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

This is the time of the season the place Friday evening convention clashes are adopted up by a return to Saturday shootouts. That’s the case this weekend as there are many high quality video games to select from throughout the realm. Here are previews and predictions for seven of one of the best.

Last week’s document: 3-4
Season document: 19-7

No. 17 Palatine (20-3) at No. 20 Fremd (18-2), Friday

A rivalry rematch which means one thing. Both are ranked and tied for the highest spot within the Mid-Suburban League West with similar 6-1 data. Throw some sectional seeding implications in and this can be a massive one in Palatine.

The versatile Jordan Williams, who’s headed to Illinois State subsequent 12 months, and Rafael Pinto stay the trusted and productive 1-2 senior punch to guide the Vikings.

Palatine gained the matchup again in December by 16 factors, limiting Fremd to only 37 factors. It was an excessive amount of Tony Balanganayi. The Palatine massive man went for 27 factors within the first go-around. There continues to be no reply for Fremd in terms of matching up with Balanganayi.

The decide: Palatine 48, Fremd 44

No. 12 St. Ignatius (19-4) at St. Laurence (19-4), Friday

Both of those groups may use a pick-me-up win to proper the ship. St. Laurence has dropped two of its final three. St. Ignatius has misplaced two in a row.

St. Ignatius was certain for a hiccup. That got here in a Sunday loss to rival Loyola. But to observe it up with a loss to Joliet Catholic — and giving up 70-plus factors for the second straight sport — was an eye-opener.

There is loads of youth on this one, together with a pair of gamers who’ve had breakout seasons: St. Laurence junior Markese Peoples and St. Ignatius sophomore Amir Tucker.

But it’s senior veteran Chris Bolte who St. Ignatius leans on to get the highway win.

The decide: St. Ignatius 61, St. Laurence 56

New Trier (17-6) at No. 23 Glenbrook North (17-5), Friday

There is a slight position reversal right here. When the season started, nobody would have forecasted Glenbrook North to be ranked and New Trier to be unranked for this late January matchup.

While New Trier has discovered its footing since dropping star guard Christopher Kirkpatrick to harm, successful 4 straight, Glenbrook North has quietly ripped off seven straight wins because the holidays and climbed into the rankings.

It hasn’t precisely been an entire metamorphosis. But GBN, with only one returning starter heading into the season, has been one of many space’s good surprises. Coach Quin Hayes has carried out an excellent job with this younger group.

Junior level guard Nate Fridman is the catalyst. A pair of sophomores, 6-3 Mason Markman and guard Charlie Lappin, have supplied a major increase. Plus, Abel Poothurail has been a senior to lean on together with his protection and added scoring.

New Trier, nonetheless, has regarded fairly strong of late because it awaits the hopeful return of its main scorer. There are nonetheless weapons with shooter Danny Houlihan and freshman massive man Denym Wallace, whereas guard Max Vogel has actually stepped up in Kirkpatrick’s absence.

This is a fairly fast turnaround since GBN took care of New Trier, minus Kirkpatrick, simply two weeks in the past in a 67-64 squeaker. New Trier will get the rematch because it’s now extra accustomed to taking part in with out Kirkpatrick.

The decide: New Trier 63, Glenbrook North 58

No. 14 Loyola (18-5) vs. No. 7 Homewood-Flossmoor (19-3) at Evanston, Saturday

Both groups have put collectively rock strong common seasons up so far and meet at this 12 months’s War on the Shore. And it’s an incredible matchup for each groups in getting a special look stylistically.

It’s been a whirlwind of per week for Loyola. The Ramblers misplaced to native rival Evanston on the buzzer final Tuesday after which bounced again to win the Jesuit Cup matchup with St. Ignatius on Sunday.

The trio of Trey Williams, Sam Golden and Luke Alvarez seize a lot of the consideration — all of them common between 10-12 factors a sport for Loyola. But don’t underestimate the influence of 6-4 Brody Munson-Johnson.

H-F, led by sophomore level guard Darrius Hawkins, is trying to bounce again from a Tuesday loss to Lockport.

The decide: Loyola 50, Homewood-Flossmoor 46

No. 9 Bolingbrook (16-6) at No. 10 Evanston (19-3), Saturday

The War on the Shore finale might be probably the most entertaining sport of the weekend.

The leisure worth begins with 6-4 sophomore Brady Pettigrew of Bolingbrook, one of many lone high-major prospects within the state. Pettigrew is a participant who can flip heads in an occasion like this. Senior guard TJ Williams (16 ppg) has performed his finest basketball of the season of late, and large man Elijah Anderson continues to play his position properly.

Evanston sophomore Ben Ojala has developed right into a recognized commodity. But from Dion Lane to Timi Ogunsanya to Tate Schroeder, Evanston’s particular person items maintain getting higher and higher.

Both groups have been lacking key gamers with Bolingbrook’s Trey Brost and Evanston’s Vito Rocca out with accidents. Brost is near returning and can be simply what the Raiders want.

The decide: Bolingbrook 68, Evanston 64

No. 21 Hersey (16-4) vs. No. 6 Neuqua Valley (22-1) at Glenbrook South, Saturday

Fresh off a signature win over Bolingbrook final weekend, red-hot Neuqua Valley faces one other ranked group. The Wildcats, who’ve gained 19 straight, characteristic one of the best 1-2 scoring tandem within the state. Sophomore Cole Kelly and Illinois commit Mason Martin each put up over 20 factors a sport.

Yes, Kelly and Martin do gobble up the headlines, however the supporting forged continues to develop properly round them.

Charlie Pomis is within the midst of placing collectively one other rock strong, all-around season. The 6-3 senior is averaging 18.2 factors, 5.6 rebounds and three.2 assists a sport.

The decide: Neuqua Valley 70, Hersey 60

No. 4 Kankakee (17-1) vs. No. 13 Mount Carmel (15-7) at Oak Lawn, Sunday

Kankakee was anticipated to get its largest exams of the season final weekend on the Quincy Shootout. But each video games had been canceled. So the Kays are in want of a high-quality opponent. A Sunday showcase at Oak Lawn with a ranked group out of the Catholic League will do.

How does Mount Carmel decelerate Kankakee star Lincoln Williams? The 6-6 senior has made a POY push whereas averaging 26.1 factors, 6.4 rebounds, two assists and two steals a sport. If that’s not troublesome sufficient, there’s additionally EJ Hazelett to cope with. The 6-6 Indiana State recruit is placing up 16 factors, eight rebounds and three assists.

Mount Carmel is younger and scary. The Caravan have constructed up some confidence with wins over Glenbard East, Loyola, Lincoln Park and St. Laurence. But they’ve come again to earth of late with losses to H-F and DePaul.

Kankakee’s expertise, together with that terrific Williams-Hazelett combo, proves to be an excessive amount of.

The decide: Kankakee 66, Mount Carmel 59