Scouting Tri-Cities regional championships
By Dave Oberhelman
doberhelman@dailyherald.com
Class 3A Sandwich regional final
No. 3 Aurora Central (10-17) vs.
No. 1 Yorkville (20-7)
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Outlook: Winning the rubber match 69-58 in the one that mattered most against nemesis and No. 2 seed Marmion, the Chargers got a monster game out of 6-foot-5 senior forward Robert DeMyers. He scored 24 points on 11-of-15 shooting, 10 rebounds, 5 blocks and 4 assists. Point guard Anthony Andujar added 16 points and guard Joey McEachern’s 14. DeMyers’ successful return from a broken fibula puts ACC on par with last year’s supersectional squad, which also entered the playoffs below .500. Yorkville, which went 3-0 against Kaneland, required a comeback to beat No. 4 seed Sandwich, 45-31.
Class 3A Wheaton Academy regional final
No. 8 St. Francis (18-7) vs. No. 1 Orr (21-4)
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Outlook: St. Francis will take this as a challenge against a Chicago Public League foe with losses to Simeon, Farragut, North Lawndale and Indianapolis Tech. St. Francis must get back on defense against Orr (also the Spartans), whose guards Jamal McDowell, Treyshawn Jones and 3 ace Deshawn King run at any opening. Ball security by Nick Donati and rebounding by St. Francis’ 6-6 Ryan Coyle, 6-7 Zach Roswold and 6-3 Brian Spahn is critical. Orr, with 6-6 forwards Tyquone Greer and Marquise Pryor, beat No. 16 Clark 75-56. St. Francis, behind Coyle’s 23 points and 15 rebounds, beat No. 9 Wheaton Academy 52-44.
Class 3A Rochelle regional final
No. 2 Rochelle (21-8) at
No. 1 Kaneland (16-10)
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Outlook: Kaneland will aim for its first win in three tries against Northern Illinois Big 12 East foe Rochelle. The Hubs won their second straight game by the score of 59-57, bouncing No. 3 Hampshire five days after beating the Knights to end the regular season. Hubs coach Tim Thompson wished center David Newton got more touches inside, but the marksmanship of guards Grant Prusator and Matt Rosenwinkel made up for it. Against Hampshire the Hubs went to the line plenty, but did Kaneland in its 55-45 win at No. 5 Sycamore. Thomas Williams and Marcel Neil combined to make 12 of 14 freebies, each scoring 15 points.
Class 4A Oswego regional final
No. 12 Oswego (18-10) vs.
No. 4 West Aurora (22-5)
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Outlook: The 12-5 curse struck again in Oswego’s 65-53 win over No. 5 Naperville North, which edged West for the DuPage Valley title. The host Panthers have won six straight games, nine of their last 10. Guards Miles Simelton, Thomas Wilder and Elliot McGaughy sped into the lane then kicked out for six 3-pointers. West Aurora won’t be playing zone, which is what those guards exploited. Yet Jontrel Walker, Jayquan Lee and Juwan Starks best keep the feet moving and the fouls low. Walker’s 13 points led the Blackhawks’ 59-36 win over No. 13 Hinsdale South, a tribe to interior defense against the Hornets’ 6-8 Brock Benson.
Class 4A St. Charles North regional final
No. 2 St. Charles East (15-12) vs.
No. 1 Elgin (24-3)
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Outlook: One of St. Charles East’s highlights — along with the 63-50 win to oust No. 3 St. Charles North — was the 65-63 victory over Elgin on Feb. 3, So the Saints know they can get the Maroons, who won a 41-21 tussle over No. 4 South Elgin. Kory Brown, Upstate Eight River player of the year, led Elgin with 16 points and 9 rebounds. Elgin’s Dennis Moore is a bulldog who stands to be assigned against Saints point guard Dom Adduci. The sophomore’s 25 points led the way against St. Charles North. In the win over Elgin the Saints had Adduci, David Mason, Johnny Hondlik and Kendall Stephens all in double figures.