High school basketball: Previewing and predicting this weekend’s top games

Immediately after a whirlwind of a 7 days in significant school basketball with superior-profile game titles and functions, upsets and a number of convention showdowns, this weekend is a minimal a lot more quiet. But there are nevertheless a handful of vital games. In this article is the Weekend Forecast. 

Previous 7 days: 5-5

Season: 19-12

Geneva (19-3) at Wheaton-Warrenville South (20-2), Friday

There is a ton at stake in this DuKane Meeting clash. Wheaton-Warrenville South is unbeaten in league enjoy when Geneva is one particular game out. Geneva’s past loss? Way back again in early December — to Wheaton-Warrenville South. 

Geneva is purple-scorching, thanks to stability and unselfish scoring, which is led by senior veterans Mick Lawrence (13 ppg) at issue guard and 6-1 Jimmy Rasmussen (12 ppg)

Quietly, Braylen Meredith has been a very little off the radar, but he’s in the midst of a terrific senior year whilst averaging 17.2 factors a sport to guide Wheaton-Warrenville South. Sophomore Luca Carbonaro and Colin Moore both equally typical ideal around 10 factors a recreation for the Tigers. 

Wheaton-Warrenville South is at house, has played the greater plan in planning for this a person and Geneva has to lose once more at some issue, right? 

The decide on: Wheaton-Warrenville South 44, Geneva 40

Brother Rice (21-3) at St. Ignatius (16-6), Friday

The very long-expression ambitions for St. Ignatius continue being the very same. There is adequate expertise, led by George Mason recruit Richard Barron, junior Reggie Ray, sophomore Phoenix Gill and 6-9 Jackson Kotecki, who is headed to Miami-Ohio, to complete this time wherever it did final yr: playing in Champaign. 

But there is no issue the Wolfpack, who experienced a scorching start to the time, have strike a bump in the highway. Ignatius has played a incredibly powerful plan but is just 3-5 in its very last 8 online games. 

Brother Rice, meanwhile, will appear in with renewed self-confidence following two huge wins very last week. The Crusaders knocked off rival Marist in an emotional gain and defeat hugely-ranked Rolling Meadows in a large-time environment.

Ahmad Henderson, the position guard headed to Niagara, is placing together a variation-building period. 

The choose: Brother Rice 60, St. Ignatius 54

Glenbrook South (18-5) at New Trier (19-4), Friday

There looks to be an significant, critical league video game just about every week, so it’s just a different working day in the Central Suburban League South. But with both equally Glenbrook North and New Trier on best of the CSL South with just one decline, this is a have to-acquire recreation for two-decline GBS to remain proper in the combine. 

These two satisfied in Glenview back in December with New Trier picking up a 52-46 road acquire. 

The 45-35 reduction to Prospect previously this week was an outlier the well balanced Titans are have been actively playing properly and had their 7-game earn streak snapped with the decline to Prospect. Rodell Davis, Jr., Nick Taylor and Gaven Marr are all able of and have scored in double figures. 

You have to like New Trier’s toughness. That starts with major scorer Jake Fiegen, the team’s top scorer, and level guard Evan Kanellos. Tyler Van Gorp provides measurement at 6-10 even though junior Ian Brown and sophomore Colby Smith are perimeter scoring threats. 

The choose: New Trier 58, Glenbrook South 54

Riverside-Brookfield (18-4) at Lyons (18-3), Saturday

A huge test and measuring adhere for Riverside-Brookfield in a matchup with neighboring Lyons. The Bulldogs have rattled off 8 straight wins given that a lopsided loss to St. Ignatius at Christmas. Nonetheless, none of those victories came towards groups that match what Lyons delivers to the table. 

R-B can rating it and do it in unique ways with super shooter Arius Alijosius (16.2 ppg), functional Will Gonzalez (13 ppg) and 6-10 Stefan Cicic (16 ppg, 9.6 rpg), whose output has skyrocketed about the 2nd 50 percent of the time.

Nik Polonowski is usually a hard matchup with his capability to stretch the flooring with his capturing and strength in scoring about the basket. Additionally, Jackson Niego is a continuous and solid presence at stage guard. The experience, physicality and cohesiveness Lyons has on its facet is the big difference. 

The pick: Lyons 55, Riverside-Brookfield 50

Loyola (19-6) vs. Bolingbrook (17-6) at Evanston, Saturday

The middle match of this year’s yearly War on the Shore includes two contrasting variations and is the most intriguing of the bunch. 

Loyola was gradual to click on on all cylinders early in the time as it waited for the return of some essential items from the condition championship football group. Bolingbrook has also been shorthanded at situations due to harm. They’re now equally thoroughly stocked and prepared for a second half of the year run. 

Loyola, led by Alex Engro and junior Miles Boland, was cruising correct alongside, which include a road get around Brother Rice, just before past Saturday’s 38-36 clunker of a decline to Taft. But the Ramblers continue on to perform the style of group protection no 1 would like to perform. If they can obtain adequate scoring, this turns into a really perilous team. 

Mekhi Cooper, a Miami-Ohio recruit, leads a Bolingbrook staff that owns wins more than Oswego East, St. Ignatius and Lincoln-Way East. Cooper has been a load, averaging 19.5 factors, 3.5 helps and 3 steals a match. When you place some efficient players about him, you are in excellent form. Mentor Rob Brost has DJ Solid, Aries Hull and Keon Alexander who are all double-figure scorers for the Raiders.

Downers Grove North stored it a halfcourt match past week and conquer the ’Brook 48-38. Can Loyola observe fit?

The decide on: Loyola 48, Bolingbrook 44

Moline (20-3) vs. Rolling Meadows (21-3) at Glenbrook South, Saturday

The ideal video game of the weekend and the featured matchup in a 3-sport shootout at the Titan Dome at Glenbrook South.

Moline would make a next weekend vacation to the Chicago region, bringing their upcoming Major Ten players with them. Issue guard Brock Harding and 6-10 Owen Freeman are a person of the ideal tandems in the state. They have been terrific in a limited loss to No. 1 rated Simeon in very last weekend’s When Sides Collide. 

Harding averages 18.1 points and in excess of 5 helps whilst Freeman, who scored 25 in opposition to Simeon, places up 19 details and practically 10 rebounds a video game. 

Rolling Meadows has dimension and duration to contend with Freeman within, when Cameron Christie remains a person of the elite skills in the point out. 

Be expecting this battle concerning two of the most effective Class 4A teams in the point out to go down to the wire. 

The decide: Moline 67, Rolling Meadows 66