Schmit: Time for some great regional final boys basketball matchups
Wednesday night came and went like a flash.
Just like that, we’ve reached the regional finals in the IHSA boys basketball season. I have to admit … I’m still not accustomed to playing both semifinal games on the same night.
While there weren’t a slew of upsets on Wednesday, there were a few that should shake up the bracket. Guaranteed, we’ll see a few more surprises on Friday.
Let’s take a look at five of the area’s top regional title games.
Class 3A Crystal Lake South
Even though Cary-Grove swept the Fox Valley Conference series, this shapes up to be a great game against the Gators on their home court.
The FVC champion Trojans thrive with the Bauer boys, led by 6-foot-7 Adam. The senior, averaging nearly a double-double, had 17 points and 15 rebounds in the semifinals.
Crystal Lake South counters with the talented tandem of veterans Nick Stowasser and Carson Trivellini. Stowasser put up 14 points and 12 rebounds in the semifinals against Crystal Lake South while Trivellini led all scorers with 17 points.
Class 4A Hoffman Estates
Will No. 12 Buffalo Grove have any legs left against Stevenson after stunning No. 5 Hoffman Estates in quadruple overtime? I can’t imagine there was a better game in the state on Wednesday.
Six-foot-nine junior Alex Sirbu — Mr. Double-Double — has been a machine for the Bison while averaging 20 points and 13 rebounds. In Wednesday’s win he tallied 27 points and pulled down a program-record 26 rebounds.
Fourth-seeded Stevenson cruised into the final with a 62-41 win over Conant. Now the Patriots face their rivals to the south with one of the area’s top scoring duos in Rocco Pagliocca and Donny Williams.
Class 4A Prospect
No surprises here after No. 3 Hersey and No. 6 Rolling Meadows advanced from the semifinals to face each other for a third time this season.
But who knows what happens in this three-match on a neutral court? Hersey won the first meeting by 6 points at home and lost by 2 at Rolling Meadows a month later.
The Mustangs survived a defensive slugfest with Prospect behind 20 points from Andrew Krestel including six late free throws to seal the win. Hersey got a combined 34 points from Jake Nawrot and Charlie Pomis against South Elgin.
Class 4A St. Charles North
Five DuKane Conference teams remain alive in the Bartlett sectional, ready to make a run. Wheaton North and Glenbard North meet in St. Charles to determine one of the sectional semifinalists.
They played less than two weeks ago, with Wheaton North snagging a 3-point win to avenge a 2-point loss from January. Needless to say, these teams are about as even as it gets.
Jon Clayton and Ben Gillmar led the sixth-seeded Falcons with 18 points in Wednesday’s win over St. Charles North. Six-four senior Matt Welch — the DKC player of the year averaging 16 points a game — led No. 3 Glenbard North with 23 points against St. Charles East.
Class 4A Warren
It’ll take a monumental effort from Libertyville to deny the Blue Devils and superstar junior Jaxson Davis a regional title, especially on their home court.
Warren improved to 29-3 with Wednesday’s 81-32 win over Zion-Benton, with Davis scoring 21 points and Braylon Walker adding 18. Needless to say, they’ll be well-rested should Libertyville press the issue on Friday.
Can the Wildcats keep up after losing twice to Warren by a total of 50 points during North Suburban Conference play? Six-nine senior Bryce Wegrzyn piled up monster games this season, including 29 points and 11 rebounds in the semifinal win over Grant.