Truth is, it's final exam time

St. Charles East basketball coach Brian Clodi refers to it as "the moment of truth."

St. Charles North coach Tom Poulin calls it "the final exam."

It - is the annual high school basketball tournament - better known by the Illinois High School Association as "America's Original March Madness," and it soon will be playing at a high school gym near you.

Class 3A and 4A girls regional tournament action begins this week, with the boys set to follow in two weeks.

Girls

Led by senior guard Taylor Whitley, who needs a free throw to reach the 2,000-point mark for her 4-year career, Geneva carries a 27-0 record into Wednesday night's West Chicago regional.

"We hope it's a little catalyst for better things to come in the next three weeks," Vikings coach Gina Nolan said after her team's 27th straight victory, a 58-39 decision over Batavia last Friday.

With junior forward Lauren Wicinski playing her best basketball, the Vikings appear to have what it takes to challenge for a downstate berth.

Only one of their games has been decided by less than 10 points - a 44-36 win over DeKalb in December.

"We've had some stretches, some close quarters and halves," said Nolan. "We'll just rely on our veteran experience and fierce competition."

Geneva's postseason road may include games with Conant, Fremd and Hoffman Estates before a supersectional date with either host Loyola or New Trier.

But first things first.

"Now we move on to the next step and start clean at 0-0," said Wicinski.

"We've won a regional but that's it," added Nolan. "We've got some history to break."

St. Charles North made its own bit of history a year ago, capturing regional and sectional titles for the first time before losing to Buffalo Grove at the Elgin Community College supersectional.

After a rugged schedule, the North Stars seem poised to make a possible return trip to ECC - and more.

But it won't be easy, either, as they'll likely have to beat St. Charles East or South Elgin a second time just to reach the Jacobs sectional - where the home team may await them in the semifinals.

Another 20-win team, fourth-seeded Batavia may face the toughest challenge with possible matchups looming against No. 5 Benet, top-seeded Bolingbrook and No. 2 Hinsdale Central at the Waubonsie Valley sectional.

And the Bulldogs are coming off a 19-point home loss to Geneva.

"Hopefully we're still the favorite at the Hinsdale South regional - by the seeds we are but we'll see," said Batavia coach Tim DeBruycker. "We'll see if we can do something that hasn't been done in a long time - win a regional. That's our goal."

Sectional darkhorses: Bartlett (at Addison Trail), St. Charles East (at Jacobs), Oswego East (at Waubonsie Valley), Oswego (at Marengo).

Boys

On the threshold of eclipsing the school's single-season victory mark (17), St. Charles North (17-6) earned the top seed at the five-team DeKalb regional.

"It's definitely something to be proud of," said Poulin. "But it's not going to make anything easier once the regional begins."

Winners of 14 of its last 16 games, St. Charles North figures to be challenged by second-seeded South Elgin, the third-seeded host Barbs and No. 4 St. Charles East.

"They're all strong teams - every one of them impresses me," said Poulin. "Our seeding is a reflection of how we've done so far, not a prediction of what's going to happen.

"Now we've got to justify it."

Led by backcourt stars Jon DeMoss and Nick Neari, the North Stars might have to knock off a pair of Upstate Eight teams to reach the Elgin sectional.

"A lot of people think the regional is the toughest part of the tournament until supersectionals," said Poulin. "Four of the five teams in our regional are from our conference so there's familiarity with your opponent. Teams have multiple tapes on you."

Teams like St. Charles East, which has won 8 of its last 11 after beginning the season with 11 consecutive losses.

Led by 6-7 senior Kevin Senechalle and 3-point marksmen Zach Scott and Tim Russell, the Saints could be dangerous come tournament time.

"We're playing good defense and really moving the basketball," said Clodi. "It's fun to watch when guys get wide-open looks and knock them down."

At Batavia, Geneva will try to deliver the knockout punch to the host Bulldogs March 4 after sweeping the regular-season contests.

"That's going to be a tough game," said Geneva guard Michael Ratay. "It's hard to beat anyone three times, especially a close rival like that."

"We'll be ready," said Batavia senior Alex Berg, "especially because we play them at our house."

Legendary West Aurora coach Gordie Kerkman isn't accustomed to seeing his team without a top-four sectional seeding. But the seventh-seeded Blackhawks (16-7) still figure to be a tough out in March.

Winners of 8 of its last 10, West Aurora begins regional play against No. 10 Wheaton Warrenville South March 4. With a win, the Blackhawks will likely face the host Redhawks for the regional crown.

In 3A play, Aurora Central Catholic (20-3) opens regional action against either Sandwich or IMSA March 3. Led by seniors Anthony Kelley and Mike Adams, the top-seeded Chargers own victories over Waubonsie Valley and Naperville North, and are 3-1 in games decided by 3 points or less.

Sectional darkhorses: St. Charles East (at DeKalb), Bartlett (at Oswego East), Oswego (at Rochelle).