25 Most Intriguing Regional Final Matchups

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are outstanding games all across the state on Friday night as it is regional final action!&nbsp; Here we dive into the ones we look at as the most best in <strong>25 Most Intriguing Regional Final Matchups</strong>!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><u>4A</u></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Glenbrook North vs Lane Tech (Lane Tech Regional)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This game will be played at Lane Tech.&nbsp; Glenbrook North has strong guard play led by [player_tooltip player_id='1965004' first='Sam' last='Lappin'].&nbsp; Lane Tech counters with highly ranked duo [player_tooltip player_id='1373439' first='Shaheed' last='Solebo'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1545128' first='Dalton' last='Scantlebury'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Whitney Young vs Lincoln Park (Whitney Young Regional)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Chicago Public League battle in round 2!&nbsp; Whitney Young will host Lincoln Park with a young squad led by [player_tooltip player_id='1385300' first='Antonio' last='Munoz'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1552475' first='Marquis' last='Clark'].&nbsp; Lincoln Park was an upset king early in the season with [player_tooltip player_id='2105222' first='Chayse' last='Turner'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dekalb vs Rockford Auburn (Dekalb Regional)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another game with a host squad as Dekalb will play on their home floor with [player_tooltip player_id='2105355' first='Davon' last='Grant'] and sharp shooter [player_tooltip player_id='1545123' first='Sean' last='Reynolds'].&nbsp; Auburn is stacked with a young core led by [player_tooltip player_id='1845353' first='Amir' last='Danforth'] along with senior [player_tooltip player_id='1874864' first='Rakim' last='Chaney'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Moline vs Bradley Bourbonnais (Bradley Bourbonnais Regional)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These two met last year in the playoffs on Moline's road to a state title.&nbsp; This year it is Bourbonnais who comes in as the favorite with star [player_tooltip player_id='1545117' first='Nick' last='Allen'] up front, but Moline is such a well coached team and plays a lot of guys they could speed the game up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Quincy vs O'Fallon (Edwardsville Regional)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Quincy survived by the slimmest of margins in the first round.&nbsp; Now they get O'Fallon who will look to get revenge from their semi loss over the holiday's at Collinsville.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Riverside Brookfield vs Simeon (Hinsdale Central Regional)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>RB sees a path if they can win this game to get on their home floor for the sectional.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='1285519' first='Stefan' last='Cicic'] is a massive presence inside that should give RB an advantage.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='1750596' first='RJ' last='McKinnie'] has a tendency to step up in these types of games for Simeon.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rich Township vs Joliet West (Lincoln Way West Regional)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A ton of talent in this game!&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='1845352' first='Jamson' last='Coulter'] is one of the best sophomores in the state while [player_tooltip player_id='1373437' first='Justus' last='McNair'] is headed to Valpo as a big time senior wing.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>New Trier vs OPRF (OPRF Regional)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oak Park pulled off one upset in the region of mystery.&nbsp; Could New Trier be up next?&nbsp; OPRF is the most talented 12 seed I can remember with an array of college prospects led by [player_tooltip player_id='1194776' first='Max' last='Johnson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1545121' first='Justin' last='Bowen'].&nbsp; New Trier has sharp shooters all over the floor and [player_tooltip player_id='1554516' first='Christopher' last='Kirkpatrick'] running the show.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Benet vs Oswego East (Oswego East Regional)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is a trap game for Benet.&nbsp; The young team will have to go on the road to play a talented Oswego East squad with D1 prospects [player_tooltip player_id='1157349' first='Jehvion' last='Starwood'] (Denver) and sophomore Mason Lockett.&nbsp; Benet has the size advantage across the board with [player_tooltip player_id='1552393' first='Gabriel' last='Sularski'], [player_tooltip player_id='2105376' first='Colin' last='Stack'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1598682' first='Daniel' last='Pauliukonis'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bolingbrook vs West Aurora (Yorkville Regional)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bolingbrook is stacked with talent led by [player_tooltip player_id='1385301' first='JT' last='Pettigrew'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2323624' first='Davion' last='Thompson'].&nbsp; They will get a test in the second round with West Aurora boasting a ton of ranked prospects in [player_tooltip player_id='1545116' first='Terrence' last='Smith'], [player_tooltip player_id='1285522' first='CJ' last='Savage'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1295535' first='Jordan' last='Brooks'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Downers Grove North vs Neuqua Valley (Downers Grove North Regional)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DGN is looking to get back to Champaign led by Princeton commit and elite scorer [player_tooltip player_id='1285524' first='Jack' last='Stanton'].&nbsp; Neuqua Valley has the talent to give them a test in this regional final game with [player_tooltip player_id='1285497' first='Luke' last='Kinkade'] leading the way!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><u>3A</u></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Morton vs Richwoods (Limestone Regional)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the toughest regional finals across the state.&nbsp; Could easily be a sectional final.&nbsp; Richwoods has the edge up front with Rutgers commit [player_tooltip player_id='1157232' first='Lathan' last='Sommerville'].&nbsp; Will be a fun guards battle with Richwoods' [player_tooltip player_id='1978599' first='Tavie' last='Smith'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2104980' first='Jared' last='Jackson'] going against Morton's [player_tooltip player_id='1232827' first='Wes' last='Gudeman'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1750614' first='Gus' last='Rugaard']!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>St. Laurence vs Lindblom (St. Laurence Regional)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pair of top 15 prospects and D1 commits will square off as St. Laurence's [player_tooltip player_id='1157226' first='Josh' last='Pickett'] will lead his team vs [player_tooltip player_id='1750599' first='Je'Shawn' last='Stevenson'] (Cleveland State) and Lindbloom.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Marian Catholic vs Lemont (Marian Catholic Regional)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marian Catholic has the edge inside with [player_tooltip player_id='1157221' first='James' last='Bullock'] along with sharp shooter [player_tooltip player_id='2321398' first='Zack' last='Sharkey'], but don't count out Lemont in this game.&nbsp; They have shooters all over the floor and a veteran leader in [player_tooltip player_id='1428948' first='Ryan' last='Runaas'] at the point.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Decatur MacArthur vs Champaign Centennial (Decatur Eisenhower Regional)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>MacArthur has the ability to go deep in this field, but will get a test especially if [player_tooltip player_id='1552478' first='Jadin' last='Schilb'] gets it going on the perimeter with his feathery jumper.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Metamora vs Peoria (Geneseo Regional)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Metamora shouldn't have much issue here given their depth, but Peoria boast an emerging potential D1 guy in [player_tooltip player_id='1766506' first='Leshawn' last='Stowers'].&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='1157231' first='Cooper' last='Koch'], [player_tooltip player_id='1545146' first='Matthew' last='Zobrist'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1750712' first='Tyler' last='Mason'] should be enough to advance, but worth checking on the score.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sacred Heart Griffin vs Springfield Lanphier (Lanphier Regional)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Battle of Springield here!&nbsp; SHG pulled off an upset over Lincoln and now is looking to take down Lanphier.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='2376273' first='Zion' last='Lee'] is an emerging 2026 for SGH while Lanphier has a standout junior duo of [player_tooltip player_id='1545135' first='Shaunassey' last='Hatchett'] and Jaiquan Holman.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kankakee vs Pontiac (Streator Regional)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kankakee is primed to make a run in this tournament.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='2105360' first='Lincoln' last='Williams'] is an emerging star for them in the sophomore class.&nbsp; Pontiac is dangerous though especially with sharp shooter [player_tooltip player_id='2318128' first='Riley' last='Weber'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Wheaton St. Francis vs Hyde Park (Wheaton St. Francis Regional)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While many might be looking ahead to a Hyde Park/Mt. Carmel matchup be careful with this Wheaton St. Francis squad.&nbsp; They have one of the best shooting point guards in the state in [player_tooltip player_id='1285489' first='Kelton' last='McEwen'] and are playing on their home floor.&nbsp; Hyde Park will counter with physical and athletic duo [player_tooltip player_id='1373451' first='Jurrell' last='Baldwin'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1598709' first='Germaine' last='Benson'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><u>2A</u></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Breese Central vs Pinckneyville (Breese Central Regional)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Breese Central is the top ranked team in the 2A field.&nbsp; They got past a scare of Nashville.&nbsp; Next up is Pinckneyville who boast just as many if not more college prospects led by [player_tooltip player_id='2321427' first='AJ' last='Keith'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hansberry vs Johnson College Prep (South Shore International Regional)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Want star power in 2A?&nbsp; This is the fourth matchup as Hansberry will meet Johnson prep with [player_tooltip player_id='1766460' first='Al' last='Brooks'] Jr facing off against [player_tooltip player_id='2321397' first='TJ' last='Seals'] once again as two of the biggest stat sheet stuffers in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>El Paso Gridley vs Peoria Notre Dame (Peoria Notre Dame Regional)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>EPG got a narrow win in the semis.&nbsp; Now they have an even bigger test in PND.&nbsp; Each boasts one of the bests skilled and athletic posts in the state with Belmont commit [player_tooltip player_id='1373440' first='Eoin' last='Dillon'] for Peoria Notre Dame and junior [player_tooltip player_id='1576619' first='Jonah' last='Funk'] for El Paso Gridley.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Benton vs Carterville (West Frankfort Regional)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Benton comes in as a team looking to get to Champaign.&nbsp; They are led by [player_tooltip player_id='1545126' first='Docker' last='Tedeschi'] who is a skilled pick and pop four.&nbsp; Carterville is rolling after a game winner from [player_tooltip player_id='1545140' first='Drew' last='Barrington'] in the last game with others stepping up like sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2323319' first='Colton' last='Hawkins'].&nbsp; There is also some bad blood here which will spice it up even more!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Beecher vs Joliet Catholic Academy (Westmont Regional)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Beecher looks to remain the only undefeated team in the state.&nbsp; JCA has had some impressive outings early in this tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rockford Christian vs Rockford Lutheran (Winnebago Regional)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I watched this game in the regular season the last two years and both were instant classics!&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='1553123' first='Christian' last='Cummings'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2319792' first='Elijah' last='Daugherty'] form a dynamic backcourt for Rockford Christian while Lutheran counters with physically imposing wing [player_tooltip player_id='1541240' first='Vontez' last='Dent'] and smooth guard [player_tooltip player_id='2245711' first='Marquis' last='Haynes'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->