Peoria Central may have to go through the Public League to claim a second straight Class AA title.
After the annual shakedown of contenders and pretenders during the holiday tournament season, it looks like either Farragut, Westinghouse or Von Steuben would match up with Peoria in the March 19 state quarterfinals.
If All-American Shaun Livingston & Co. advance, they could find Simeon awaiting them in the semifinals.
Yes, you read that correctly–there could be two Public League teams playing in Peoria’s Carver Arena.
Actually, if feisty Julian can pull off an upset of No.1 Homewood-Flossmoor in a potential United Center supesectional showdown, the city could have three teams Downstate.
“I do believe we’re going to have at least two teams in the state finals,” Farragut coach William Nelson said. “The IHSA (Illinois High School Association) separated all the top teams just enough in the sectionals and supersectionals. This setup is a lot fairer than it was last year.”
Here’s a midseason sneak preview of the state tournament picture in supersectional bracket order
Southern Illinois
Look for Belleville West with Purdue-bound Xavier Price or East St. Louis led by Tommie Liddell, who has signed with St. Louis, to be playing in Peoria.
Illinois-Chicago
It’s clearly a three-team race in the St. Xavier sectional with Simeon, Brother Rice and Hyde Park. Behind its athletic front line of 6-foot-6-inch Calvin Brock, 6-7 Brandon Alexander and 6-6 Anthony Newell, Simeon is one of the few teams in Illinois that can match up favorably with Peoria Central. Brother Rice could shoot its way to Carver Arena on three-pointers.
It’s a dogfight in the Lyons sectional among Oak Park, St. Joseph, Curie and Proviso East. The survivor figures to flame out at UIC.
Quarterfinal No. 1: Belleville West vs. Simeon
United Center 1
Look for a terrific Gordon Tech sectional final between Farragut with 6-7 Ollie Bailey and 6-4 Chris Singletary against Westinghouse with 6-8 DeAndre Thomas and 6-5 Jamarcus Ellis. Ryne Hamblet, Angel Santiago, Demetrius Evans and Bryon Johnson should lead Von Steuben to the Niles West sectional title despite stiff resistance from St. Patrick, Evanston and the host Wolves.
Illinois State
Peoria Central hopes to regain 6-5 Dustin Warfield from an injury just before regionals. Until then, Livingston–rated the No. 1 player in the country by some scouting services–and Northwestern signee Brandon Lee will carry the Lions’ share of the load. The Lions could meet Bloomington and its dynamic all-junior backcourt of Dodie Dunson and Brandon Holtz in Normal.
Quarterfinal No. 2: Von Steuben vs. Peoria Central
Rockford Metro Centre
Moline is the team to beat behind 6-9 Kyle Lasek, 6-4 Jordan Salmonson and 6-3 sophomore Paul Bayer. Barrington, with guard Jason Richard, and Prairie Ridge, with the 6-5 scoring tandem of Brett Cole and Todd Babington, could surprise Moline.
United Center 2
Julian, Thornton and always-dangerous Thornwood will battle for the Eisenhower sectional title while Homewood-Flossmoor, Rich Central, Hillcrest, Joliet and Bloom fight it out at the Bloom sectional. H-F and Julian could stage a rematch of the Proviso West Holiday Tournament title game won by H-F 70-66.
Quarterfinal No. 3: Moline vs. H-F
Northern Illinois
West Aurora and 6-9 Shaun Pruitt may have to get by rival East Aurora before a potential rematch with Downers Grove South, which upset the favored Blackhawks in last year’s sectionals. This time, West Aurora won’t take the Mustangs so lightly.
Loyola
Schaumburg, Hoffman Estates or Glenbrook North figures to emerge from the Buffalo Grove sectional to face Zion-Benton. Although Glenbrook North has the best player in 6-6 sophomore Jon Scheyer, Hoffman Estates’ 6-2 Jonny Reibel is the most difficult player to match up against.
Quarterfinal No. 4: West Aurora vs. Hoffman Estates
