Previewing the Class 1-2A postseason in the Fox Valley
Class 2A Clifton Central sectional
Aurora Christian regionalPairings: Monday - Game 1) No. 6 St. Edward (14-14) vs. No. 7 Timothy Christian (10-16), 6 p.m.; Game 2) No. 5 Lisle (16-12) vs. No. 10 Westmont (8-20), 7:30 p.m.; Wednesday - Game 3) No. 1 Aurora Christian (21-5) vs. Winner Game 1, 6 p.m.; Game 4) No. IC Catholic Prep (12-14) vs. Winner Game 2, 7:30 p.m.; Friday - Game 5) Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4 for regional title at 7 p.m.
Outlook: If seeds hold, No. 1 Aurora Christian would face St. Edward in a semifinal and IC Catholic Prep for the title. The Eagles have defeated both teams this season. They beat St. Edward 64-58 on Dec. 4 and knocked off IC 55-52 on Jan. 19. St. Edward must first get past Timothy Christian in Monday's play-in game. "We're the No. 1 seed, but we don't get any bargains if we get Ed's in the first round. They're good," Aurora Christian coach Pat McNamara said. "I've watched them play. They beat Glenbard South last week and they beat Aurora Central by double digits. They might be playing their best ball all year. It's a first-round game. We've got them at home, but it's a tossup game. IC? They're tough. We played them a couple of weeks ago and they're good with good talent and good coaching. It's anybody's game." Aurora Christian seeks its first regional title since 2012-13 and 13th in program history, led by 1,000-point scorer RD Lutze (16.6 ppg, 6.8 rpg), junior guard Pat McNamara, Jr. (8.1 ppg, 3.9 apg, 2.5 spg) and dynamic sophomore Jake Wolfe (14.5 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 3.3 apg). St. Edward counters with one of the top scorers in the suburbs, 5-foot-9 guard Kelvin Cortez-Harvey. The junior averages 20.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists. Other St. Edward leaders include senior guard Adam Radcliffe (9.8 ppg, 3.3 apg) and senior forward Andrew O'Neill (8.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg).
Other regionals: Bishop McNamara (13-14) is the No. 2 seed in sub-sectional A and the top seed at the Fieldcrest regional; Reed-Custer (24-3) is the No. 1 seed in sub-subsectional A and the top seed at the Reed-Custer regional; Illiana Christian (19-6) is the No. 2 seed in sub-sectional B and the top seed at the Illiana Christian regional.
Advancement: The regional winners from Reed-Custer and Illiana Christian meet in the March 1 sectional semifinal with the regional winners from Aurora Christian and Fieldcrest facing off on March 2. The sectional title game is Friday, March 4 at 7 p.m.
Class 1A Harvest Christian sectional
Christian Liberty Academy regionalPairings: Monday - Game 1) No. 7 Elgin Academy (7-14) vs. No. 10 Islamic Foundation (4-6), 7 p.m.; Tuesday - Game 2) No. 3 Schaumburg Christian (14-4) vs. No. 13 Lombard College Prep, 6 p.m.; Game 3) No. 6 Christian Liberty Academy (6-20) vs. No. 12 Deerfield Rochelle Zell, 7:30 p.m.; Wednesday - Game 4) No. 2 Westminster Christian (17-9) vs. Winner Game 1, 6 p.m.; Game 5) Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3, 7:30 p.m.; Friday - Game 6) Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5 for regional title at 7 p.m.
Outlook: Westminster Christian is in a favorable position to win its third straight Class 1A regional championship and fourth in program history. The Warriors are led by 6-foot-3 senior guard Dillon Rejman, who entered the week averaging 14.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 2 steals and was shooting 33.6 percent from 3-point range (42 of 128). He is supported by 6-3 sophomore forward Ben Versylus (9.1 ppg, 4.4 rpg) and 5-11 junior guard Scott Graziano (7.3 ppg). The Warriors enter the postseason having won 3 straight games and 6 of their last 8, including Friday's 61-41 win over No. 3 seed Schaumburg Christian. Westminster overcame an 11-0 deficit to defeat No. 6 Christian Liberty 58-51 on Dec. 7. "We're playing well right now," Westminster Christian first-year coach Andy Zelinski said. "I think we're peaking at the end of the season and the kids are hitting a high spot at the right time. Christian Liberty gave us a hard time so we'll have to play well to win. We're not the type of team to get by on athleticism. We have to execute." The Warriors could be involved in an all-Elgin matchup in their opening game in Schaumburg on Wednesday if Elgin Academy is able to advance past Monday's matchup against Islamic Foundation. History says the Hilltoppers can't look past Islamic Foundation, which knocked them out in the first round each of the past two seasons. However, Elgin Academy returned the favor with a 48-44 win on Dec. 17. "We've seen them in the first round the last couple of years now," Elgin Academy coach Dewayne Robinson said. "We've been playing some good basketball down the stretch. If we can put together four full quarters, I fear for the team we come up against." Elgin Academy is led by senior Dee Robinson, a 1,000-point scorer averaging 17.2 points, 4.1 steals and 3.2 assists per game. Sophomore Jordan Hare (6-4) averages 10.1 rebounds per game.
Rockford Christian Life regionalPairings: Monday - Game 1) No. 8 Mooseheart (6-20) vs. No. 9 Harvest Christian Academy (8-19), 7 p.m.; Tuesday - Game 2) No. 4 Faith Lutheran (13-10) vs. No. 14 Alden-Hebron (2-24), 6 p.m.; Game 3) No. 5 Keith Country Day (9-8) vs. No. 11 Kirkland Hiawatha (2-20), 7:30 p.m.; Wednesday - Game 4) No. 1 Rockford Christian Life (21-5) vs. Winner Game 1, 6 p.m.; Game 5) Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3, 7:30 p.m.; Friday - Game 6) Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5 for regional title at 7 p.m.
Outlook: Christian Life is the heavy favorite to win its second straight regional title. Harvest Christian Academy hopes to gain a matchup with the host Eagles with a win over Northeastern Athletic Conference mate Mooseheart. Harvest Christian defeated Mooseheart 52-47 in Batavia on Dec. 8. "That game was a tough grind," Harvest Christian Academy coach Lefeyette Bell said. "We're expecting an even tougher game on Monday but it's definitely winnable. Lately, we've been starting to peak, starting to play good team basketball. We have five guys who love playing with each other and that's a hard team to beat."
Other regionals: Leo (18-8) is the No. 1 seed in sub-sectional A and the top seed at the Walther Christian regional. Chicago Hope Academy (15-9) is the No. 2 seed in sub-sectional A and the top seed at Luther North.
Advancement: The regional winners from Walther Christian and Christian Liberty Academy meet in the March 1 sectional semifinal with the regional winners from Rockford Christian Life and Luther North facing off on March 2. The sectional title game is Friday, March 4 at 7 p.m.