The IHSA will release Class 3A and Class 4A seeds for the upcoming state tournament at approximately 4 p.m. Thursday, with pairings to follow on Friday.
For five of the six Naperville-area programs, that means placement into the East Aurora Sectional.
Winners of nine and six straight games, respectively, Benet and Metea Valley are entering the home stretch in the right direction.
The Redwings, owners of 20 wins for six straight seasons, rode the top seed in the East Aurora Sectional last year all the way to the Peoria and the Class 4A state final and has made a case for high seeding again this year.
Along with owning victories over five teams in the sectional, the Redwings own victories over Curie and St. Charles North, thanks to their nice showing over at Pontiac back in December.
“We’ve had some pretty good games and wins against teams in the sectional,” Redwings’ senior forward Colin Bonnett said. “We’ve beat some pretty good teams that are just throughout the state. So I think we have a pretty good resume and, you know, I just hope we get the highest seed that we can.”
Seventh-year Benet coach Gene Heidkamp routinely challenges his team with an arduous schedule year in and year out and knows his team is getting better and better at the right time.
“No idea right now. We’re going to see how it all shakes out. I think there are some games that we need to find out about (Saturday) night and on Wednesday,” he said last Saturday after the Redwings’ 56-49 victory over Hoffman Estates. “We’ve played well, though. We’re 20-6 and played a good schedule. So our sectional will be tough and there’s a lot of great teams. So hopefully things end up working out all right for us.”
Meanwhile, Metea Valley has gotten settled down since its performance over at Wheaton Warrenville South’s MLK Tournament last month, a four-game stretch that includes a close loss to Benet.
After Tuesday’s 18-point victory over Naperville Central, the Mustangs (14-12) have eight victories over teams in the East Aurora Sectional, a slate headlined by victories over West Aurora, Hinsdale South and St. Charles North.
“I don’t know (where we’ll be placed). It’s a big sectional, so people look everywhere and it’s hard to keep a pulse on every team,” Metea Valley coach Bob Vozza said. “So we put ourself in good position since Wheaton Warrenville South tournament. We’re going in the right direction, so we ask for a fighting chance and hopefully we’re in there with (a) seven, eight, nine, 10 (seed). Who knows? It’s a tough sectional. We’re in a tough sectional.”
Elsewhere, Naperville Central (14-12), Naperville North (13-10) and Waubonsie Valley (10-14) have all been fighting for potential positioning within the 22-team East Aurora Sectional.
While Naperville Central has been handed two straight losses after its four-point victory at Naperville North on Feb. 6, Naperville North has wins over Wheaton Warrenville South and Fremd since that four-point loss and Waubonsie Valley finds itself on a three-game winning streak.
The Redhawks’ losses to Wheaton North and Metea Valley since their victory at Naperville North has their coach somewhat unsure of where they’ll sit come late Thursday afternoon.
“No. I have no idea. I don’t know where we are. At one time, I thought we’d get to eight or nine (seed). But I don’t know now,” Naperville Central coach Pete Kramer said.
For Neuqua Valley, the team that owns a season-sweep over Metea Valley and a November victory over Benet in the Hoops for Healing Thanksgiving Tournament, postseason placement will come within the 21-team Bolingbrook Sectional.
The Wildcats, off to a 21-4 start overall, had their five-game winning streak snapped last Friday at West Aurora as the Blackhawks blitzed them to the tune of 64-27.
But given West Aurora’s loss to crosstown rival East Aurora the next night, Neuqua Valley can clinch the outright Upstate Eight Valley title on Friday with a victory at home over Waubonsie Valley.
A ninth 20-win season since 2005-06 in hand, Neuqua Valley owns victories over two main competitors in the sectional, Geneva and host Bolingbrook.
The winners of the East Aurora Sectional and Bolingbrook Sectional will meet in the Class 4A Hinsdale Central Super-Sectional on March 17, with a trip to Peoria at stake.
