Scouting Friday's boys basketball sectional finals

By Dave Oberhelman and Kevin Schmit

doberhelman@dailyherald.com

kschmit@dailyherald.com

Class 4A Barrington sectional final

No. 2 Lake Park (24-6) vs.

No. 5 St. Viator (19-9)

When: 7 p.m. Friday.

Road to the sectional: Lake Park beat No. 16 Hoffman Estates 50-33, No. 10 Grayslake North 54-50 in overtime, and No. 3 Palatine 38-32. St. Viator beat No. 12 Prospect 49-48, No. 4 Lake Zurich 48-42, and No. 9 Conant 55-40.

Outlook: Look at the scores and you see why Lake Park is within a victory of claiming its first sectional title. Wednesday's win represented the 20th time the Lancers have held an opponent to less tahn 45 points. Trailing heading to the fourth quarter, Lake Park allowed only 7 points during the final eight minutes. DuPage Valley Conference Player of the Year Marcus McDaniel stepped up with 9 of his team-high 15 points in the period. The Lancers' senior leadership showed at the free-throw line. They hit 16 of 18 attempts led by Connor Vance's 8-of-8 shooting. Lake Park made no 3-point attempts, but that'll be key in this one with Cameron Van Aswegen, Dan Hynes and Tim Weiss. The Lancers would like to ease the pressure on the defense with a scoring boost. Slowing St. Viator won't be easy. Six-foot-six Sal Cannella scored a personal-high 33 points in Tuesday's victory while Pat McNamara's another prime focal point for Lake Park's defense.

Advancement: The winner advances to play the winner of the DeKalb sectional final between Geneva and Rockford Auburn in Tuesday's Northern Illinois University supersectional.

Class 4A Bolingbrook sectional final

No. 1 Neuqua Valley (27-4) vs.

No. 2 Bolingbrook (22-6)

When: 7 p.m. Friday.

Road to the sectional: Neuqua Valley beat No. 18 Oswego East 89-43, No. 8 Minooka 41-33, and No. 4 Providence 45-36. Bolingbrook beat No. 15 Romeoville 53-39, No. 7 Joliet Central 48-42 in overtime, and No. 6 Plainfield East 63-52.

Outlook: Neuqua Valley seeks its third sectional title to join 2008 and 2009 championships. On Jan. 6, also at Bolingbrook, Neuqua defeated the Raiders 76-69, sending point guard Demond George, wings Connor Raridon and Joe Sieger, forward Jacob Eminger and, off the bench, 6-5 guard Jacob Cushing into double figures. That game was part of what had Neuqua averaging 65 points entering regional play. As seen against Minooka and Providence, however, when Neuqua's defense is on the Wildcats can win scoring a lot or a little. Bolingbrook offers the stellar senior backcourt of Colorado state commit Prentiss Nixon and Brodric Thomas. Nixon scored 35 against Neuqua in that January game and tallied 30 against Plainfield East, including 14-of-15 free-throw shooting. Patience, possession, shooting and simply making stops are central to keeping Bolingbrook from its first sectional title since 1985. "We can't make it a track meet," Sutton said.

Advancement: The winner advances to play the winner of the East Aurora sectional final between Hinsdale Central and West Aurora in Tuesday's Hinsdale Central supersectional.

Class 4A East Aurora sectional final

No. 4 Hinsdale Central (23-6) vs.

No. 6 West Aurora (21-8)

When: 7 p.m. Friday.

Road to the sectional: Hinsdale Central beat No. 13 Hinsdale South 65-51, No. 12 Downers North 53-38, and No. 8 Metea Valley 88-67. West Aurora beat No. 19 East Aurora 61-45, No. 3 Wheaton North 65-50, and No. 7 York 66-48.

Outlook: Finally at full strength, Hinsdale Central's rolling through the playoffs. Six-foot-seven Furman-bound center Matt Rafferty scored 40 points on near-perfect shooting in Tuesday's semifinal when the Red Devils notched their highest point total of the season. They were 2-4 with Rafferty out with a broken hand, and they're 21-2 with him. Thomas Ives added 18 points, including three 3-pointers. The diverse lineup also features 6-6 Navy-bound George Kiernan. That's a lot of height West Aurora has to deal with. The Red Devils' high-low game is definitely a concern to Blackhawks coach Gordie Kerkman, who seeks the program's third sectional title in four seasons. West Aurora's Illinois State-bound 6-6 forward Roland Griffin was a dunking marvel with 24 points against York; 6-3 Tommy Koth can defend two-guards to posts. Koth, Blackhawks season 3s record-setter Marquis Howard and freshman Camron Donatlan threaten from the arc, opening the lane for Griffin.

Advancement: The winner advances to play the winner of the Bolingbrook sectional final between Neuqua Valley and Bolingbrook in Tuesday's Hinsdale Central supersectional.

- Dave Oberhelman and Kevin Schmit