Previewing and predicting this weekend’s high highschool basketball video games

The vacation tournaments are a wrap. The sole focus over the subsequent six weeks are convention clashes and prime time shootout showdowns. There is a mix of each this weekend. Here are previews and picks for six of the highest matchups.

Season report: 11-2

No. 9 New Trier (13-3) at No. 16 Evanston (12-3), Friday

A real, legit rivalry heats up when each are ranked. That’s true right here on this all the time participating matchup within the north suburbs the place there’s a lot historical past.

But it does lose some sizzle when the sport’s featured participant, New Trier’s Christopher Kirkpatrick, is out with an harm.

As the Trevians navigate life with out a 20-point scorer, the main focus turns to senior Danny Houlihan’s expanded sport and rising 6-8 freshman Denym Wallace. Both are placing collectively excellent seasons. The query that looms is how does New Trier deal with defensive strain thrown at them with the absence of their level guard?

Due to only one returning starter from a yr in the past, this Evanston workforce is within the midst of sneaking up on some folks. Coach Mike Ellis’ spread-the-wealth offense, one which’s potent and options some sizzling perimeter taking pictures, is led by sophomore Ben Ojala, juniors Deon Lane and Vitto Rocca, and senior Timi Ogunsanya.

The choose: Evanston 68, New Trier 63

No. 17 Mount Carmel (11-5) at No. 8 Loyola (15-2), Friday

Remember, this can be a Mount Carmel workforce that graduated all 5 starters from a yr in the past. But right here they’re as a ranked workforce taking part in in a significant midseason sport.

The gifted younger gamers for the Caravan, together with the freshman combo of 6-3 guard Ronald Johnson and 6-5 DK Heard, now have some varsity expertise. And junior Logan Wessel is contemporary off an all-tournament efficiency at Pekin.

However, this one is on the highway with the stakes raised in a key Catholic League battle.

With seniors Trey Williams and Sam Golden and junior Luke Alvarez, Loyola has extra offensive punch than it’s given credit score for whereas additionally taking part in its typical clampdown protection.

As lengthy as Loyola isn’t caught waiting for its alternative to take down No. 1 ranked Benet on Saturday, the Ramblers ought to maintain enterprise.

The choose: Loyola 50, Mount Carmel 41

No. 13 Waukegan (12-4) vs. No. 7 Marist (15-1) at DePaul Prep, Saturday

Both of those groups gained vacation tournaments late final month. Waukegan took down Hersey within the Elgin title sport whereas Marist beat beforehand unbeaten Centralia within the championship sport at Centralia.

But each are very gifted, able to placing up factors and go about their enterprise with a balanced strategy.

The Waukegan trio of level guard Carter Newsome, 6-4 wing Simereon Carter and 6-7 Jaali Love all have the power to take over a sport. Marist, in the meantime, had seven completely different gamers rating in double figures whereas successful at Centralia final week, together with match MVP Charles Barnes.

Marist has been regular and constant, dropping to solely out-of-state foe Sidwell Friends from Washington, DC, whereas exhibiting extra resolve defensively. Waukegan has been a bit extra of a combined bag, with some excessive and lows, together with a 86-61 thumping by the hands of Kankakee final weekend.

The choose: Marist 69, Waukegan 62

No. 3 Curie (13-1) vs. No. 11 Bolingbrook (9-4) at DePaul Prep, Saturday

Curie’s resume is spectacular. There are wins over Oswego East, New Trier, St. Ignatius, Lockport, St. Pat’s and Warren. The Condors picked up a pleasant win Thursday over Marshall County out of Kentucky. And the lone loss got here to top-ranked Benet, although it was a 74-41 defeat final week.

Senior Justin Oliver continues to steer the Condors, whereas Michael Oliver, Jr., Kendall Holiday, Josh Hurley and Saquan Cummings all chip in. Curie should have the ability to shoot the ball higher than it has just lately.

Bolingbrook is in a precarious place. There was the unorthodox journey to Hawaii in December for a match, the place the Raiders went 2-2. They then went practically two weeks with out a sport earlier than falling to Nicolet out of Wisconsin. There has been sickness and harm, together with senior guard Trey Brost, a veteran who impacts successful. Brost is out indefinitely.

The choose: Curie 65, Bolingbrook 61

No. 1 Benet (17-1) vs. No. 8 Loyola (15-2) at DePaul Prep, Saturday

The Redwings have been examined and have handed these assessments with flying outcomes, successful the Pontiac Holiday Tournament in model. But how will Benet deal with the sudden rise to No. 1 and the bulls-eye that comes with it?

The excellent news is the core of this workforce, guard Jayden Wright, 7-footer Colin Stack, Ryan Walsh and 6-8 junior Ed Stasys, have now been via so many large video games over the previous yr.

Loyola’s solely in-state blemish got here to DePaul, which was ranked No. 1 when it confronted them in December. Now the Ramblers get one other shot at a top-ranked workforce.

The choose: Benet 52, Loyola 45

No. 20 Kenwood (10-4) at Peoria Richwoods (12-2), Saturday

A promising however nonetheless figuring-it-out Kenwood workforce is in want of a pick-me-up. The Broncos have dropped three straight, together with two Public League matchups this previous week, after leaping out of the gate with a 10-1 mark.

Kenwood, which is led by the junior tandem of Damari Stephens and Osiris Bell, can have their fingers full at Richwoods. Stephens and Bell present a bulk of the scoring, however a pair of seniors, 6-7 Prince McCord and guard Jordan Walker, will probably be wanted if an upset win on the highway is within the playing cards.

This is a Richwoods workforce that’s rolling and is a risk to succeed in Peoria this March in Class 3A. The Knights rumbled to a Pekin Holiday Tournament title behind tourney MVP Amarion Smith-Holley. They then took aside St. Laurence by 20 factors final weekend.

Smith-Holley, one of many high sophomores within the state, dazzled at Pekin, scoring 35 in a win over Crane and averaging 23.5 factors a sport within the 4 wins. Fellow sophomore Anfernee Moore and senior Tony Bradford kind a gifted trio with Smith-Holley.

The choose: Richwoods 66, Kenwood 58