3A Sectional Finals Preview and Storylines

The Sectional Finals are coming up on Friday across the state of Illinois.  Here we preview each game along with 5 key storylines in 3A!   Top Part of Bracket   St. Ignatius vs Fenwick (De La Salle Sectional)   St. Ignatius is clicking at the right time again.  They still have some injured player who aren't coming back, but if [player_tooltip player_id='989270' first='Richard' last='Barron'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1385292' first='Phoenix' last='Gill'] keep bringing it they can make it to Champaign as they have blown out first three opponents.  Fenwick upset De La Salle on their home floor.  Led by [player_tooltip player_id='1598740' first='Darshan' last='Thomas'] Fenwick has quite a few quality prospects, but we thought they were a year away with most being sophomores and juniors.  Maybe not!   Lake Forest vs Grayslake Central (Grayslake Central Sectional)   One of the top seniors in the field has his squad in prime position to make a run as Clemson commit [player_tooltip player_id='989263' first='Asa' last='Thomas'] can carry his team.  Tricky one here having to go to Grayslake Central.   Hillcrest vs Lemont (Hillcrest Sectional)   Hillcrest and Lemont are two of the best this season from the south suburbs.  Stars all over the floor including seniors [player_tooltip player_id='939051' first='Darrion' last='Baker'], [player_tooltip player_id='1279762' first='Matas' last='Castillo'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1215313' first='Rokas' last='Castillo'].  Hillcrest hasn't really been tested yet winning all three by blowouts to this point.  This will be their first real test.  Lemont on the other hand has won each of their last two by a bucket each so they are battle tested.  Should be a fun one!   Simeon vs Mt. Carmel (Glenbard South Sectional)   Two of the best teams in the Chicagoland area meet up in the sectional final.  One from the Public League and the other from the Catholic League.  Simeon is led by seniors all over the floor including recent Jacksonville commit [player_tooltip player_id='939059' first='Jalen' last='Griffith'] at the point.  He will matchup with Denver signee [player_tooltip player_id='989268' first='DeAndre' last='Craig'] in a clash of two of the best floor generals in the senior class.  The length and athleticism from the forward spot will be key as Simeon has [player_tooltip player_id='1048306' first='Miles' last='Rubin'], [player_tooltip player_id='1048305' first='Wesley' last='Rubin'], and [player_tooltip player_id='939068' first='Sam' last='Lewis'].  Mt. Carmel counters with their 2024 top 20 duo of [player_tooltip player_id='1285492' first='Lee' last='Marks'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1373436' first='Angelo' last='Ciaravino'].   Bottom Part of Bracket   Burlington Central vs Marmion Academy (Burlington Central Sectional)   Marmion Academy has a talented squad led by [player_tooltip player_id='1371086' first='Anthony' last='Jabe Haith'] who is a Lewis commit.  They won at the buzzer to send them into the sectional final.  Burlington Central has been impressive to date behind their star Belmont signee [player_tooltip player_id='1476085' first='Drew' last='Scharnowski'] including scoring a 65-33 win over Rockford Boylan.   Peoria Richwoods vs Metamora (Galesburg Sectional)   Metamora scored a tight win over an upset minded Sterling team in the sectional semis only winning 72-70.  [player_tooltip player_id='1371068' first='Tyson' last='Swanson'] and Drew Tucker are leading them right now.  South Alabama commit [player_tooltip player_id='939065' first='Ethan' last='Kizer'] is going to need to be a bigger factor in this one.  We have seen Richwoods twice this post season and they have the balance to give Metamora a game here especially if star Artavious Smith is clicking.   East St. Louis vs Triad (Centralia Sectional)   ESL was impressive knocking off Centralia rather easily on the road in the semis 53-39.  They have the most talent of any metro east team with Kansas State commit [player_tooltip player_id='939073' first='Macaleab' last='Rich'] and Cal State Fullerton signee [player_tooltip player_id='1537979' first='Antwan' last='Robinson'] in addition to a ton of other college prospects.  Triad has quietly had a very impressive season.  2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1766468' first='Drew' last='Winslow'] is emerging as a legit scoring wing and they have a senior who can take over in [player_tooltip player_id='1055130' first='McGrady' last='Noyes'].   Sacred Heart Griffin vs Decatur MacArthur (Decatur Macarthur Sectional)   This one might be the most intriguing game on the board.  SHG is the defending state champs with everyone back including stars [player_tooltip player_id='1113521' first='Zack' last='Hawkinson'] and Quincy commit [player_tooltip player_id='989267' first='Jake' last='Hamilton'].  They haven't been tested yet.  Expect that to change Friday.  We loved what we saw out of MacArthur in our viewings of them this season led by inside/outside senior duo [player_tooltip player_id='1743970' first='Makhi' last='Wright'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1744053' first='Azarion' last='Richardson'].  MacArthur lost both matchups this season.  As the old saying goes it is hard to beat a good team 3 times in a season.   Key Storylines   4 Hosts in Sectional Finals   Half of the 3A field will have home games on Friday night.  Hillcrest and Burlington Central come in as the favorites in their games.  Decatur MacArthur and Grayslake Central could get major boosts playing on their home floors in front of their fans.  Never underestimate how much this matters in March!   Path Opens for St. Ignatius   Déjà vu?  Just like last year St. Ignatius had the easiest path in 3A.  It got a little easier not having to play top seeded De La Salle on their home floor in the sectional final.  Fenwick is a tough CCL team that is well coached.  Iggy has stars and after another up and down season sees they have a path the next two games to realistically make it back to Champaign.   Can Simeon Keep Rolling?   Without question Simeon is the story in 3A.  Robert Smith's last season at the helm with a team that has five D1 seniors.  They will get a massive test against Mt. Carmel in the sectional final on a neutral site away from the city for both teams.  Mt. Carmel has the size and athleticism to match up some with the Wolverines frontline.   Strong Group of State Contenders from Central and Southern Illinois   Unlike in the 4A field the 3A sweet 16 features many more teams from central and southern Illinois with real shots to win a state championship.  They include East St. Louis, Metamora, Sacred Heart Griffin, and don't count out Decatur MacArthur.   Top Prospects Remaining   Lake Forest star [player_tooltip player_id='989263' first='Asa' last='Thomas'] is the headliner as the Clemson commit checks in at #5 in the senior class.  Simeon has it's five D1 seniors in [player_tooltip player_id='1048306' first='Miles' last='Rubin'] (Loyola), [player_tooltip player_id='1048305' first='Wesley' last='Rubin'] (Northern Iowa), [player_tooltip player_id='939059' first='Jalen' last='Griffith'] (Jacksonville), [player_tooltip player_id='939068' first='Sam' last='Lewis'] (Toledo), and [player_tooltip player_id='994687' first='Kaiden' last='Space'] (Stony Brook).  East St. Louis' [player_tooltip player_id='939073' first='Macaleab' last='Rich'] (Kansas State), Hillcrest's [player_tooltip player_id='939051' first='Darrion' last='Baker'] (Akron), Mt. Carmel's [player_tooltip player_id='989268' first='DeAndre' last='Craig'] (Denver), St. Ignatius' [player_tooltip player_id='989270' first='Richard' last='Barron'] (George Mason), and Burlington Central's [player_tooltip player_id='1476085' first='Drew' last='Scharnowski'] (Belmont) are all inside the top 25 of 2023.  Mt. Carmel's top 20 2024 forward duo of [player_tooltip player_id='1373436' first='Angelo' last='Ciaravino'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1285492' first='Lee' last='Marks'] are the clear top juniors to track.  St. Ignatius' top 5 sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1385292' first='Phoenix' last='Gill'] headlines the 2025 class.

The Sectional Finals are coming up on Friday across the state of Illinois. Here we preview each game along with 5 key storylines in 3A!