20 Most Intriguing Regional Championship Games

Friday night will feature every single regional final game across the state in all four classes! We examine the top games to be played in 20 Most Intriguing Regional Championship Games!   2A Orr vs North Lawndale (Orr Regional) We have Orr as our pick to win it all in 2A. They will get a real test against a North Lawndale team that has scoring pop in the backcourt. It is on Orr’s home floor so they should be fine, but one to monitor.   Nashville vs Pinckneyville (DuQuoin Regional) Two of the top programs in southern Illinois especially at the small school level will meet on Friday night. The winner could make some moves the rest of the tournament.   3A Peoria Notre Dame vs Peoria Manual (Limestone Regional) It is hard to beat a team three times. Notre Dame is looking to do that here. Manual has a go to scorer in [player_tooltip player_id="1279757" first="Justin" last="Page"] that in a one game scenario could be scary. [player_tooltip player_id="1157231" first="Cooper" last="Koch"] and company should take this one though.   Mt. Vernon vs Centralia (Centralia Regional) Three times? Try beating your rival four times in one season! That is what Centralia will attempt to do Friday against Mt. Vernon. Each game has been closer than the previous with the last one being a 3 point Orphans win. Mt. Vernon has the best player on the floor in Missouri State commit [player_tooltip player_id="863631" first="NJ" last="Benson"].   Hillcrest vs Tinley Park (Hillcrest Regional) Hillcrest is a team with aspirations of making it to Champaign. This is a tricky regional final as Tinley Park has quite a bit of talent and could give Hillcrest a game here. Hillcrest is on its home floor however.   Lemont vs Marian Catholic (Morris Regional) Love this matchup between offensively skilled sophomore [player_tooltip player_id="1157223" first="Nojus" last="Indrusaitis"] and elite perimeter defender senior [player_tooltip player_id="925222" first="Jeremiah" last="Jones"]. More than just those two as each squad has a talented starting five.   Niles Notre Dame vs Carmel (Niles Notre Dame Regional) Niles Notre Dame looked really good when we saw them on Wednesday led by [player_tooltip player_id="939079" first="Sonny" last="Williams"]. Carmel has two standout seniors in [player_tooltip player_id="999562" first="Bryce" last="Moore"] (Niagara commit) and [player_tooltip player_id="1105719" first="Asher" last="Jackson"]. Could see this going either way.   Sacred Heart Griffin vs Springfield Lanphier (Sacred Heart Griffin Regional) SHG is a team that definitely could make it to Champaign, but they will get a test here as perennial power Lanphier has one of the better backcourts in central Illinois in [player_tooltip player_id="1210371" first="Tye" last="Banks"] and [player_tooltip player_id="939063" first="Tevonta" last="Jackson"]. SGH and their junior quartet have the home court advantage!   Olney vs Mascoutah/Marion Winner (Olney Regional) The only undefeated team in Illinois is Olney. They will step up their competition level on Friday against the winner of Mascoutah and Marion who will be played on Thursday night.   4A O’Fallon vs Quincy (Alton Regional) Love this game here. Quincy has a D1 senior in New Orleans commit Jeremiah Talon along with a host of stud freshman. O’Fallon has upperclassmen and the advantage of playing closer to home.   Brother Rice vs Bloom (Brother Rice Regional) Two talented squads here. Top point guard [player_tooltip player_id="1048307" first="Ahmad" last="Henderson"] loves the bright lights and this will be a chance for him to shine. Bloom has guards galore and a shot blocker in [player_tooltip player_id="863599" first="Emondrek" last="Ford"].   St. Rita vs Morgan Park (St. Rita Regional) St. Rita has been up and down throughout the season, but there is no denying the talent. Fun matchup between top two sophomores [player_tooltip player_id="1157228" first="James" last="Brown"]/[player_tooltip player_id="1157230" first="Morez" last="Johnson"] vs senior stat sheet stuffer Liddell Miller!   Collinsville vs Belleville East (Granite City Regional) We have been waiting all year to see [player_tooltip player_id="939071" first="Jordan" last="Pickett"] have a monster game and pull off an upset. Will this be the night?   Oswego East vs West Aurora (Joliet Central Regional) Oswego East has its eyes set on a deep run after their best season is school history. West Aurora is a talented team to watch. Love the NBA Jam 2 on 2 matchup of [player_tooltip player_id="999561" first="Patrick" last="Robinson"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1215289" first="Mekhi" last="Lowery"] vs [player_tooltip player_id="1210374" first="Ty" last="Rogers"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1157226" first="Josh" last="Pickett"].   Lyons vs Proviso East (Proviso East Regional) Proviso East survived a massive scare in their first game winning by one in OT. Now they get one of the best PGs in the state [player_tooltip player_id="1048712" first="Tavari" last="Johnson"] along with a ton of shooters. Look for [player_tooltip player_id="1048386" first="Jaloni" last="Johnson"] to step up if Proviso wins.   Moline vs Minooka (Minooka Regional) Great guard battle here with stud 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="989274" first="Brock" last="Harding"] and late blooming senior Ricky Moore. Moline should be the heavy favorite, but they must go on the road in a one and done.   Normal Community vs Bradley Bourbonnais (Normal Community Regional) Battle of the big men here as D1 commits [player_tooltip player_id="996062" first="Zach" last="Cleveland"] and [player_tooltip player_id="989265" first="Owen" last="Freeman"] clash. Bradley Bourbonnais has made huge strides now they get a state title contender!   Riverside Brookfield vs OPRF (Riverside Brookfield Regional) Riverside Brookfield has been fantastic this season with their veteran and well coached squad. OPRF boasts a pair of mid-major wings in [player_tooltip player_id="939068" first="Sam" last="Lewis"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1106926" first="Justin" last="Mullins"]. They have the talent to pull off the upset.   Bartlett vs Wheaton Warrenville South (Wheaton Warrenville South Regional) Clash of styles here as Wheaton Warrenville South will try to keep this a low scoring game and not allow Bartlett 7’3” center [player_tooltip player_id="1210378" first="Conrad" last="Luczynski"] from dominating inside.   Glenbrook North vs Evanston (Evanston Regional) Evanston hosts what should be a fun and evenly matched regional championship in a true 50/50 contest.