Here's all you need to know about the 2nd season

The moment of truth has arrived.

The Illinois High School Association's Class 3A and 4A regional basketball tournament tips off Monday night and will be highlighted by regional championship action Friday night.

At Sycamore, Northern Illinois Big 12 East Conference champion Kaneland will take on Aurora Central Catholic Wednesday night in a battle between the second and third seeds, respectively. If the Knights win, they'll likely have to beat Rochelle for a third time Friday night to reach the Woodstock North sectional.

At Hampshire, third-seeded Marmion begins postseason play Tuesday night against the second-seeded host school.

At West Aurora, 15th-seeded Batavia will faces No. 18 Glenbard North Monday night, with the winner earning a date with second-seeded Downers Grove South Tuesday. The host Blackhawks await the Wheaton Warrenville South-West Chicago winner Wednesday night.

At St. Charles East, four of the five regional teams St. Charles East, St. Charles North, Bartlett and South Elgin are from the Upstate Eight Conference, and are joined by DeKalb.

According to North Stars coach Tom Poulin, there's no clear-cut favorite.

"There's going to be some great basketball because there's some serious parity in the regional," said Poulin. "South Elgin, Bartlett, ourselves and (St. Charles) East are pretty much all real similar record-wise with similar talent levels. It's going to be so tough because everybody knows each other so well.

"I know it's going to be another heart-stopper over there for us."

Class 3A

Aurora Central Catholic

Record: (13-13)

Longest winning streak: 3.

Longest losing streak: 4.

Last 10: 5-5.

Best win: 75-66 at Marian Central Catholic, Feb. 15.

Key facts: After enjoying a 65-21 record the past three years, coach Nate Drye's Chargers have hovered around the .500 mark much of the season. But they've also played a beefed-up schedule that included second-ranked 3A Rock Island, South Elgin and Bogan.

Young legs: Matt Meyers, 5-11 sophomore G; Joe Medgyesi, 6-0 sophomore G; Zach Flint, 6-0 sophomore G.

Last regional title: 2008.

What to expect: Led by Ryan Harreld and 6-4 junior Robert DeMyers, ACC will have to be at its best against red-hot Kaneland in the regional opener.

Kaneland

Record: (17-8)

Longest winning streak: 8.

Longest losing streak: 3.

Last 10: 8-2.

Best win: Last Friday's 74-67 conference title-clinching win at Rochelle.

Key facts: Kaneland is 12-4 in games decided by 10 points or less.

Young legs: Drew David, 5-10 freshman G; Daniel Helm, 6-4 freshman F; Thomas Williams, 6-0 freshman G; Kory Harner, 5-10 sophomore G; Dan Miller, 6-1 sophomore G/F; Kyle Pollastrini, 6-1 sophomore F.

Last regional title: 1999.

What to expect: Brian Johnson's squad carries an 8-game winning streak into postseason play. After winning its first conference title in 29 years, the Knights will try for their first regional crown in 12 years. Chaon Denlinger anchors a young team that could square off with conference rival Rochelle for a third time in Friday's regional championship. But the Knights can't overlook a dangerous ACC team, either.

Marmion

Record: (14-12)

Longest winning streak: 4.

Longest losing streak: 3.

Last 10: 6-4.

Best win: 47-46 over Marian Central Catholic, Jan. 8.

Key facts: The Cadets have experienced an up-and-down season in coach Ryan Paradise's first year at the helm. However, they compiled a 4-game winning streak to finish the regular season.

Young legs: Colin Kavanaugh, 6-3 sophomore F; Alex Theisen, 6-0 sophomore G.

Last regional title: 1977.

What to watch: Whether the guard-oriented Cadets can capture their first regional title in 34 years. Eddy Grahovec is one of the area's leading 3-point shooters, flanked by 6-3 G/F Nick Scoliere and 6-1 G Mark Berdelle. Marmion will need to crash the boards against Hampshire.

Class 4A

Batavia

Record: (13-12)

Longest winning streak: 3.

Longest losing streak: 3.

Last 10: 5-5.

Best win: 69-67 at Quincy, Dec. 4.

Key facts: Five of the Bulldogs' 12 losses came against 20-win teams.

Young legs: Mike Rueffer, 6-2 sophomore G; Zach Strittmatter, 6-5 sophomore G/F.

Last regional title: 2006.

What to watch: Whether senior guard Jesse Coffey returns after missing the final week of the regular season with an illness. Junior power forward Cole Gardner and senior center Elliott Vaughn can present matchup problems for opponents. If the Bulldogs beat Glenbard North Monday, they'll take on second-seeded Downers Grove South (23-3) and 6-8 center Ziggy Riauka Tuesday.

Geneva

Record: (12-16)

Longest winning streak: 2.

Longest losing streak: 3.

Last 10: 5-5.

Best win: 57-41 over Bartlett, Jan. 4.

Key facts: The Vikings are 7-1 when they score 50 or more points.

Last regional title: 1986.

What to watch: Can the Vikings carry some of the momentum from last Friday's 57-47 win over St. Charles North into Monday's Naperville North regional opener with Plainfield East? Led by 6-8 senior Dan Trimble, coach Phil Ralston's squad can be dangerous as evidenced by its wins over Batavia, Bartlett and STC North. They'll have to control the tempo against Plainfield East guards Myles Walters and DeAndre Brown. If the Vikes win Monday, they'll get a Wednesday rematch against the state's No. 1 team, Benet Academy.

West Aurora

Record: (14-11)

Longest winning streak: 5.

Longest losing streak: 2.

Last 10: 5-5.

Best win: 46-41 over Naperville North, Dec. 10.

Key facts: Nineteen of the Blackhawks' 25 games have been decided by 10 points or less (they're 9-10 in those games).

Young legs: Jontrel Walker, 5-11 freshman G; Jayquan Lee, 5-11 sophomore G; Chandler Thomas, 6-1 sophomore F; Spencer Thomas, 6-1 sophomore F.

Last regional title: 2006.

What to watch: West Aurora has proven it can play with some of the state's best, having lost two tight games against Glenbard East as well as a 2-point decision to Rock Island. But the Blackhawks have also lacked consistency, evidenced by their two losses to likely first-round foe WW South. Led by Brandon Hayes and Juwan Starks, coach Gordie Kerkman's will have the homecourt advantage, where they're 5-2.

St. Charles East

Record: (13-13)

Longest winning streak: 4.

Longest losing streak: 5.

Last 10: 6-4.

Best win: 43-41 over Elgin, Dec. 4.

Key facts: Teams with size have hurt the Saints, who have been out-rebounded in 25 of their 26 games. STC East is 9-2 when holding teams to 50 points or less (4-11 when they don't).

Young legs: Kendall Stephens, 6-4 sophomore G.

Last regional title: 2007.

What to watch: After beginning the season with 5 straight losses, the Saints are 13-8 in their last 21 games and have won 9 of their last 13. With Purdue-bound Stephens, who has connected on 19 of his last 26 shots, the Saints have the ability to get past DeKalb and challenge top-seeded South Elgin. "It'll be a dogfight," said Saints coach Brian Clodi. "We're happy to be home. It'll come down to who executes the best with the game on the line."

St. Charles North

Record: (14-13)

Longest winning streak: 3.

Longest losing streak: 3.

Last 10: 5-5.

Best win: 65-54 at Jacobs, Dec. 23.

Key facts: The North Stars have beaten STC East three times this season by an average of 9 points. Bartlett edged STC North 40-36 in last year's regional opener.

Young legs: Tony Neari, 5-10 sophomore G; Quinten Payne, 6-4 sophomore G.

Last regional title: 2009.

What to watch: Whether inconsistency continues to haunt the North Stars, who are capable of making a deep postseason run when at their best. "We have the advantage inside," said Poulin. "We've got to beat teams inside-out. It'll also make our perimeter players better."

There won't be many secrets revealed this week. "They'll be ready for everything we do," Poulin said of Bartlett.