Boys basketball: Scouting St. Viator vs. Marshall
Hoffman Estates Class 3A supersectional
St. Viator (23-6) vs. Marshall (25-7)
When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday
Where: Hoffman Estates High School
Probable starters
ST. VIATOR (Coach Joe Majkowski) MARSHALL (Coach Henry Cotton)
Player Ht. Yr. PPG Pos. Player Ht. Yr.
Alan Aboona 6-1 Sr. 16.2 G Leevon Carter 6-1 Sr.
Brendan King 6-1 Sr. 6.9 G Keifer Sykes 5-8 Jr.
Rich McLoughlin 6-2 Sr. 12.6 F Sam Puckett 6-3 Sr.
Jack Etchingham 6-3 Sr. 7.1 F Alfonso McKinnie 6-6 Sr.
Richard Markovits 6-1 Sr. 5.1 F Vince Garrett 6-5 Sr.
How they got here: St. Viator won its regional by beating Senn 65-46 and Fenton 54-40 and the Vernon Hills sectional by beating North Chicago 82-64 and Johnsburg 66-54; Marshall won its regional 102-23 over Chicago Marine Military and 66-34 over Glenbard South and the Riverside-Brookfield sectional by beating Riverside-Brookfield 56-54 (OT) and Crane 78-63.
State tourney history: This is St. Viator's first trip to an Elite Eight after winning its first sectional title. Marshall won state titles in 1958, 1960 and 2008 and has finished third four times and fourth twice.
Outlook: The Marshall plan for Viator is the same as it was in the sectional when it outrebounded North Chicago and Johnsburg, totaled only 17 turnovers and played solid defense whether it was man-to-man or zone. The challenge is much different with the Commandos' combination of size and athleticism that has resulted in their only loss in the last 15 games by a point to Morgan Park on a shot in the final seconds of the Public League title game. "They're better all-around," St. Viator coach Joe Majkowski said. "They're disciplined and they've got more weapons. We have to be on our toes." Alan Aboona and crew will have to be ready to handle a variety of defenses from full-court man to all kinds of extended zones. Against Crane, Marshall face-guarded three perimeter players with two others in a zone as it forced 28 turnovers. Majkowski said offensively Marshall "wants to get it to the basket" with Vince Garrett (14 ppg, 9 rpg) and Keifer Sykes, who had 18 of his 20 points in the second half of the sectional final and 18 points and the game-winning jumper with three seconds left in OT against R-B. But the Commandos can also spread the floor, have depth with guards Marquelle Pierce, Terry Gathings and Marlon Sykes and 6-4 F Jerry Jenkins. "They're very physical and they always bump you and we're going to have to handle that," Majkowski said. "We don't want to get down a lot early." But Marshall did have 29 turnovers in its win Friday and needed Marlon Sykes' midcourt shot at the regulation buzzer to force OT with R-B. Patience will be a key offensively for the Lions along with help off the bench from 6-4 sophomore Chris Myjak (7 ppg) and 6-0 senior Julian Sipiora. "I don't think anybody here is saying they're just happy to be there," Majkowski said. "When we walk out on the floor it will be like any other game. We expect to perform well and win the game."
What's ahead: The winner advances to Friday's 12:15 p.m. semifinal at the Peoria Civic Center's Carver Arena against the winner of the Northern Illinois University supersectional between Peoria Richwoods (28-2) and Oswego (24-6).