Benet primed for toughest part of its schedule

Now it really starts getting serious for Benet's boys basketball team.

Off to an incredible 15-3 record - including a 7-0 mark as co-leaders of the East Suburban Catholic Conference - the Redwings are about to hit the toughest segment of their schedule.

It begins with Friday's ESCC game against St. Viator (15-4, 4-3) and continues the following week against St. Patrick (11-6, 5-2). After a big nonconference game Feb. 9 at Wheaton Academy (17-1), two more ESCC games are on tap leading up to a huge showdown on Feb. 20 at fellow conference co-leader St. Joseph (13-4, 7-0).

"We've got some really tough games coming up," said Benet coach Gene Heidkamp. "There's no room to slip up. We just hope to keep moving forward."

Three of the Redwings' next four games are at home, all three in the ESCC. The last three regular-season games - league games against Marian Catholic, St. Joseph and Notre Dame - are all on the road.

Defending the home court over the next three Fridays is critical if the Redwings hope to win their first conference title since 1995.

"These next games at home are huge for us," said Benet junior guard Dave Sobolewski. "More than anything we want that game at St. Joe's to mean a lot."

Edmondsons unite: Waubonsie Valley on Friday hosts Huron High School out of Ann Arbor, Mich. The reasons are threefold, Waubonsie coach Steve Weemer said: Huron sought different opponents; wanted to get out of state; and, therefore, visit the high school where Huron assistant coach Marcus Edmondson attended. (Huron, which finished 2009 ranked ninth in the state of Michigan, visits St. Charles North on Saturday.)

Edmondson also happens to be the uncle of Waubonsie Valley brothers Alex and Tyler Edmondson - Alex a senior guard, Tyler a junior forward.

"It's a neat opportunity for Marcus to come back to his old high school, and especially to play against his two nephews," Weemer said. "They're good kids, and it should be a fun evening."

Marcus Edmondson - known by his middle name, Sean, when he played for the Warriors from 1987-89 - ranks fifth in Waubonsie career rebounding with 566. He holds Warriors records for blocks in a game (10), season (169) and career (179).

He'll be honored with a brief presentation by his high school coach Spike Grosshuesch (for years now, Neuqua Valley's boys golf coach) before the 6 p.m. tipoff.

Jim Edmondson, Marcus' brother and the father of Alex and Tyler, said at least 20 relatives will be in attendance.

"They're excited to play against their uncle's team," Jim Edmondson said. "Obviously, with them living in Michigan it doesn't give him a chance to come down and see them play a lot."

The distance still allowed for some long-distance call-outs, he said.

"Definitely, when they first found out that they might play there was a little back-and-forth going on," Jim Edmondson said.

Prowling Panthers: Any team on Glenbard North's schedule knows they need to contain leading scorer James Fleming and his 19 points per game.

Concentrate too much on Fleming, though, and other Panthers players will hurt you.

Fleming, a third-year starter, continues to lead his team in many statistical categories But as other players step up, the pressure on Fleming to do everything is greatly reduced.

"When teams are focused on James, like they are, he trusts his teammates," said Glenbard North coach Joe Larson. "He passes the ball off to teammates that are open, and we have to have other guys step up. Guys are stepping up. They're taking the challenge on and doing a nice job."

In Tuesday's 59-46 win over South Elgin, four players including Fleming hit double-digit scoring. Reggie Davis, who plays much bigger than his 6-foot frame, scored 10 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter.

"I cannot say enough about Reggie Davis," Larson said. "The way he plays, for being his size, is incredible to me. And we really need his leadership as a senior."

With so many players contributing, it's no wonder the Panthers (9-8, 2-4) are vying for their fourth straight victory in Friday's DuPage Valley Conference game against visiting Naperville North.

Trying to blaze a trail: As much as Addison Trail (7-11, 0-6) tries, the Blazers just can't seem to get over the hump in the West Suburban Gold.

Saturday's 54-49 loss at home to Leyden was the latest missed opportunity. Added to an earlier 4-point loss to Hinsdale South, Addison Trail coach Brendan Lyons knows his team needs to do more than just compete.

The Blazers won two Gold games last year and one Gold game the year before - a big accomplishment for a program that hadn't won a conference game since 2002. Halfway through the Gold schedule, the Blazers have plenty of chances to get in the win column once again this season.

"It's nice to come out and be competitive," Lyons said. "But we shouldn't just be happy to compete as opposed to getting a win. If we're close we have to take advantage and get that win."

The Essig Report: Aurora resident Charlie Essig came back strong again this year with the Essig Report, his annual analysis of large-school basketball strength based primarily on strength of schedule.

Not only do Essig and computer guru Bob Schmidt offer a ranking of the top 150 Class 3A and 4A teams and 375 of them overall, they offer conference ratings, ratings within sectionals, a score database and more. New this year are PDF files available for purchase, customized for a particular school.

In the latest Report, through games of Jan. 23, Glenbard East trails only Waukegan among the big 375. Neuqua Valley ranks fifth behind Lyons Twp. and Foreman. Naperville North pulls in at No. 20. Among Class 3A teams, Wheaton Academy is ranked 16th out of 150.

The Essig Report is membership-based. Cost is minimal, $10. Visit essigreport.com.