Sectional Semis: Wednesday Notebook

Wednesday night featured the second half of sectional semis from across the state of Illinois.  There were upsets, buzzer beaters, and more!  Read about some of the top games and performances in Sectional Semis: Wednesday Notebook!

4A

Hinsdale Central defeats Lyons Township 46-40

We caught most of this game.  Lyons controlled the first quarter and really the first half leading 27-18 heading into the third quarter.  On their home floor in the second half Hinsdale Central absolutely put the clamps down defensively along with a big showing from their star Ben Oosterbaan Ben Oosterbaan 6'6" | PF Hinsdale Central | 2023 State IL winning 46-40.  Oosterbaan had 19 points displaying a versatile and skilled game as a face up four.  Headed to Michigan as a baseball commit.  Penn commit Nik Polonowski Nik Polonowski 6'6" | SF Lyons | 2023 State IL matched his fellow star shot for shot as he went for 20 points using his strength and three point shooting in his final high school game.

Brother Rice defeats St. Rita 72-65

This one was at St. Rita with a tremendous atmosphere.  It was tight midway through the fourth quarter where Brother Rice made the key plays late getting to the foul line to win.  Niagara signee Ahmad Henderson Ahmad Henderson 5'10" | PG Brother Rice | 2023 State #291 Nation IL does what he does.  Steps up in primetime matchups as the scoring lead guard had 35 points in the win.  He had 30 in the second half.  Khalil Ross Khalil Ross 6'6" | SF Brother Rice | 2023 State IL had 13 points in the win.

Glenbrook North defeats Rolling Meadows 59-58

This one came down to the wire.  Minnesota commit Cameron Christie Cameron Christie 6'4" | SG Rolling Meadows | 2023 State #76 Nation IL got fouled and hit a pair of free throws to give Rolling Meadows the lead.  Glenbrook North came back the other way and out of a timeout got a back cut for a layup to Northwestern football signee Pat Schaller Pat Schaller 6'6" | SF Glenbrook North | 2024 State IL .  Christie had a shot at the buzzer missing a tough three.

Prospect defeats Stevenson 46-44

Per Matt Now (@mattjnow) Stevenson took on a bucket from David Sulnius David Sulnius 6'5" | SF Stevenson | 2023 State IL with 7 seconds left.  Then Ben Schneider hit a walk off triple for the win for Prospect.  Alex Georgakas was the leading scorer with 18 points.

Oswego East defeats Bolingbrook 62-61

This was destined to be a classic.  It was!  The game went to overtime where Jehvion Starwood Jehvion Starwood 6'3" | SG Oswego East | 2024 State IL drained a deep three with seconds left to give his Oswego East squad the win.  They move on to face Joliet West Friday.

3A

Mt. Carmel defeats Hyde Park 70-51

This was the headliner in 3A on Wednesday night. Three stud 2024s on the floor and it was Mt. Carmel’s Angelo Ciaravino Angelo Ciaravino 6'6" | SF Mt. Carmel | 2024 State IL who shined with 26 points and 13 rebounds.  Denver signee DeAndre Craig DeAndre Craig 5'11" | PG Mt. Carmel | 2023 State IL had 22 points. The other two star juniors also had solid games as Mt. Carmel’s Lee Marks Lee Marks 6'5" | SF Mt. Carmel | 2024 State IL posted 13 points while Jurrell Baldwin Jurrell Baldwin 6'5" | SF Hyde Park | 2024 State IL had 19 points.

Lemont defeats Marian Catholic 39-37

This was another one we thought would be close and indeed it was.  Lemont won it right at the end as Matas Castillo Matas Castillo 5'11" | PG Lemont | 2023 State IL led Marian Catholic with 13 points while Cal Poly signee Quentin Jones Quentin Jones 6'5" | SG Marian Catholic | 2023 State IL had 14 points for Marian Catholic.

St. Ignatius defeats Westinghouse 77-58

The bracket opened up even more and Iggy is primed to take advantage of it playing well in the state tournament again blowing out Westinghouse on Wednesday night.  George Mason commit Richard Barron Richard Barron 6'5" | SF St. Ignatius | 2023 State IL , top 5 sophomore Phoenix Gill Phoenix Gill 6'2" | SG St. Ignatius | 2025 State IL , and Owen Kyhl each had 19 points in the victory.

Sacred Heart Griffin defeats Normal West 80-57

The defending state champs keep moving on with win after win with their eyes on Champaign again!

Metamora defeats Sterling 72-60

The state runners up from last year continue to roll.  They were impressive getting 24 points from Tyson Swanson Tyson Swanson 6'2" | SG Metamora | 2023 State IL and 23 points courtesy of Drew Tucker.  JP Schilling JP Schilling 6'0" | PG Sterling | 2023 State IL is a sleeper senior for Sterling who netted 32 points.

Triad defeats Mt. Vernon 51-34

One of the more underrated teams from the metro east this year has been Triad.  They won big over Mt. Vernon getting a huge night from emerging 2025 wing Drew Winslow Drew Winslow 6'5" | SF Triad | 2025 State IL who had 20 points.

2A

DePaul Prep defeats Michelle Clark 62-42

The Rams are healthy and looking like a team that can make it to Champaign as they won by 20 points against a tough CPS team in Michelle Clark.  Payton Kamin Payton Kamin 6'8" | SG Worcester Academy | 2025 NLG led the way with 28 points.  His fellow D1 junior Jaylan McElroy Jaylan McElroy 6'7" | PF DePaul Prep | 2024 State IL had 11 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 blocks.  Floor general Makai Kvamme Makai Kvamme 6'0" | PG DePaul Prep | 2025 State IL had 6 points and 10 dimes.

Breese Central defeats Carterville 56-33

Quite an impressive showing for Breese Central in this one winning by 23 points including getting 18 points from Cody Dickshot.  Sleeper junior Mason Shubert Mason Shubert 6'2" | SG Breese Central | 2024 State IL had 8 points.

Bloomington Central Catholic defeats Pleasant Plains 33-31

The top uncommitted junior in Illinois Cole Certa Cole Certa 6'4" | SG Bloomington Central Catholic | 2024 #127 Nation FL helps his team advance in a low scoring game.

1A

Mounds Meridian defeats Wayne City 67-66

Roderic Gatewood Roderic Gatewood 5'9" | PG Meridian | 2023 State IL is one of the best scorers in the state.  Stocky guard that plays much taller than his height and is a flat out bucket did it at the buzzer calling game on a buzzer beater 3 while falling out of bounds per our buddy Darren Kinnard.