Morgan Park best of solid 3A field
CLASS 3A TOURNAMENT PREVIEW
The road to Peoria begins Monday, with regional action tipping off across the state. Here is a look at Class 3A: Team to beat: Morgan Park. Coach Nick Irvin’s program, shooting for its fourth state title in six years, has become the premier 3A program in Illinois. The defending state champions have the best 1- 2 combination in 3A in Illinois recruit Ayo Dosunmu and sophomore star Adam Miller.
Chicago- area contenders: DePaul Prep, Bogan, Marian Catholic, Hillcrest.
With a manageable sectional and the type of individual player — junior Perry Cowan — you can depend on in March, DePaul Prep is a favorite to be playing in Peoria.
Bogan might be a year away from being the team to beat in 3A, but the Bengals, led by juniors Jordan Booker, Rashaun Agee and Jeremiah Washington, would love another crack at Morgan Park in the St. Laurence Sectional final.
Hillcrest and Marian Catholic have won 21 and 20 games, respectively, and are on a collision course to meet in the sectional final. The two played in November, with Marian pulling out a 61- 57 victory.
After reaching two Class 4A supersectionals and falling short in 2013 and 2014 behind Tyler Ulis, Marian is now a 3A school with a legitimate shot to make its first appearance at state.
Hillcrest, led by senior Bobby Harvey, has lost only once in the last two months.
Downstate’s best: Champaign Central ( 18- 8), Springfield Lanphier ( 23- 3), Springfield Southeast ( 23- 3) and Lincoln ( 24- 5) are stateranked and in the same loaded sectional.
Champaign Central is ready, having faced a rugged schedule and boasting one of the top players in the state in 6- 6 senior Tim Finke, who averages 22 points and 8.7 rebounds.
Springfield Lanphier has the experience of playing deep into March, finishing fourth in the state a year ago. Senior guard Cardell McGee fills the stat sheet, averaging 18.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 3.8 steals. Sleeper: St. Rita. The Mustangs ( 16- 11) might not have a glitzy record and likely would have to beat Bogan and Morgan Park just to reach the supersectional, but they’re a dangerous team nonetheless.
St. Rita has size, length and competent guard play and has played a challenging schedule to prepare it for the rigors of March.
Class 3A state semifinal picks: Morgan Park over Hillcrest, Champaign Central over DePaul Prep.
Class 3A champ: Morgan Park.