Regional Round: 3 Teams That Could Defy Expectations

Regional quarterfinals tipped off Monday, and a few 3A semifinals followed Tuesday. But Wednesday is when the postseason truly ramps up. While higher seeds are often expected to advance based on their regular-season success, playoff basketball can fall off the script. Middle-of-the-pack squads and lower seeds have a history of disrupting brackets and shifting momentum at the right time. Before the bulk of games begin, let's take a look at a few teams capable of defying expectations and making a deeper postseason push.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Schaumburg (18-11) 4A Class</h2>   The Saxons quietly put together a good season, finishing second in the Mid-Suburban East at 8-2, with their only conference losses coming against a talented Hoffman Estates squad. They closed the regular season in a crossover matchup against Palatine, falling 60-50 to another team that has enjoyed a strong year.   All-Conference seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2839869' first='Cameron' last='Anderson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2844413' first='Tony' last='Horton Jr.'] will be relied upon to set the tone in the Regional Semifinal against Lake Zurich, with a likely championship matchup looming against Fremd. 2026's Ray Black and [player_tooltip player_id='1552455' first='Aiden' last='Patterson'] provide valuable scoring and playmaking, while 2027 guard [player_tooltip player_id='2125576' first='Aaron' last='Shogren'] is capable of stretching the floor from deep. Sophomore combo guard [player_tooltip player_id='2403168' first='Masyn' last='Harrell'] has also delivered impactful minutes.   Schaumburg may not be the headliner in this bracket, but their balance and experience make them a legitimate threat. If they find rhythm, an upset over Fremd could be within reach — and a potential third meeting with Hoffman Estates would make for a compelling sectional semifinal showdown.   Schaumburg Regional & Fremd Sectional:   Wednesday   (1) Fremd vs. (16) Larkin 6pm   (8) Schaumburg vs. (9) Lake Zurich 7:30pm   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Lake Forest (13-16) 3A Class</h2>   The Scouts endured a rocky start to the season but enter the postseason with momentum, riding a four-game winning streak that includes key conference victories over Libertyville and Lake Zurich. They finished sixth in a competitive North Suburban Conference at 6-8.   A semifinal matchup with Antioch likely sets up a regional final against Grayslake Central, provided both advance. Should Lake Forest navigate that path, a sectional semifinal against St. Viator or Lakes Community could await — but first, the Scouts must take care of business.   Senior All-Conference guard [player_tooltip player_id='2839873' first='Dominic' last='Mordini'] is the engine. His offensive production and two-way impact will ultimately determine how far this group can go. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2499191' first='Rory' last='Haas'] provides complementary scoring and rebounding to ease the pressure, while 2026 forward John White must use his length to protect the rim and control the glass. Sophomores Tavin Woo and Alex Picek round out the core — their poise, shot-making, and defensive consistency could swing tight postseason games.   Lake Forest may not carry the résumé of some higher seeds, but with momentum and defined roles, they have the pieces to extend their season.   Lake Forest Regional & Deerfield Sectional:   Wednesday   (4) Grayslake Central vs. (13) Northside 6pm   (7) Lake Forest vs. (12) Antioch 7:30pm   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Lakes Community (16-13) 3A</h2>   The Eagles enter the postseason on a three-game skid, but their season has been anything but predictable. This is the same group that handed high-powered Fremd just its second loss of the year and knocked off Deerfield at their MLK Day Tournament in January. Lakes finished fourth in the Northern Lake County Conference at 9-5.   Assuming they take care of North Chicago as they did in the regular season, a regional matchup with St. Viator dawns — one where Lakes could play spoiler. If the bracket unfolds accordingly, a sectional semifinal against conference rival Grayslake Central would follow.   Junior All-Conference standouts [player_tooltip player_id='2413791' first='Carter' last='Martin'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2829440' first='Ben' last='Newcomb'] headline the offense. Martin, who set the single-season record for made three-pointers, is capable of changing a game in a matter of minutes. Point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2125618' first='Dorian' last='Pullen'] orchestrates the attack with a selfless approach, having set a new single-season assists record while still providing scoring. Senior Aidan Hopkins supplies leadership and winning plays in the margins, while [player_tooltip player_id='2833597' first='Jaylen' last='Pinkard']'s physicality, pick-and-roll chemistry, and rebounding presence round out a balanced starting five.   If Lakes rediscovers its rhythm, this is a group with enough shooting, experience, and cohesion to make a serious postseason push.   Wednesday   (1) St. Viator vs. (16) Disney ll 6pm   (6) Lakes vs. (9) North Chicago 7:30pm   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   *Looking to keep up with the schedules follow this link <a href="https://www.ihsa.org/sports/boys-basketball/state-series/brackets/4A">https://www.ihsa.org/sports/boys-basketball/state-series/brackets/4A</a>

Regional quarterfinals tipped off Monday, and a few 3A semifinals followed Tuesday. But Wednesday is when the postseason truly ramps up. While higher seeds are often expected to advance based on their regular-season success, playoff basketball can fall off the script. Middle-of-the-pack squads and lower seeds have a history of disrupting brackets and shifting momentum at the right time. Before the bulk of games begin, let's take a look at a few teams capable of defying expectations and making a deeper postseason push.