10 Best: Friday Sectional Championship Games
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Friday night is what many call the best night of hoops in the state during the high school season. Sweet 16 or Sectional Final Night with all four classes going at the same time. Thinking of catching a game? Here…
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Continue ReadingFriday night is what many call the best night of hoops in the state during the high school season. Sweet 16 or Sectional Final Night with all four classes going at the same time. Thinking of catching a game? Here are our 10 Best: Friday Sectional Championship Games!
2A
DePaul Prep vs Michelle Clark (North Lawndale Sectional)
DePaul got over one big hurdle with a victory over Orr. Next up is Michelle Clark. Ton of posts in this game with UW-Milwaukee signee Dylan Arnett Dylan Arnett 6'9" | PF DePaul Prep | 2022 State IL against Sulaimon Agiste Sulaimon Agiste 6'8" | C Michelle Clark | 2022 State IL along with the twins inside for Clark.
Breese Central vs Nashville (Carterville Sectional)
Two of the top programs from southern Illinois is small school hoops will be meeting for a sectional championship. A lot of crossover with players who play in the summer together like Breese Central star Brady Moore Brady Moore 6'4" | SG Breese Central | 2022 State IL and Nashville’s Saxton Hoepker Saxton Hoepker 6'6" | PF Nashville | 2022 State IL who both ran with the Illinois Bears.
3A
Lemont vs Thornton (Marian Catholic Sectional)
Thornton throttled their opponent in the semis behind Illini commit Ty Rodgers Ty Rodgers 6'5" | SF Thornton | 2022 State IL along with an array of athletic and skilled running mates. Lemont pulled off the upset as Nojus Indrusaitis Nojus Indrusaitis 6'5" | SG Brewster Academy | 2024 State #79 Nation New E had 18 points against Hillcrest. Meanstreets senior star vs their next elite perimeter prospect!
Simeon vs Hyde Park (Hinsdale South Sectional)
Two of the top CPS teams clash in a 3A sectional! Guards, guards, and more guards. Simeon’s trio Jaylen Drane Jaylen Drane 6'2" | PG Simeon | 2022 State IL , Avyion Morris Avyion Morris 5'9" | PG Simeon | 2022 State IL , and Jalen Griffith Jalen Griffith 5'9" | PG Simeon | 2023 State IL vs Hyde Park’s Davontae Hall Davontae Hall 6'1" | PG Hyde Park | 2022 State IL and Camron Williford Camron Williford 6'0" | PG Hyde Park | 2023 State IL . Simeon’s advantage is inside with Miles Rubin Miles Rubin 6'7" | PF Homewood Flossmoor | 2023 State #243 Nation IL and Wesley Rubin Wesley Rubin 6'7" | PF Homewood Flossmoor | 2023 State IL .
De La Salle vs St. Ignatius (King Sectional)
This is one of the most interesting storylines of the night. St. Ignatius was a preseason top 5 team that has been up and down all season. After three relatively easy opponents they get a test here. AJ Redd AJ Redd 6'3" | SG St. Ignatius | 2022 State IL is getting rolling and they have a D1 junior in Richard Barron Richard Barron 6'5" | SF St. Ignatius | 2023 State IL . De La Salle’s record of 12-21 doesn’t indicate their talent level with high scoring guard Dajuan Bates Dajuan Bates 6'1" | PG De La Salle | 2022 State IL and combo Jalen Brown Jalen Brown 5'10" | PG De La Salle | 2022 State IL . This game might be won on the boards and with rim protection. St. Ignatius brings Air Force signee Kolby Giles and junior Jackson Kotecki Jackson Kotecki 6'9" | PF Saint Ignatius | 2023 State IL against Bethune Cookman signee Marcellius Cohen Marcellius Cohen 6'8" | C De La Salle | 2022 State IL , Jamil Wilson Jamil Wilson 6'7" | PF De La Salle | 2022 State IL , and Caleb Jenkins Caleb Jenkins 6'6" | C North Central | 2022 State IL .
Metamora vs Rock Island (Peoria Sectional)
Rock Island went against the home crowd in an OT win on Wednesday defeating Peoria Manual behind big games from their senior guards Amarion Nimmers Amarion Nimmers 6'2" | PG Rock Island | 2022 State IL and Marieon Anderson Marieon Anderson 6'3" | SG Rock Island | 2022 State IL . Metamora is going to bring a big local crowd as well at Bradley to support their squad led by D1 junior Ethan Kizer Ethan Kizer 6'6" | SF Metamora | 2023 State IL along with Zack Schroeder Zack Schroeder 6'2" | SG Metamora Township | 2022 State IL and Tyson Swanson Tyson Swanson 6'2" | SG Metamora | 2023 State IL . Two of the better central Illinois squads.
4A
New Trier vs Glenbrook South (Glenbrook South Sectional)
Each side has won. This is the rubber match for everything! Two of the top contenders for the 4A state title will meet in a sectional final with D1 talent all over the floor. Glenbrook South has the home court advantage. Nick Martinelli Nick Martinelli 6'6" | SF Glenbrook South | 2022 State #235 Nation IL (Elon) and Cooper Noard Cooper Noard 6'2" | PG Glenbrook South | 2022 State IL (Cornell) might be the best 1-2 punch in Illinois. New Trier has depth and a ton of shooting with Jackson Munro Jackson Munro 6'8" | C New Trier | 2022 State IL (Dartmouth) and elite 2023 sharp shooter Jake Fiegen Jake Fiegen 6'3" | SG New Trier | 2023 State IL .
Oswego East vs Bolingbrook (Oswego Sectional)
These two have been on a collision course all tournament long. Oswego East will play in its hometown. Patrick Robinson Patrick Robinson 6'4" | SG Oswego East | 2022 State IL (UMSL) and top 20 junior Mekhi Lowery Mekhi Lowery 6'5" | SF Oswego East | 2023 State IL bring versatility on the perimeter for Oswego East. Bolingbrook has so much depth. Mekhi Cooper Mekhi Cooper 6'0" | PG Bolingbrook | 2023 State IL can really shoot it at the point. Inside Michael Osei-Bonsu Michael Osei-Bonsu 6'4" | PF Bolingbrook | 2022 State IL and Donaven Younger Donaven Younger 6'8" | C Bolingbrook | 2023 State IL should have the advantage.
Kenwood vs St. Rita (Thornwood Sectional)
Without question two of the most talented teams in the state when it comes to high major prospects! Kenwood features prospects ranked in the top 10 in their class Trey Pettigrew Trey Pettigrew 6'3" | PG Hillcrest Prep | 2022 State #143 Nation IL , Darrin Ames Darrin Ames 6'1" | PG Kenwood | 2023 State #99 Nation IL , Davius Loury Davius Loury 6'8" | PF Phhoenix Prep | 2024 State AZ , and Bryce Heard Bryce Heard 6'6" | SG Homewood Flossmoor | 2025 State #86 Nation IL . St. Rita counters with three potential players at the top of their class in James Brown James Brown 6'9" | C Link Academy (from Chicago) | 2024 #66 Nation MO , Morez Johnson Morez Johnson 6'9" | PF Thornton | 2024 State #33 Nation IL , and Melvin Bell Melvin Bell 6'4" | SG La Lumiere | 2025 #109 Nation IN . The x-factors could be which shooting guard hits the big shot between Darius Robinson Darius Robinson 6'0" | PG Thornton Township | 2022 State IL and Kaiden Space Kaiden Space 6'2" | SG St.Rita | 2023 State IL .
Whitney Young vs Lyons (Proviso West Sectional)
Most thought this would be a CPS title rematch, but Lyons pulled off the upset over Curie to advance to the sectional title game. LT has one of the most dynamic ball handlers in the senior class in Akron signee Tavari Johnson Tavari Johnson 6'0" | PG Lyons Township | 2022 State #171 Nation IL . He has plenty of shooters to get it to in Billy Bach Billy Bach 6'5" | PF Lyons Township | 2022 State IL , Nik Polonowski Nik Polonowski 6'6" | SF Lyons | 2023 State IL , and Jackson Niego Jackson Niego 6'0" | PG Lyons Township | 2023 State IL . Whitney Young has a significant advantage up front in this game with top 10 duo Miami signee AJ Casey AJ Casey 6'8" | PF Whitney Young | 2022 State #55 Nation IL and Northern Illinois commit Xavier Amos Xavier Amos 6'7" | PF Whitney Young | 2022 State #233 Nation IL . The Dolphins also have strong perimeter pop of their own in junior trio Dalen Davis Dalen Davis 6'0" | PG Whitney Young | 2023 State #167 Nation IL , Marcus Pigram Marcus Pigram 6'3" | SG Whitney Young | 2023 State IL , and Daniel Johnson Daniel Johnson 6'6" | SF Whitney Young | 2023 State #231 Nation IL .