In the postseason, all eyes rest on the top seeds.
It’s different at the Class 4A Bartlett Regional, where the fourth seed draws the attention. That’s because last year’s Cinderella team, South Elgin, is seeded fourth.
The Storm are in the same spot as last season, attempting to complete a rare repeat sectional bid as underdog.
“If the shooters get hot one night, then they can start carrying you on a hot streak in the tournament,” guard Matty Smith said. “That’s what March Madness is all about.”
Smith, Tyler Hankins, Anthony Lynch and Co. looked like anything but potential postseason powers while losing six out of seven, but a season-ending 43-40 victory Friday at home over rival Bartlett may have provided some momentum.
At the very least, it showed South Elgin (10-19) can finish off games at the right time. They’ll need this because everyone they plundered last year seems to be out to get them.
“It’s still in the back of our minds,” Jacobs guard Kenton Mack said of his team’s sectional loss last year to the Storm. “We think about that every day.”
Jacobs (22-5) wouldn’t get that chance until the regional finals. The second-seeded Fox Valley Valley champs open at 7 p.m. Wednesday against the winner of the 7:30 p.m. Monday game between Bartlett (18-10) and Streamwood (4-25).
The Golden Eagles are riding a 14-game winning streak and feel better prepared defensively to face teams with quickness, like Larkin, Bartlett and South Elgin.
“Last year we were just kind of a man-to-man team, basically,” 6-foot-8 center Cameron Krutwig said. “This year we have the athletes and we want to get up and pressure more.”
South Elgin’s key upset last year came over top-seeded Larkin, so it seems logical the Royals want some revenge.
“The brackets line up just like they did last year,” Royals star Christian Negron pointed out.
The Royals (18-7) are again top seeds and play at 7 p.m. Tuesday against the winner of Monday’s game between South Elgin and Elgin (6-23), the same as last postseason.
This Larkin team struggled at midseason, but Daniel McFadden offered a scoring counterpunch to Negron with 14 points Friday and the Royals upset ninth-ranked Geneva 57-51.Last year’s team had less momentum starting regionals after losing a regular-season finale to Neuqua Valley.
“We won’t know if this win (over Geneva) gives us momentum until we get on the floor Tuesday,” Royals coach Deryn Carter said.
Carter doesn’t want to hear talk about revenge against South Elgin.
“Whatever we do in this tournament, it’s not going to change what happened last year,” Carter said.
A big difference from last year is the venue. Last year it was at St. Charles North, but Bartlett and Jacobs have replaced the St. Charles schools. With Bartlett hosting, the Hawks and 1,000-point scorer Ryan DiCanio have to be considered serious challengers, even if coach Jim Wolfsmith said they’ve lacked consistency.
“So that’s kind of cost us an up-and-down, roller-coaster kind of a ride,” said Wolfsmith, whose team has beaten West Aurora, Lake Park and Neuqua Valley.
Bartlett lost in overtime to second-seeded Jacobs at Jacobs’ Hinkle Classic 71-64, while Larkin was the last team to beat Jacobs, 66-51 on Dec. 26.
“There’s four good teams,” Jacobs coach Jim Roberts said. “We beat Bartlett, but they’re at home. Larkin beat us, but we’re healthier now. It’s very even.”
Last year it was South Elgin giving teams the early exits. The question to be answered is who — if anyone — can do it this year?
AREA REGIONAL PAIRINGS
(All finals at 7 p.m. Friday)
CLASS 4A
At Bartlett: Monday’s quarterfinals — South Elgin (2) vs. Elgin (5), 6 p.m.; Bartlett (3) vs. Streamwood (6), 7:30 p.m. Tuesday’s semifinal — Larkin (1) vs. South Elgin or Elgin, 7 p.m. Wednesday’s semifinal — Jacobs (2) vs. Bartlett or Streamwood, 7 p.m.
At Geneva: Monday’s quarterfinal — DeKalb (4) vs. Batavia (5), 7 p.m. Tuesday’s semifinal — Geneva (1) vs. DeKalb or Batavia, 7 p.m. Wednesday’s semifinal — St. Charles East (2) vs. St. Charles North (3), 7 p.m.
At Huntley: Monday’s quarterfinals — Huntley (4) vs. Belvidere North (5), 6 p.m.; Prairie Ridge (3) vs. Crystal Lake Central (6), 7:30 p.m. Tuesday’s semifinals — Rockford Jefferson (1) vs. Huntley or Belvidere North, 6 p.m.; Crystal Lake South (2) vs. Prairie Ridge or CL Central, 7:30 p.m.
At Rolling Meadows: Monday’s quarterfinals — Rolling Meadows (15) vs. Dundee-Crown (17), 7 p.m.; Tuesday’s semifinals — Barrington (1) vs. Dundee-Crown or Rolling Meadows, 6 p.m.; Elk Grove (8) vs. Conant (9), 7:30 p.m.
CLASS 3A
At Burlington Central: Monday’s quarterfinals — Genoa-Kingston (4) vs. Sycamore (5), 6 p.m.; Kaneland (3) vs. Wheaton Academy (6), 7:30 p.m. Wednesday’s semifinals — Hampshire (1) vs. G-K or Sycamore, 6 p.m.; Burlington Central (2) vs. Kaneland or Wheaton Academy, 7:30 p.m.
