10 Best Sectional Final Matchups
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Friday night may be the best single night of hoops all year. I love watching all the games and scores throughout the night. Monitoring upsets and seeing big time prospects go at it! With so many quality games it is…
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Continue ReadingFriday night may be the best single night of hoops all year. I love watching all the games and scores throughout the night. Monitoring upsets and seeing big time prospects go at it! With so many quality games it is tough to narrow it down, but here are our 10 Best Sectional Final Matchups!
4A
Bolingbrook vs Downers Grove North (East Aurora Sectional)
We watched the sectional semis of both of these teams. Each looked good in their wins against tough opponents. Bolingbrook has star inside/outside duo JT Pettigrew JT Pettigrew 6'8" | C Bolingbrook | 2025 State IL and Davion Thompson Davion Thompson 6'2" | SG Bolingbrook | 2027 IL on fire at the right time. DGN is playing lights out defensively along with getting shot making from Jack Stanton Jack Stanton 6'2" | SG Downers Grove North | 2024 State #222 Nation IL and Alex Miller Alex Miller 6'5" | SF Downers Grove North | 2024 State IL .
Quincy vs Normal Community (Pekin Sectional)
Two of the premier programs in central Illinois go at it with prospects all over the floor! Quincy has top 10 junior Bradley Longcor Bradley Longcor 6'3" | PG Quincy | 2025 State #337 Nation IL coming off a 28 point outing along with a ton of other ranked players including big man Keshaun Thomas Keshaun Thomas 6'5" | PF Quincy | 2025 State IL . Normal Community comes back with four prospects ranked in the top 34 of the senior class. Wright State commit Jaheem Webber Jaheem Webber 6'9" | C Normal Community | 2024 State #300 Nation IL is a force inside. Niko Newsome Niko Newsome 6'6" | SG Normal Community | 2024 State IL is a Saginaw State commit who is coming off a strong game.
Homewood Flossmoor vs Bloom (Rich Township Sectional)
HF got a big test against Joliet West. Now they turn their attention to another veteran squad with talented wings in Bloom. Homewood Flossmoor junior star Bryce Heard Bryce Heard 6'6" | SG Homewood Flossmoor | 2025 State #86 Nation IL and senior Columbia commit Gianni Cobb Gianni Cobb 6'0" | PG Homewood Flossmoor | 2024 State IL are clicking on all cylinders. Bloom has a depth of seniors, but it is really their junior combo guard Elijah Lovemore Elijah Lovemore 6'2" | PG Bloom | 2025 State #344 Nation IL who is the difference maker!
Curie vs Simeon (Riverside Brookfield Sectional)
Two of the elite programs in the state. Saw this sectional final 11 years ago between Jabari Parker and Cliff Alexander. Curie is the top team in the state and UIC commit Carlos Harris Carlos Harris 6'1" | SG Curie | 2024 State #283 Nation IL has continued his monster senior campaign through the playoffs to date. Simeon’s backcourt of RJ McKinnie RJ McKinnie 6'2" | SG Simeon | 2024 State IL and Lorenzo Shields Lorenzo Shields 6'2" | PG Simeon | 2025 State IL pushed them over Kenwood and will look to do the same vs another CPS rival.
3A
Mt. Carmel vs De La Salle (Hinsdale South Sectional)
The Caravan survived a major test against Hyde Park. This will be an even larger one against Chicago Catholic League foe De La Salle. It is all about the seniors in this game! Mt. Carmel has top 5 senior and Northwestern commit Angelo Ciaravino Angelo Ciaravino 6'6" | SF Mt. Carmel | 2024 State #160 Nation IL leading the way as the do it all forward that can put a team on his back. De La Salle has quite the depth of seniors and sophomores, but for them to win it will need to be Tavariyuan Williams Tavariyuan Williams 6'6" | SF De La Salle | 2024 State IL and Richard Lindsey Richard Lindsey 6'5" | SF De La Salle | 2024 State IL leading the way.
Thornton vs Brother Rice (Thornton Sectional)
Two of the best teams in the Chicagoland area all season long will clash here. Thornton has the #1 player in the state in Illini signee Morez Johnson Morez Johnson 6'9" | PF Thornton | 2024 State #33 Nation IL who is an absolute force. Their three guard trio of Chase Abraham Chase Abraham 6'0" | SG Thornton | 2024 State IL , Meyoh Swansey Meyoh Swansey 6'3" | SG Thornton | 2024 State IL , and Isaiah Green Isaiah Green 6'1" | PG Thornton | 2024 State IL have been steady all year. Brother Rice counters with a perimeter duo of Lewis commit Cale Cosme Cale Cosme 5'7" | PG Brother Rice | 2024 State IL and D1 bound junior Marcos Gonzales Marcos Gonzales 6'3" | SG Brother Rice | 2025 State IL . Zavier Fitch Zavier Fitch 6'7" | PF Brother Rice | 2024 State IL will try to contain Johnson inside.
Metamora vs Peoria Richwoods (Pontiac Sectional)
These are two of the most talented teams in central Illinois across the board. It also features the #2 prospect in the senior class Cooper Koch Cooper Koch 6'8" | PF Metamora | 2024 State #81 Nation IL (Metamora – Iowa) against #3 ranked Lathan Sommerville Lathan Sommerville 6'9" | C Richwoods | 2024 State #85 Nation IL (Peoria Richwoods – Rutgers). Very different players as Koch is a skilled face up four man and Sommerville is a powerful low post bruiser. Played their freshman seasons together at Peoria Notre Dame. A ton of other high level prospects as well on the floor.
Centralia vs Mt. Vernon (Triad Sectional)
Among the best rivalries in southern Illinois is this clash. I remember seeing this game as a kid where fans and players were into it more than I had ever seen. This time it is for a sectional title. The matchup to watch will be on the perimeter with Cruz Harlan Cruz Harlan 5'9" | PG Centralia | 2024 State IL directing things for Centralia while Mt. Vernon has bowling ball scoring dynamo Navontae Nesbit Navontae Nesbit 5'11" | PG Mt. Vernon | 2024 State IL !
2A
Phillips vs Hansberry (Orr Sectional)
The best two Chicago 2A schools square off here. Each team has a bonafide D1 recruit as well. Phillips boasts EJ Horton EJ Horton 6'2" | PG Phillips | 2025 State IL who is in the midst of a breakout season! Hansberry has the 1-2 punch of #3 ranked Al Brooks Al Brooks 6'6" | SF Hansberry | 2025 State #239 Nation IL Jr and his brother Ikee Brooks Ikee Brooks 5'11" | PG Hansberry | 2025 State IL .
Breese Central vs Benton (Benton Sectional)
These teams have been toward the top of the 2A rankings all year long and seemed destined to meet up in the sectional final. Zane Schrage and Mason Shubert Mason Shubert 6'2" | SG Breese Central | 2024 State IL are the veteran leaders for Breese while Benton has bouncy four man Docker Tedeschi Docker Tedeschi 6'8" | PF Benton | 2025 State IL .