City title validation for Simeon
Forget all that worry about the top-ranked team. Simeon cemented itself as No. 1 by winning the city title. It took five overtimes to dispatch Curie and Kenwood, but the Wolverines got it done.
There were a lot of losses in the second tier of teams. Hillcrest, Brother Rice, Rolling Meadows, Bolingbrook and Mount Carmel all lost to unranked or lowerranked teams. That group has an established track record, so none fell too far. But it is concerning to see teams with very high playoff aspirations losing games they should be winning this late in the season.
Downers Grove North jumped all the way into the top 10. The Trojans picked up solid victories this week against Waubonsie Valley and Glenbard West, but the major factor in the rise was so many teams losing winnable games. Downers Grove North appears to be improving. The Trojans haven’t lost since a two-point defeat to Hinsdale Central on Jan. 7.
Time to bring state finals to Chicago?
The Public League’s championship week was an overwhelming success. Fans and coaches raved about the overall setup, and the crowds turned out. Chicago Public Schools said that more than 5,000 fans attended the games Saturday at UIC.
“[CPS] did a great job,” Simeon coach Robert Smith said. “Everything was top-notch, even the little things for the teams that everyone doesn’t see.”
Smith has been so impressed with the new CPS administration that he’s taking things another step.
“This experience was better than last year at state,” Simeon said. “If I was Chicago, I would be trying to get the state championship here. Here at UIC or Wintrust, you have everything you need. You have the hotels and stuff to do for people coming to town. Champaign is cool, but there is no better place for basketball than Chicago.”
Injury woes
Glenbrook North guard Josh Fridman is injured and likely will miss the playoffs. Fridman helped the Spartans knock off Rolling Meadows earlier this week, but without him they were trounced by New Trier.
Fridman is one of the area’s best point guards, and it will be extremely difficult for Glenbrook
North to replace him. It’s a devastating injury as the Spartans head into the playoffs.
Jeremy Fears Jr. alarmed fans at Joliet West by walking out to accept his McDonald’s All-American jersey Saturday with his shoulder iced up.
Fears didn’t play in the game against Joliet Central on Friday. His father, Jeremy Fears Sr., said Fears likely will sit out this week but should be good to go for the state playoffs.
The Tigers are the top seed in the Bolingbrook Sectional, which probably has been underrated. Joliet West, the host Raiders, Lincoln-Way East and Oswego East are not only ranked but have been some of the area’s most consistent teams. There are two major dark horses, as well. Romeoville, the No. 6 seed, has won 20 games, and Neuqua Valley, the No. 5 seed, knocked off Bolingbrook last week.