BOYS
Proviso E. at Downers S.
Tipoff: 7:30 p.m. Friday at 1436 Norfolk, Downers Grove.
Inside stuff: The only team other than Proviso East to win the West Suburban Gold title since the division was created in 1987 was Downers Grove South in 1997. And the Mustangs (6-0, 1-0), with four of their top six players back from last season’s Class AA Downstate qualifiers, are favored to return this season. This is not a typical Proviso East team–no superstars–but the Pirates (3-1, 1-0) play a more balanced half-court game. Nick Brown, a 6-foot-6-inch senior, and Phillip Perry, a 6-1 junior, give new coach David Chatman an inside-out threat. For Downers South, guards Bryan Mullins and Trey Bowens and forwards Bob Dreveny and Sam Carson have the experience to handle the pressure of being the conference favorite.
Bob Sakamoto’s pick: Downers South.
GIRLS
Neuqua Valley at Bartlett
Tipoff: 6 p.m. Saturday at 701 Schick Rd., Bartlett
Inside stuff: Bartlett lost only three games last season–one of them to Neuqua Valley by a score (27-26) that didn’t tax the scoreboard operator. The 4-3 Hawks already have equaled their number of losses this season and don’t want to pick up another one in this Upstate Eight matchup. Bartlett’s Lindsay Schrader is healthy after recovering from a minor hamstring strain that was thought to be a hyperextended knee. She missed the Hawks’ loss to Glenbard North. “Probably at the defensive end is where we missed Lindsay the most,” Bartlett coach Denise Sarna said. The defensive end is where Purdue recruit Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton excels for No. 7 Neuqua Valley (5-1). She had six blocks in last week’s victory over DeKalb.
Alan Sutton’s pick: Neuqua Valley.
