The Class 3A state tournament is an exclusive event.
The four teams that were expected to qualify — four No. 1 sectional seeds and the top four 3A teams in the Associated Press’ state rankings — will do battle in Peoria this weekend.
There will be no Cinderella stories at this ball, though one of the powerhouses stand out among the rest.
Between them, Fenwick, Bloomington and Springfield Lanphier have a total of one state appearance — Lanphier finished fourth in 3A in 2012 — in the four-class era that began in 2008.
Morgan Park is back for the fourth time in five years.
And if Simeon established itself as the best team in the state with a convincing victory over Edwardsville in a Class 4A supersectional Tuesday, well, Morgan Park believes it may be better than Simeon.
“We probably should have won all three games against Simeon,” said Morgan Park coach Nick Irvin, whose team went 1-2 in three close games with the Wolverines and finished ahead of them in the Red South standings.
“They present matchup problems all over the court, and we got down and guarded them. That showed me we can guard anyone on any given day.”
Lanphier hopes that day isn’t Friday in the 12:45 p.m. semifinal against Morgan Park, preceded by Fenwick vs. Bloomington at 11 a.m.
Saturday’s championship game could have zero, one or two Chicago-area teams. The only real surprise will be if Morgan Park is not among them.
Fenwick (29-4) vs. Bloomington (26-4): Bloomington’s four losses were by a combined eight points, though it’s certainly worth noting that three came at the hands of Chicago-area schools Benet, Curie and Wheaton Warrenville South.
Of course, it’s also worth noting that Benet and Curie were last year’s 4A finalists, while Wheaton South went 29-2 this season. Like Fenwick, the Purple Raiders have effectively combined senior leadership (Dazon Farris averages 18.1 points) with an extremely promising underclassman, 6-foot-6 sophomore Chris Payton, who averages 12 points and 11. 4 rebounds.
Fenwick’s veterans include the program’s all-time leader in wins, Catholic North Player of the Year Jamal Nixon (10.7 points, 7.3 rebounds), and Jacob Keller (12.1 points), while freshman DJ Steward is the team’s leading scorer at 14.5 points a game.
“That wouldn’t have happened if our guys weren’t fully accepting,” Fenwick coach Rick Malnati said. “Our seniors are allowing him to play as well as he has.”
Morgan Park (24-6) vs. Lanphier (28-3): Lanphier’s starters are listed as 5-8, 6-0, 6-0, 6-4 and 6-6. Morgan Park goes 6-0, 6-2, 6-4, 6-7 and 6-9. Lanphier’s leading scorer, Yaakema Rose (18.9 points), is its smallest player.
Four former Morgan Park guards played high-level Division I basketball this season. The Mustangs have never had a better defensive backcourt than Ayo Dosunmu, Lamond Johnson and Cam Irvin.
“We’re going to go mano a mano, match up with them and try to get after them on that end of the floor,” Nick Irvin said. “We know they’ve got good guards. We do as well. We’ll make it a track meet like I love.”
Mike Helfgot is a freelance reporter for the Chicago Tribune.
IHSA state tournament
Friday’s semifinals (TV: CSN+)
3A, Fenwick (29-4) vs. Bloomington (26-4), 11 a.m.
3A, Morgan Park (24-6) vs. Springfield Lanphier (28-3), 12:45 p.m.
4A, Fremd (31-0) vs. Young (25-7), 5:30 p.m.
4A, Bolingbrook (29-1) vs. Simeon (29-3), 7:15 p.m.
Saturday’s schedule
3A third place, 11 a.m. (CSN)
3A championship, 12:45 p.m. (CSN)
4A third place, 5:30 p.m. (CSN+)
4A championship, 7:15 p.m. (CSN+)
