10 Best: Friday Sectional Championship Games

<p>Friday night is what many call the best night of hoops in the state during the high school season.  Sweet 16 or Sectional Final Night with all four classes going at the same time.  Thinking of catching a game?  Here are our <strong>10 Best: Friday Sectional Championship Games</strong>!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><u>2A</u></strong></p> <p><strong>DePaul Prep vs Michelle Clark (North Lawndale Sectional)</strong></p> <p>DePaul got over one big hurdle with a victory over Orr.  Next up is Michelle Clark.  Ton of posts in this game with UW-Milwaukee signee [player_tooltip player_id="863618" first="Dylan" last="Arnett"] against [player_tooltip player_id="863590" first="Sulaimon" last="Agiste"] along with the twins inside for Clark.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Breese Central vs Nashville (Carterville Sectional)</strong></p> <p>Two of the top programs from southern Illinois is small school hoops will be meeting for a sectional championship.  A lot of crossover with players who play in the summer together like Breese Central star [player_tooltip player_id="863639" first="Brady" last="Moore"] and Nashville’s [player_tooltip player_id="1106938" first="Saxton" last="Hoepker"] who both ran with the Illinois Bears.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><u>3A</u></strong></p> <p><strong>Lemont vs Thornton (Marian Catholic Sectional)</strong></p> <p>Thornton throttled their opponent in the semis behind Illini commit [player_tooltip player_id="1364826" first="Ty" last="Rodgers"] along with an array of athletic and skilled running mates.  Lemont pulled off the upset as [player_tooltip player_id="1157223" first="Nojus" last="Indrusaitis"] had 18 points against Hillcrest.  Meanstreets senior star vs their next elite perimeter prospect!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Simeon vs Hyde Park (Hinsdale South Sectional)</strong></p> <p>Two of the top CPS teams clash in a 3A sectional!  Guards, guards, and more guards.  Simeon’s trio [player_tooltip player_id="771517" first="Jaylen" last="Drane"], [player_tooltip player_id="925193" first="Avyion" last="Morris"], and [player_tooltip player_id="939059" first="Jalen" last="Griffith"] vs Hyde Park’s [player_tooltip player_id="925214" first="Davontae" last="Hall"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1215301" first="Camron" last="Williford"].  Simeon’s advantage is inside with [player_tooltip player_id="1048306" first="Miles" last="Rubin"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1048305" first="Wesley" last="Rubin"].</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>De La Salle vs St. Ignatius (King Sectional)</strong></p> <p>This is one of the most interesting storylines of the night.  St. Ignatius was a preseason top 5 team that has been up and down all season.  After three relatively easy opponents they get a test here.  [player_tooltip player_id="863613" first="AJ" last="Redd"] is getting rolling and they have a D1 junior in [player_tooltip player_id="989270" first="Richard" last="Barron"].  De La Salle’s record of 12-21 doesn’t indicate their talent level with high scoring guard [player_tooltip player_id="996066" first="Dajuan" last="Bates"] and combo [player_tooltip player_id="996072" first="Jalen" last="Brown"].  This game might be won on the boards and with rim protection.  St. Ignatius brings Air Force signee Kolby Giles and junior [player_tooltip player_id="939066" first="Jackson" last="Kotecki"] against Bethune Cookman signee [player_tooltip player_id="863597" first="Marcellius" last="Cohen"], [player_tooltip player_id="925199" first="Jamil" last="Wilson"], and [player_tooltip player_id="1049056" first="Caleb" last="Jenkins"].</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Metamora vs Rock Island (Peoria Sectional)</strong></p> <p>Rock Island went against the home crowd in an OT win on Wednesday defeating Peoria Manual behind big games from their senior guards [player_tooltip player_id="863615" first="Amarion" last="Nimmers"] and [player_tooltip player_id="863612" first="Marieon" last="Anderson"].  Metamora is going to bring a big local crowd as well at Bradley to support their squad led by D1 junior [player_tooltip player_id="939065" first="Ethan" last="Kizer"] along with [player_tooltip player_id="1049101" first="Zack" last="Schroeder"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1371068" first="Tyson" last="Swanson"].  Two of the better central Illinois squads.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><u>4A</u></strong></p> <p><strong>New Trier vs Glenbrook South (Glenbrook South Sectional)</strong></p> <p>Each side has won.  This is the rubber match for everything!  Two of the top contenders for the 4A state title will meet in a sectional final with D1 talent all over the floor.  Glenbrook South has the home court advantage.  [player_tooltip player_id="925224" first="Nick" last="Martinelli"] (Elon) and [player_tooltip player_id="925190" first="Cooper" last="Noard"] (Cornell) might be the best 1-2 punch in Illinois.  New Trier has depth and a ton of shooting with [player_tooltip player_id="1210370" first="Jackson" last="Munro"] (Dartmouth) and elite 2023 sharp shooter [player_tooltip player_id="1215287" first="Jake" last="Fiegen"].</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Oswego East vs Bolingbrook (Oswego Sectional)</strong></p> <p>These two have been on a collision course all tournament long.  Oswego East will play in its hometown.  [player_tooltip player_id="999561" first="Patrick" last="Robinson"] (UMSL) and top 20 junior [player_tooltip player_id="1215289" first="Mekhi" last="Lowery"] bring versatility on the perimeter for Oswego East.  Bolingbrook has so much depth.  [player_tooltip player_id="989271" first="Mekhi" last="Cooper"] can really shoot it at the point.  Inside [player_tooltip player_id="1210405" first="Michael" last="Osei-Bonsu"] and [player_tooltip player_id="939035" first="Donaven" last="Younger"] should have the advantage.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Kenwood vs St. Rita (Thornwood Sectional)</strong></p> <p>Without question two of the most talented teams in the state when it comes to high major prospects!  Kenwood features prospects ranked in the top 10 in their class [player_tooltip player_id="1210369" first="Trey" last="Pettigrew"], [player_tooltip player_id="939050" first="Darrin" last="Ames"], [player_tooltip player_id="939069" first="Davius" last="Loury"], and [player_tooltip player_id="1385293" first="Bryce" last="Heard"].  St. Rita counters with three potential players at the top of their class in [player_tooltip player_id="1157228" first="James" last="Brown"], [player_tooltip player_id="1157230" first="Morez" last="Johnson"], and [player_tooltip player_id="1385285" first="Melvin" last="Bell"].  The x-factors could be which shooting guard hits the big shot between [player_tooltip player_id="1276139" first="Darius" last="Robinson"] and [player_tooltip player_id="994687" first="Kaiden" last="Space"].</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Whitney Young vs Lyons (Proviso West Sectional)</strong></p> <p>Most thought this would be a CPS title rematch, but Lyons pulled off the upset over Curie to advance to the sectional title game.  LT has one of the most dynamic ball handlers in the senior class in Akron signee [player_tooltip player_id="1048712" first="Tavari" last="Johnson"].  He has plenty of shooters to get it to in [player_tooltip player_id="1055140" first="Billy" last="Bach"], [player_tooltip player_id="1048375" first="Nik" last="Polonowski"], and [player_tooltip player_id="1048328" first="Jackson" last="Niego"].  Whitney Young has a significant advantage up front in this game with top 10 duo Miami signee [player_tooltip player_id="771516" first="AJ" last="Casey"] and Northern Illinois commit [player_tooltip player_id="863585" first="Xavier" last="Amos"].  The Dolphins also have strong perimeter pop of their own in junior trio [player_tooltip player_id="939057" first="Dalen" last="Davis"], [player_tooltip player_id="939072" first="Marcus" last="Pigram"], and [player_tooltip player_id="1048324" first="Daniel" last="Johnson"].</p>