other team's top offensive player, and Harris was the assignment on Tuesday. In addition to his yeoman defensive effort, Merrithey knocked down five 3-pointers and handled the ball at times to spell Miller.
"Jack's been the unsung hero of our team all season long," said Rams coach Scott Miller. "He guards the toughest offensive player, he hits open shots, handles the ball. He's been great for us all year."
Benet's Matt Parisi guarded lightning-quick Boatright for much of Wednesday's game against East Aurora. The junior not only helped hold Boatright to 18 points, he also scored 17 points, including 6-of-6 free-throw shooting in the final two minutes.
Whether he defends Miller, Merrithey or Rams leading scorer Johnny Hill, Parisi knows he's due for another tough matchup tonight.
"Glenbard East is a great team, and we'll just have to gear back up and be ready to go again," Parisi said. "We'll just have to bring everything we have and see what happens."
Merrithey's motivation is similar. As a senior leader he wants to go out in style by helping the Rams win their first sectional title since 1964. His defensive matchup tonight likely will be against Sobolewski.
"I enjoy it," Merrithey said. "It's basketball, and playing a tough opponent like that is what it's all about. You get to see how you match up with other players."
It's what everyone wants to see tonight.
The backcourt battle will be scintillating, but it'll be only one fragment of an interesting showdown.
How will the post battle develop between 6-foot-10 Benet junior Frank Kaminsky and 6-7 Rams senior Lee Skinner? Will Benet be able to contend with the 3-point shooting of Merrithey and Miller while also attempting to slow the explosiveness of Hill?
So much to watch as these teams meet for the first time since Benet eliminated Glenbard East in the 2005 sectional semifinals, but make sure you keep at least one eye on the backcourt at all times.
kschmit@dailyherald.com