Boys basketball: Sectional semifinal previews
Class 4A Barrington sectional semifinal
No. 3 Highland Park (22-5) vs. No. 7 Schaumburg (18-9)
7:30 p.m. today
How they got here: Highland Park defeated No. 14 Fremd 37-28 and No. 11 Waukegan 51-50 to win its own regional. Schaumburg defeated No. 10 Hoffman Estates 67-66 and No. 2 Conant 64-54 to win the Conant regional.
Postseason history: Highland Park won its second straight and sixth regional title and won the last of its three sectional titles when it went to the Elite Eight in 2002. Schaumburg won its 12th regional title and ninth since 1994. All three of its sectional titles have resulted in state tourney trips (fourth in 1999, title in 2001, 2006).
Probable starters
HIGHLAND PARK SCHAUMBURG
Player Ht. Yr. PPG Player Ht. Yr. PPG
G Chris Wroblewski 6-0 Sr. 18.0 Cully Payne 6-2 Jr. 17.0
G Josh Bartelstein 6-3 Sr. 10.0 Brandon Bolger 6-0 Sr. 15.1
G Johnny Lindquist 6-1 Sr. 3.0 Perrish Bell 5-9 Jr. 5.3
F Tellef Lundevall 6-4 Sr. 11.0 Dan Slowik 6-2 Sr. 6.6
F Josh Cowin 6-2 Sr. 4.0 Blake Mueller 6-5 Jr. 6.6
Outlook: Highland Park is known for offensive discipline that will be tested by Schaumburg's renowned man-to-man defense. "It's one thing to hear about it or see it in the summer, it's another thing playing against them in a sectional," said HP coach Paul Harris, who thought his team's 17 turnovers Friday were too many. "We've got to be mentally prepared for the stress they're going to put on you." The consensus with the Saxons is a defense forcing 19 miscues a game has sparked its 5-game winning streak. They'll have to be at their best with Bell drawing the Cornell-bound Wroblewski, who dropped 38 against Glenbrook North. "He can flat-out shoot the ball from pretty much anywhere," said Schaumburg coach Bob Williams. "(Bell) has been stepping up huge for us. He'll have to do that and make another step." Bartelstein can also shoot and the Giants overcame the loss of talented shooter, defender and ballhandler Nick Wieczorek to a torn ACL a few weeks ago. "They're very experienced and they play well together," Williams said. "They're very talented skill-wise." Harris said the Giants are at their best defensively with a mix of switching and straight man-to-man and 2-3 matchup and 1-3-1 zones. Regardless of what they're in, the objective is to contain Wroblewski's AAU backcourt mate. "Our mindset is to keep people out of the lane and not allow people to split us #8230; but Cully Payne will be a tough challenge in that regard," Harris said. "Obviously he's a great playmaker #8230; and he has the ability to make other guys better." Bolger has been on a roll in the Saxons' current streak and they've also been getting vital contributions from Josh Spandiary, Justin Swiercz, Mick Trimarco and Sean Everitt off the bench. The Giants will also go about nine deep. "A big key will be our offensive execution," Harris said, "allowing our offense to help our defense."
Advancement: The winner advances to Friday's 7:30 p.m. title game against Zion-Benton/Buffalo Grove.
-- Marty Maciaszek
Class 4A Evanston sectional semifinal
No. 6 Maine East (18-10) vs. No. 7 Hersey (16-12)
7:30 p.m. today at Beardsley Gym
How they got here: Maine East defeated No. 11 Northside Prep 84-66 and No. 3 Von Steuben 70-65 to win the Maine South regional. Hersey defeated No. 9 Wheeling 63-55 and No. 2 New Trier 72-59 to win the Wheeling regional.
Postseason history: The last of Maine East's 6 regional titles came the last time there was class expansion in 1972. The Demons have never won a sectional. Hersey's 11th regional title was its first since 1995, when it won the last of its four sectionals and made its third Elite Eight trip.
Probable starters
MAINE EAST HERSEY
Player Ht. Yr. PPG Player Ht. Yr. PPG