Scouting Kaneland vs. DeKalb

Class 3A Kaneland regional final

No. 1 DeKalb (22-8) vs. No. 2 Kaneland (17-9)

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Outlook: This is the third meeting between the two best big men out of the Western Sun Conference, Kaneland's 6-foot-9 Holy Cross recruit Dave Dudzinski and 6-foot-10 Illinois State recruit Jordan Threloff of DeKalb, which won the conference. DeKalb, vying for its first regional title since 2002, has won both prior meetings against the Knights - 44-40 on Dec. 4, and 50-38 on Jan. 22. Yet DeKalb coach Dave Rohlman has stated Dudzinski worked over the Barbs' big man quite nicely in both contests. Kaneland coach Brian Johnson is concerned not only with Threloff's dominance inside on both ends of the court, but also with DeKalb's host of outside shooters that can spread a man-to-man defense thin. Kaneland, which seeks its first regional title since 1999, has one sole double-figure scorer - Dudzinski at 18.1 points plus the 22 he scored to lead the Knights over No. 3 seed Hampshire, 48-45 on Wednesday - but Johnson has admired the way Donavan Williams has helped the Knights get into the offense along with fellow senior guard Ryley Bailey. Knights 6-foot-3 junior forward Chaon Denlinger is fully capable of double-digit scoring, as is 6-2 forward Steve Colombe. In what should be a very physical game, especially in the paint, any foul trouble could prove fatal to these teams' advancement.