It's sectional time

Class 4A Hoffman Estates sectional

Overview: Monday's semifinals match the Upstate Eight Conference against the DuPage Valley, as Bartlett (28-1) takes on West Chicago (16-12) in the 6 p.m. opener, followed by Geneva (24-5) vs. Wheaton Warrenville South (27-3).

Bartlett vs. West Chicago: The No. 1 Hawks are in the sectional for the third straight year, having been knocked out by Fenwick and Trinity the last two years. Bartlett would appear to be a heavy favorite based on its 77-49 win over coach Kim Wallner's Wildcats in West Chicago on Dec. 17. But Hawks' coach Denise Sarna continues to warn against putting too much stock in the past.

"The second time you play somebody you study the first one and try to improve on what went bad in that game. Schaumburg tried some things that did make the game closer," Sarna said of her team's 58-40 regional final win over the Saxons, whom Bartlett had defeated 71-35 earlier in the season. "Kim's a great coach and we'll have to be ready to play."

Central to Bartlett's game Monday will be the physical condition of senior standout Haley Videckis (18.7 ppg, 71 3-pointers, 6.2 rpg). Videckis sustained an elbow to the forehead just before halftime of the regional final game and even though she returned to play heavily bandaged, the wound took 12 stitches to close after the game. Sarna said she expects the Indiana recruit to be ready to go Monday night.

The Hawks showed some firepower without Videckis in the lineup as senior Kristin Conniff (15.3 ppg, 48 3-pointers, 4.5 rpg) scored 11 of her game-high 22 points in the third quarter as Bartlett pulled away from Schaumburg. Seniors Lisa Palmer, Katie Guzwiller and Ashley Johnson continued to play their steady games as well.

West Chicago, which is led by seniors Claire Monroe (14.6 ppg) and Allie Tapanes (10.7 ppg) and junior Lauar Panicali (14.4 ppg), defeated Conant 48-39 to win the Conant regional. The Wildcats made 75 3-pointers during the season and shoot 40 percent from long range.

Geneva vs. WW South: The Vikings, who have won three straight sectional championships, have continued to win even without injured senior standout Ashley Santos. Experience will be a plus for them in this battle of conference champs. WW South is in a sectional for the first time since 2007.

Advancement: Monday's winners come back to Hoffman Thursday for the sectional title and a spot in the Feb. 27 Elgin supersectional against the winner of the McHenry sectional.

Class 4A McHenry sectional

Overview: Monday's first semifinal al pits DeKalb (26-4) against Hononegah (31-1), then on Tuesday South Elgin (19-10) takes on Cary-Grove (20-8). Both games are at 7:30 p.m.

South Elgin vs. Cary-Grove: The experience factor may be on Cary-Grove's side in this one, as the Trojans are in their third straight sectional and South Elgin is a round of 32 newbie. But the Storm is savoring this first-time experience with great anticipation and enthusiasm. "I feel like the pressure's off now," said South Elgin coach Tim Prendergast after his team's 66-50 regional final win over Streamwood. "We can go out and play now have fun and enjoy the sectional experience."

The Storm's X-factor is senior Becca Smith. The Loyola signee has been in a zone the last couple of weeks as she successfully reached the 2,000 point mark for her career and had one of her best all-around games of the season with 26 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists and 5 steals in the regional title game. Now the second leading scorer in Fox Valley history, Smith averages 21 points and 5 assists per game, both area highs.

"Becca Smith is our No. 1 priority," said Cary-Grove coach Rod Saffert. "You gotta stop her somehow, someway. With all due respect to everyone else, she'll be the best player we've seen this year. She's obviously a special player. Savanah (Uveges) is a nice player and they're athletic. They like to run the floor and use their transition game, just like us. They play very confidently. It's nice that we've gotten there the last three years now and hopefully that will come into play. Out last five games have all been really tense and I've been pleased with the way we've held it together."

Cary-Grove, which squeaked past Crystal Lake South 28-27 and Prairie Ridge 34-25 to win the PR regional, has the best Class 4A defense in the Fox Valley. The Trojans continue to be led by junior Olivia Jackubicek and senior Paige Lincicum, and a strong team defensive effort.

"Olivia and Paige are nice players and they play awfully good defense," said Prendergast of the Trojans. "We'll have to be sharp and we'll have to come ready to play our style of game."

DeKalb vs. Hononegah: DeKalb could be the dark horse of both the McHenry and Hoffman Estates sectionals. The Barbs, who defeated Huntley 55-40 to win the DeKalb regional, won the Big 12 East undefeated and have quality losses to Waubonsie Valley, Naperville North and Benet, as well as wins over Geneva and Sterling. Hononegah, meanwhile, won its own regional 46-39 over Boylan and has only lost to Fremd this season. The Indians, though, are without 6-foot-4 center Nicole Smith (Iowa) and starting point guard Madison Dunker, who are out with season-ending injuries. Hononegah is in its third straight sectional.

Advancement: The semifinal winners meet Thursday for the sectional title and a spot opposite the Hoffman Estates sectional winner in the Feb. 27 Elgin supersectional.

Class 3A Sycamore sectional

Overview: Monday's semifinals feature Belvidere North (21-9) against Sterling (17-15) and Hampshire (17-14) against Kaneland (19-9). Belvidere North finished a strong third behind Hononegah and Rockford Boylan in the NIC-10. Sterling is coached by former Burlington Central coach Julie Schroeder.

Hampshire vs. Kaneland: The Whip-Purs will be making their fourth straight bid for the program's first sectional title since 2004 and coach Ed Haugens is confident in the way his team is playing, despite being just three games over .500.

"We played tougher competition this year and that's helped get us to this point," said Haugens, whose team beat Burlington Central 59-32 to win its own regional. "We're seeing the fruits of our labor for playing that tougher competition. The girls are coming together and playing real hard right now."

The Whips' starting five of Jenny Dumoulin, Michelle Dumoulin, Grace Jakubowski, Elizabeth Panzica and Tiffany Bentley have led the Whips to the best defensive average in the area, and Haugens says it's been a team effort all the way.

"There are no all-stars here," he said. "This is a very unselfish group of kids. We've talked to them about how if we're playing good basketball we can win this sectional. We're enjoying the moment right now and looking forward to it."

Kaneland go past Yorkville 37-34 to win the Yorkville regional. The Knights are led by junior forward Ashley Prost (10.3 ppg). Kaneland averages only 42.6 points per game but the Knights allow just 37.5. Senior center Kelly Evers (6 ppg, 5 rpg) could present the Whips a challenge in the middle and guard Allyson O'Herron averages 7 points for the Knights.

Advancement: Monday's winners play Thursday for the sectional title and a spot in the Elgin supersectional Feb. 27 against the winner of the St. Viator sectional.