Playoff Gauntlet: The Must-Watch 4A Hinsdale Sectional

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>March is right around the corner for college basketball, but high school playoffs start now! Today, Illinois kicks off its 2025 postseason, and after reviewing the brackets, one sectional stands out above the rest—the <strong>4A Hinsdale Sectional</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Seven teams in our <strong>Prep Hoops</strong> rankings are packed into this field, led by <strong>top-ranked Kenwood (27-1)</strong>. Powerhouses <strong>Simeon, St. Ignatius, Hinsdale Central, Curie, Lincoln Park,</strong> and <strong>Whitney Young</strong> make this an absolute gauntlet—just to reach the <strong>sectional championship</strong>. That's right—only two of these teams will even get the chance to step onto the hardwood in Champaign. That's just <strong>wild</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But what if things get even crazier?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>🚨 <strong>Riverside-Brookfield: A Threat to Kenwood?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Riverside-Brookfield enters the playoffs at <strong>21-9</strong>, finishing <strong>11-1 in the Upstate 8 Conference</strong> to claim a share of the East division title. The Bulldogs boast a dangerous backcourt with senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2415420' first='Danny' last='Loftus'] and junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2105396' first='Cameron' last='Mercer'], both of whom bring scoring firepower, playmaking, and rebounding. Add in senior guard Vince Dockendorf, a quick, sharpshooting threat from deep, and you've got a team capable of catching fire at the right time.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Can R-B take down the top team in the state? It's a tall task, but anything can happen. First, they'll have to take care of business before a potential Regional Finals clash.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">⚡ <strong>Oak Lawn: A S[player_tooltip player_id='2403249' first='Lee' last='']per Pick to Watch?</strong></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oak Lawn finished the season at <strong>23-8</strong>, securing the <strong>SSC Red title</strong> with only one conference loss to a strong Lemont squad. Leading the charge is SSC Red Player of the Year [player_tooltip player_id='1766472' first='Donte' last='Montgomery'], a crafty playmaker who can take over a game offensively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Spartans also lean on junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2433457' first='Jack' last='Dempsey'], a defensive disruptor with a high basketball IQ and efficient shot selection. With juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2734444' first='Marc' last='Harvey'] and Omar Saleh adding stability and experience, Oak Lawn has the pieces to be a legit dark horse in this sectional.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Could they pull off a stunner against Kenwood in the Regional Finals? Maybe... but first a showdown with R-B, and Kenwood has to get past Kelly (15-9) or Juarez (11-10).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/oaklawnhoops/status/1892618706334646477","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/oaklawnhoops/status/1892618706334646477 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A Chicago City Championship Rematch?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We wouldn't see this showdown until the <strong>Sectional Championship</strong>, but how thrilling would it be to witness Kenwood and Curie (21-9) battle one last time? Their most recent clash—a <strong>67-65 thriller</strong>—saw Kenwood edge out a win, marking their second victory over Curie this season. But if these two powerhouses meet again, expect a must-watch matchup filled with high-level talent.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">🔥 <strong>Kenwood's Loaded Lineup</strong></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Broncos boast an elite core of prospects, starting with unsigned 2025 power forward [player_tooltip player_id='1385283' first='Aleks' last='Alston']. He brings high-level passing from the post, rim protection, and a smooth shooting touch from deep.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2125612' first='Devin' last='Cleveland'], top-ranked in his class, plays with composure, pace, and creativity, elevating Kenwood's offensive flow. Unsigned senior [player_tooltip player_id='2321397' first='TJ' last='Seals'] provides a bully-ball presence, relentless energy, and a spark that fuels the team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rounding out the attack is senior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1385290' first='Amari' last='Edwards'], a poised floor general with tight handles, a smooth mid-range jumper, and deep shooting ability.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">⚡ <strong>Curie's Revenge Tour?</strong></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Condors took a 20-point loss in their first meeting with Kenwood but battled neck-and-neck in the City Championship, nearly securing the win. Could the third time be the charm?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Curie's success starts with [player_tooltip player_id='2452415' first='Brad' last='Johnson'], a tough, high-motor scorer who can get buckets at all three levels. [player_tooltip player_id='2734369' first='Justin' last='Oliver'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1845358' first='Michael' last='Oliver'] —could be game-changers in this potential rematch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Justin is a dynamic point guard with a deep bag of moves—capable of handling pressure, attacking the rim with craft, facilitating offense, and knocking down threes.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Michael is a quick-trigger shooter with deep range, capable of catching fire at any moment.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Will We Get Round Three?</strong></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With a mix of elite prospects, hungry competitors, and unfinished business, this potential <strong>Sectional Championship</strong> would be nothing short of electric. Will Kenwood complete the sweep, or will Curie get its revenge? Time will tell.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Buckle Up—This Sectional is Loaded</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With multiple state-title-caliber teams in the mix, upsets lurking, and elite talent on display, the Hinsdale Sectional is shaping up to be one of the best storylines of the postseason. I haven't even mentioned the potential showdown between Lincoln Park and Whitney Young in a Regional Final. The Dolphins are led by entertaining point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1552475' first='Marquis' last='Clark'] and electric playmaker [player_tooltip player_id='1385300' first='Antonio' last='Munoz'], with additional firepower from Demajay Richardson and [player_tooltip player_id='1552473' first='Alijah' last='Little']. Meanwhile, Lincoln Park boasts talent across the board with Ahmad [player_tooltip player_id='2403249' first='Lee' last=''], [player_tooltip player_id='1385284' first='Keyshawn' last='Barfield'], [player_tooltip player_id='2298580' first='Kaydin' last='Williams'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2400893' first='Larry' last='Harris'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hinsdale Central might also look to steal the spotlight and prove they are the top dogs of the sectional. The Red Devils had an outstanding season, finishing 28-3, with their latest loss coming on a buzzer-beater against Lyons. They shared the West Suburban Silver conference title with Glenbard West, both posting a 10-2 record. South Dakota commit [player_tooltip player_id='2105166' first='Vincas' last='Buzelis'] leads the way, bringing athleticism and mid-range shot-making to the squad. He has significantly improved his stock over the season and will be exciting to watch as he pushes for a state title. In the paint, 2025 center [player_tooltip player_id='2538930' first='Tyler' last='Thick'] will serve as a defensive anchor, using his rim protection, rebounding, and size to help Hinsdale make a deep run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Will Kenwood prove why they're No. 1? Or will chaos take over? One thing's for sure—<strong>this ride is just getting started.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Schedule</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Monday February 24</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Chicago Kelly (16) vs. Chicago Juarez (17)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Wednesday February 26</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kenwood (1) vs. Kelly/Juarez</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Riverside-Brookfield (8) vs. Oak Lawn (9)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Simeon (4) vs. Reavis (13)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. Ignatius (5) vs. Jones (12) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hinsdale Central (2) vs. Richards (15)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Curie (7) vs. Lyons (10) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lincoln Park (3) vs. Berwyn-Cicero (14)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Whitney Young (6) vs. Argo (11)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->