25 Most Intriguing Regional Final Matchups
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There are outstanding games all across the state on Friday night as it is regional final action! Here we dive into the ones we look at as the most best in 25 Most Intriguing Regional Final Matchups! 4A Glenbrook North…
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Continue ReadingThere are outstanding games all across the state on Friday night as it is regional final action! Here we dive into the ones we look at as the most best in 25 Most Intriguing Regional Final Matchups!
4A
Glenbrook North vs Lane Tech (Lane Tech Regional)
This game will be played at Lane Tech. Glenbrook North has strong guard play led by Sam Lappin Sam Lappin 5'10" | PG Glenbrook North | 2024 State IL . Lane Tech counters with highly ranked duo Shaheed Solebo Shaheed Solebo 6'4" | SF Lane Tech | 2024 State IL and Dalton Scantlebury Dalton Scantlebury 6'8" | PF Lane Tech | 2025 State IL .
Whitney Young vs Lincoln Park (Whitney Young Regional)
Chicago Public League battle in round 2! Whitney Young will host Lincoln Park with a young squad led by Antonio Munoz Antonio Munoz 6'6" | SF Whitney Young | 2025 State #194 Nation IL and Marquis Clark Marquis Clark 6'2" | PG Whitney Young | 2026 State IL . Lincoln Park was an upset king early in the season with Chayse Turner Chayse Turner 6'4" | SF Lincoln Park | 2025 State IL .
Dekalb vs Rockford Auburn (Dekalb Regional)
Another game with a host squad as Dekalb will play on their home floor with Davon Grant Davon Grant 6'5" | SF Dekalb | 2026 State IL and sharp shooter Sean Reynolds Sean Reynolds 6'1" | SG Dekalb | 2025 State IL . Auburn is stacked with a young core led by Amir Danforth Amir Danforth 6'1" | SG Rockford Auburn | 2026 State IL along with senior Rakim Chaney Rakim Chaney 6'2" | SG Rockford Auburn | 2024 State IL .
Moline vs Bradley Bourbonnais (Bradley Bourbonnais Regional)
These two met last year in the playoffs on Moline’s road to a state title. This year it is Bourbonnais who comes in as the favorite with star Nick Allen Nick Allen 6'9" | C Bradley Bourbonnais | 2025 State IL up front, but Moline is such a well coached team and plays a lot of guys they could speed the game up.
Quincy vs O’Fallon (Edwardsville Regional)
Quincy survived by the slimmest of margins in the first round. Now they get O’Fallon who will look to get revenge from their semi loss over the holiday’s at Collinsville.
Riverside Brookfield vs Simeon (Hinsdale Central Regional)
RB sees a path if they can win this game to get on their home floor for the sectional. Stefan Cicic Stefan Cicic 7'0" | C Riverside Brookfield | 2024 State IL is a massive presence inside that should give RB an advantage. RJ McKinnie RJ McKinnie 6'2" | SG Simeon | 2024 State IL has a tendency to step up in these types of games for Simeon.
Rich Township vs Joliet West (Lincoln Way West Regional)
A ton of talent in this game! Jamson Coulter Jamson Coulter 6'2" | SG Rich Township | 2026 State IL is one of the best sophomores in the state while Justus McNair Justus McNair 6'3" | SG Joliet West | 2024 State IL is headed to Valpo as a big time senior wing.
New Trier vs OPRF (OPRF Regional)
Oak Park pulled off one upset in the region of mystery. Could New Trier be up next? OPRF is the most talented 12 seed I can remember with an array of college prospects led by Max Johnson Max Johnson 5'10" | PG Oak Park River Forest | 2024 State IL and Justin Bowen Justin Bowen 6'5" | SF Lincoln Park | 2025 State IL . New Trier has sharp shooters all over the floor and Christopher Kirkpatrick Christopher Kirkpatrick 6'3" | PG New Trier | 2026 State IL running the show.
Benet vs Oswego East (Oswego East Regional)
This is a trap game for Benet. The young team will have to go on the road to play a talented Oswego East squad with D1 prospects Jehvion Starwood Jehvion Starwood 6'3" | SG Oswego East | 2024 State #269 Nation IL (Denver) and sophomore Mason Lockett. Benet has the size advantage across the board with Gabriel Sularski Gabriel Sularski 6'6" | SF Lemont | 2026 State IL , Colin Stack Colin Stack 6'9" | C Benet | 2026 State IL , and Daniel Pauliukonis Daniel Pauliukonis 6'8" | SF Benet | 2025 State IL .
Bolingbrook vs West Aurora (Yorkville Regional)
Bolingbrook is stacked with talent led by JT Pettigrew JT Pettigrew 6'8" | C Bolingbrook | 2025 State IL and Davion Thompson Davion Thompson 6'2" | SG Bolingbrook | 2027 IL . They will get a test in the second round with West Aurora boasting a ton of ranked prospects in Terrence Smith Terrence Smith 6'5" | SF West Aurora | 2025 State #299 Nation IL , CJ Savage CJ Savage 5'10" | PG West Aurora | 2024 State IL , and Jordan Brooks Jordan Brooks 6'2" | SG West Aurora | 2024 State IL .
Downers Grove North vs Neuqua Valley (Downers Grove North Regional)
DGN is looking to get back to Champaign led by Princeton commit and elite scorer Jack Stanton Jack Stanton 6'2" | SG Downers Grove North | 2024 State #222 Nation IL . Neuqua Valley has the talent to give them a test in this regional final game with Luke Kinkade Luke Kinkade 6'3" | PG Neuqua Valley | 2024 State IL leading the way!
3A
Morton vs Richwoods (Limestone Regional)
One of the toughest regional finals across the state. Could easily be a sectional final. Richwoods has the edge up front with Rutgers commit Lathan Sommerville Lathan Sommerville 6'9" | C Richwoods | 2024 State #85 Nation IL . Will be a fun guards battle with Richwoods’ Tavie Smith Tavie Smith 6'1" | PG Peoria Richwoods | 2024 State IL and Jared Jackson Jared Jackson 6'3" | SG Peoria Richwoods | 2024 State IL going against Morton’s Wes Gudeman Wes Gudeman 6'3" | SF Morton | 2025 State IL and Gus Rugaard Gus Rugaard 6'0" | PG Morton | 2024 State IL !
St. Laurence vs Lindblom (St. Laurence Regional)
Pair of top 15 prospects and D1 commits will square off as St. Laurence’s Josh Pickett Josh Pickett 6'5" | SG St. Laurence | 2024 State #277 Nation IL will lead his team vs Je’Shawn Stevenson Je’Shawn Stevenson 6'3" | SG Lindblom | 2024 State IL (Cleveland State) and Lindbloom.
Marian Catholic vs Lemont (Marian Catholic Regional)
Marian Catholic has the edge inside with James Bullock James Bullock 6'7" | PF Marian Catholic | 2024 State IL along with sharp shooter Zack Sharkey Zack Sharkey 6'3" | SG Marian Catholic | 2025 State IL , but don’t count out Lemont in this game. They have shooters all over the floor and a veteran leader in Ryan Runaas Ryan Runaas 6'0" | PG Lemont | 2024 State IL at the point.
Decatur MacArthur vs Champaign Centennial (Decatur Eisenhower Regional)
MacArthur has the ability to go deep in this field, but will get a test especially if Jadin Schilb Jadin Schilb 6'5" | SG Champaign Centennial | 2026 State IL gets it going on the perimeter with his feathery jumper.
Metamora vs Peoria (Geneseo Regional)
Metamora shouldn’t have much issue here given their depth, but Peoria boast an emerging potential D1 guy in Leshawn Stowers Leshawn Stowers 6'4" | SF Peoria | 2025 State IL . Cooper Koch Cooper Koch 6'8" | PF Metamora | 2024 State #81 Nation IL , Matthew Zobrist Matthew Zobrist 6'5" | SG Metamora | 2025 State IL , and Tyler Mason Tyler Mason 6'2" | SG Metamora | 2024 State IL should be enough to advance, but worth checking on the score.
Sacred Heart Griffin vs Springfield Lanphier (Lanphier Regional)
Battle of Springield here! SHG pulled off an upset over Lincoln and now is looking to take down Lanphier. Zion Lee Zion Lee 6'4" | SG Sacred Heart Griffin | 2026 State IL is an emerging 2026 for SGH while Lanphier has a standout junior duo of Shaunassey Hatchett Shaunassey Hatchett 6'4" | SF Springfield Lanphier | 2025 State IL and Jaiquan Holman.
Kankakee vs Pontiac (Streator Regional)
Kankakee is primed to make a run in this tournament. Lincoln Williams Lincoln Williams 6'5" | SF Kankakee | 2026 State IL is an emerging star for them in the sophomore class. Pontiac is dangerous though especially with sharp shooter Riley Weber Riley Weber 6'4" | SF Pontiac | 2024 State IL .
Wheaton St. Francis vs Hyde Park (Wheaton St. Francis Regional)
While many might be looking ahead to a Hyde Park/Mt. Carmel matchup be careful with this Wheaton St. Francis squad. They have one of the best shooting point guards in the state in Kelton McEwen Kelton McEwen 6'2" | PG Wheaton St. Francis | 2024 State IL and are playing on their home floor. Hyde Park will counter with physical and athletic duo Jurrell Baldwin Jurrell Baldwin 6'6" | SF Hyde Park | 2024 State IL and Germaine Benson Germaine Benson 6'0" | PG Hyde Park | 2024 State IL .
2A
Breese Central vs Pinckneyville (Breese Central Regional)
Breese Central is the top ranked team in the 2A field. They got past a scare of Nashville. Next up is Pinckneyville who boast just as many if not more college prospects led by AJ Keith AJ Keith 6'4" | SG Pinckneyville | 2025 State IL .
Hansberry vs Johnson College Prep (South Shore International Regional)
Want star power in 2A? This is the fourth matchup as Hansberry will meet Johnson prep with Al Brooks Al Brooks 6'6" | SF Hansberry | 2025 State #239 Nation IL Jr facing off against TJ Seals TJ Seals 6'5" | SF Johnson Prep | 2025 State IL once again as two of the biggest stat sheet stuffers in the state.
El Paso Gridley vs Peoria Notre Dame (Peoria Notre Dame Regional)
EPG got a narrow win in the semis. Now they have an even bigger test in PND. Each boasts one of the bests skilled and athletic posts in the state with Belmont commit Eoin Dillon Eoin Dillon 6'8" | C Peoria Notre Dame | 2024 State #294 Nation IL for Peoria Notre Dame and junior Jonah Funk Jonah Funk 6'9" | C El Paso Gridley | 2025 State IL for El Paso Gridley.
Benton vs Carterville (West Frankfort Regional)
Benton comes in as a team looking to get to Champaign. They are led by Docker Tedeschi Docker Tedeschi 6'8" | PF Benton | 2025 State IL who is a skilled pick and pop four. Carterville is rolling after a game winner from Drew Barrington Drew Barrington 6'0" | PG Carterville | 2025 State IL in the last game with others stepping up like sophomore Colton Hawkins Colton Hawkins 6'2" | PG Carterville | 2026 State IL . There is also some bad blood here which will spice it up even more!
Beecher vs Joliet Catholic Academy (Westmont Regional)
Beecher looks to remain the only undefeated team in the state. JCA has had some impressive outings early in this tournament.
Rockford Christian vs Rockford Lutheran (Winnebago Regional)
I watched this game in the regular season the last two years and both were instant classics! Christian Cummings Christian Cummings 5'11" | PG Rockford Christian | 2025 State IL and Elijah Daugherty Elijah Daugherty 6'0" | PG Rockford Christian | 2025 State IL form a dynamic backcourt for Rockford Christian while Lutheran counters with physically imposing wing Vontez Dent Vontez Dent 6'4" | SF Rockford Lutheran | 2024 State IL and smooth guard Marquis Haynes Marquis Haynes 6'0" Rockford Lutheran | 2024 IL .