10 Best: Wednesday Sectional Semi Preview

Wednesday night will be the second evening of sectional semis across the state of Illinois.  Here we look at the top ones to see in 10 Best: Wednesday Sectional Semi Preview!

4A

Bolingbrook vs Oswego East (Bolingbrook Sectional)

This could easily be a super sectional and you wouldn’t think twice.  Bolingbrook has the home floor advantage along with a ton of senior depth led by Miami (OH) commit Mekhi Cooper Mekhi Cooper 6'1" | PG Bolingbrook | 2023 State IL , Donavan Younger, and Aries Hull Aries Hull 6'8" | C Bolingbrook | 2023 State IL .  Towson commit Mekhi Lowery Mekhi Lowery 6'5" | SF Oswego East | 2023 State IL is one of the most versatile players in the state.  He is their star, but they have six legit college players including senior point guard Bryce Shoto Bryce Shoto 5'4" | PG Oswego East | 2023 State IL and potential D1 junior Jehvion Starwood Jehvion Starwood 6'3" | SG Oswego East | 2024 State IL .  Oswego East won the first matchup 55-53.  Could come down to who wins the Mekhi vs Mekhi duel!

St. Rita vs Brother Rice (St. Rita Sectional)

Another Chicago Catholic League matchup here!  St. Rita won the conference title behind a 12-1 record with one of it’s biggest wins coming against Brother Rice 57-51 in December.  St. Rita is pushed by the star 2024 trio of Morez Johnson Morez Johnson 6'9" | PF Thornton | 2024 State #35 Nation IL (Illini), James Brown James Brown 6'9" | C St. Rita | 2024 #21 Nation MO (UNC), and Nojus Indrusaitis Nojus Indrusaitis 6'4" | SF St. Laurence | 2024 State #57 Nation IL (Iowa State).  Brother Rice has Niagara commit Ahmad Henderson Ahmad Henderson 5'10" | PG Brother Rice | 2023 State #291 Nation IL who is known for coming up big in big games!  Zavier Fitch Zavier Fitch 6'7" | PF Brother Rice | 2024 State IL is a talented junior that will need to provide size up front against the St. Rita twin towers.

Hinsdale Central vs Lyons (Hinsdale Central Sectional)

Hinsdale Central comes in at 30-3 with a stellar season to date led by Michigan baseball commit Ben Oosterbaan who is a skilled four that is their go to player.  It is hard to beat a team three times and Hinsdale Central will try to do just that as they one the first by seven and second by two.  Lyons has the star power to win this kind of game with Penn commit Nik Polonoski who can go off and carry them.  The top 20 senior is a three level scorer.

Glenbrook North vs Rolling Meadows (New Trier Sectional)

Rolling Meadows has a path to make it to Champaign for sure.  This will be a tricky game that they can’t look ahead to potentially New Trier.  Minnesota signee Cameron Christie Cameron Christie 6'4" | SG Rolling Meadows | 2023 State #76 Nation IL along with their ton of depth led by D2 sleeper Mark Nikolich-Wilson Mark Nikolich-Wilson 6'7" | C Rolling Meadows | 2023 State IL have the talent to make a long run.  Glenbrook North knocked off Rolling Meadows on February 7 57-54.  Christie’s running mate with the Illinois Wolves Ryan Cohen Ryan Cohen 6'3" | SG Glenbrook North | 2023 State IL will need to hit shots in bunches to repeat that!

3A

Lemont vs Marian Catholic (Hillcrest Sectional)

Rokas Castillo Rokas Castillo 5'11" | PG Lemont | 2023 State IL and Matas Castillo Matas Castillo 5'11" | PG Lemont | 2023 State IL are primed to put Lemont on their back to another deep run in the tournament.  Marian Catholic presents a tough test with their defense and star power of Cal Poly commit Quentin Jones Quentin Jones 6'5" | SG Marian Catholic | 2023 State IL who can will his team at any time.  X-factor will be the guard play of Donovan Juzang Donovan Juzang 6'3" | SG Marian Catholic | 2023 State IL and Tre Davis Tre Davis 5'10" | PG Marian Catholic | 2023 State IL on both ends for Marian Catholic.

Mt. Carmel vs Hyde Park (Glenbard South Sectional)

These two schools can be seen from each other.  Literally.  That’s how close they are distance wise.  Then they play this one all the way out in Glenbard.  Should be a fun game as they didn’t play in the regular season.  Mt. Carmel has Denver signee and CCL player of the year DeAndre Craig DeAndre Craig 5'11" | PG Mt. Carmel | 2023 State IL along with two stellar junior forwards in Angelo Ciaravino Angelo Ciaravino 6'6" | SF Mt. Carmel | 2024 State IL and Lee Marks Lee Marks 6'5" | SF Mt. Carmel | 2024 State IL .  Hyde Park counters with one of the other best junior forwards in the class in explosive two way wing Jurrell Baldwin Jurrell Baldwin 6'5" | SF Hyde Park | 2024 State IL .  Tons of guards as well including Camron Williford Camron Williford 6'0" | PG Hyde Park | 2023 State IL who is a sleeper unsigned senior.

Burlington Central vs Rockford Boylan (Burlington Central Sectional)

Burlington Central has the homecourt advantage and the best player on the floor in Drew Scharnowski Drew Scharnowski 6'7" | PF Burlington Central | 2023 State IL who is off to a big start in the tournament with his play in the last 3 quarters of action from regional play.

2A

Breese Central vs Carterville (Pinckneyville Sectional)

Carterville was one of our major sleepers in the 2A field as we love their 1-2 punch of Caden Hawkins Caden Hawkins 5'11" | PG Carterville | 2023 State IL and Kade Lustenberger Kade Lustenberger 6'5" | SF Carterville | 2023 State IL .  Breese Central comes in with a lot of momentum carrying a 27-4 record pushed by junior Mason Shubert Mason Shubert 6'2" | SG Breese Central | 2024 State IL .

DePaul Prep vs Clark (Christ the King Sectional)

Two of the better 2A squads from northern Illinois.  DePaul Prep was hit with injuries but now that they have Payton Kamin Payton Kamin 6'8" | SG Worcester Academy | 2025 NLG and Jaylan McElroy Jaylan McElroy 6'7" | PF DePaul Prep | 2024 State IL back they are primed to make a potential run back downstate.

Bloomington Central Catholic vs Pleasant Plains (Pleasant Plains Sectional)

Best player in the 2A field in junior Cole Certa Cole Certa 6'4" | SG Bloomington Central Catholic | 2024 #127 Nation FL has to go on the road to an always tough Pleasant Plains squad to move on!