Boys water polo: Scouting Northwest sectionals
Boys water polo sectional preview
At Barrington
Quarterfinals: Wednesday, 4:30, 5:45, 7 and 8:15 p.m.
Semifinals: Friday, 4:30 and 5:45 p.m. Championship: Saturday, 1 p.m.
Outlook: Palatine (20-10) is the top seed, and their standing was only enhanced by a sound victory over Buffalo Grove (18-11) in the Mid-Suburban League title game. Coach Joe Grzybek's team has made the postseason its focus all year long, and the journey begins with a Wednesday contest against Hoffman Estates (5-23), which defeated Rolling Meadows 10-6 in Monday's play-in round. Second seed Schaumburg (20-8) meets No. 7 Fremd (6-14) in first-round play, with a likely matchup against No. 3 McHenry (25-4) in the semifinals if the Warriors get past host Barrington (8-15). Buffalo Grove and Conant (13-15), the Nos. 4 and 5 seeds, play at 5:45 p.m. Wednesday, with the winner likely getting a chance to face Palatine in the semifinals. The Barrington sectional winner will meet the UIC sectional champ in the state quarterfinals next week at Stevenson.
At Glenbrook South
Quarterfinals: Wednesday, 4:30, 5:45, 7 and 8:15 p.m.
Semifinals: Friday, 4:30 and 5:45 p.m. Championship: Saturday, 1 p.m.
Outlook: No. 5 seed St. Viator (14-12) has been a steady team all season, and its experience against some of the state's better teams in the Metro Catholic could pay dividends here; senior Eric Primdahl has been scoring in bunches lately. The Lions face No. 4 Glenbrook South (15-10) on Wednesday, with the winner likely facing top seed Loyola (19-11) in the semifinals. Prospect (13-10), the Mid-Suburban East runner-up, won its play-in game and will meet No. 2 seed Glenbrook North (19-6) in Wednesday's quarterfinal round. The champion will meet the Vernon Hills sectional winner in the state quarterfinals next week at Stevenson.
At Vernon Hills
Quarterfinals: Wednesday, 4:30, 5:45, 7 and 8:15 p.m.
Semifinals: Friday, 4:30 and 5:45 p.m. Championship: Saturday, noon
Outlook: North Suburban champ Mundelein (23-4) earned the top seed and will face No. 8 Vernon Hills (0-25) in Wednesday's 4:30 quarterfinal. That game will be followed by No. 4 Wheeling (12-7) against No. 5 Highland Park/Deerfield (9-15), No. 2 Lake Forest (15-10) against No. 7 Libertyville and No. 3 Stevenson against No. 6 Hersey (12-12), which set a school record for victories this season under coach Jeff Baker. The champion will face the Glenbrook South sectional winner in the state quarterfinals next week at Stevenson.
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