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Class 4A Playoff Predictions

May 21, 2013

By Sean Duncan and Drake Skleba

The Class 4A playoffs are, in a few words, a mess. A mess because of the imbalanced sectionals, inequitable supersectionals, and overall parity across the board. Indeed, the stage is set for a wild and crazy playoffs.

Speaking of imbalanced sectionals, the Reavis Section is a joke. This sectional includes No. 2 St. Laurence, No. 3 Mount Carmel, No. 4 St. Rita, 4A runner-up Lyons Township and Simeon – all of which, at some point in the season, were ranked in the top 10. Lyons Township will likely face Simeon in the regional championship on Saturday. Then the Lions will likely see Mount Carmel. To top it off, the Reavis Sectional will play the winner of the Providence Sectional, which has the likes of No. 5 Lincoln-Way North, No. 8 Lockport, No. 20 Sandburg, Brother Rice, Providence and several other powers in the Crestwood Supersectional.

There are other sectionals where there’s little-to-no competition in the bracket. This system certainly isn’t a true determinant of the best teams playing in Joliet for the state championship.

Nevertheless, the Class 4A regional semifinals begin Wednesday and Thursday, with regional championships set for Saturday. Who will be the last team standing at Joliet’s Silver Cross Field on June 8?

Good question. The Guru Drake Skleba and I have never been so split in our playoff predictions. In fact, we only agree on two semifinalists: No. 1-ranked Normal West and defending champion Oak Park. Normal West has a tough road ahead, though, as the Wildcats likely have to get through No. 25 Moline in the regional final, No. 12 Minooka in the sectional semifinal, and one of the Southwestern Conference powers in the sectional championship just to get to the supersectional.

Oak Park, on the other hand, has the cleanest path to Joliet. The Huskies won’t run into a ranked opponent (during any point this season) until the sectional final, where they potentially will play Glenbrook South or Mundelein.

In regards to the other supersectionals, The Guru likes defending Chicago Catholic Blue champion St. Laurence advancing out of the loaded Standard Bank Stadium Super, while I am picking Lincoln-Way North downing Catholic Blue slayer Lyons Township to advance.

There’s no more convoluted supersectional than the Rockford Super 2. So much so, in fact, we don’t have any of the same teams even making the supersectional.

Below is how we see the state playoffs shaking out.  

Class 4A Playoff Predictions:

STANDARD BANK STADIUM SUPER-SECTIONAL

Guru: St. Laurence d. Lincoln-Way North
Duncan: Lincoln-Way North d. Lyons Township

REAVIS SECTIONAL

Guru:
Mount Carmel d. Lyons Township
St. Laurence d. St. Rita
St. Laurence d. Mount Carmel

Duncan:
Lyons Township d. Mount Carmel
St. Laurence d. St. Rita
Lyons Township d. St. Laurence

PROVIDENCE SECTIONAL

Guru:
Lincoln-Way North d. Andrew
Lockport d. Brother Rice
Lincoln-Way North d. Lockport

Duncan:
Lincoln-Way North d. Lincoln-Way East
Sandburg d.  Lockport
Lincoln-Way North d. Sandburg

Guru: St. Laurence Advances to Joliet
Duncan: Lincoln-Way North Advances to Joliet

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS SUPER-SECTIONAL

Guru: Normal West d. Downers Grove South
Duncan: Normal West d. Neuqua Valley

ILLINOIS WESLEYAN SECTIONAL

Guru:
Normal West d. Minooka
O’Fallon d. Edwardsville
Normal West d. O’Fallon

Duncan:
Normal West d. Minooka
Edwardsville d. O’Fallon
Normal West d. Edwardsville

NEUQUA VALLEY SECTIONAL

Guru:
Downers Grove South d. Hinsdale South
Naperville Central d. Neuqua Valley
Downers Grove South d. Naperville Central

Duncan:
Downers Grove South d. Downers Grove North
Neuqua Valley d. Naperville Central
Neuqua Valley d. Downers Grove South

Guru: Normal West advances to Joliet
Duncan: Normal West advances to Joliet

ROCKFORD SUPER-SECTIONAL 2

Guru: Crystal Lake South d. Wheaton North
Duncan: Lake Park d. Prairie Ridge

HUNTLEY SECTIONAL

Guru:
McHenry d. Huntley
Crystal Lake South d. Hononegah
Crystal Lake South d. McHenry

Duncan:
Prairie Ridge d. Huntley
Hononegah d. Crystal Lake South
Prairie Ridge d. Hononegah

ST. CHARLES EAST SECTIONAL

Guru:
Lake Park d. St. Charles East
Wheaton North d. Batavia
Wheaton North d. Lake Park

Duncan:
Lake Park d. St. Charles East
Wheaton North d. Batavia
Lake Park d. Wheaton North

Guru: Crystal Lake South Advances to Joliet
Duncan: Lake Park Advances to Joliet

ROCKFORD SUPERSECTIONAL 1

Guru: Oak Park d. Glenbrook South
Duncan: Oak Park d. Glenbrook South

GLENBROOK NORTH SECTIONAL

Guru:
Mundelein d. Glenbrook North
Glenbrook South d. Carmel
Glenbrook South d. Mundelein

Duncan:
Mundelein d. Libertyville
Glenbrook South d. Carmel
Glenbrook South d. Mundelein

NILES WEST SECTIONAL
Guru:
Oak Park d. New Trier
Maine South d. Elk Grove
Oak Park d. Maine South

Duncan:
Oak Park d. New Trier
Maine South d. Elk Grove
Oak Park d. Maine South

Guru: Oak Park Advances to Joliet
Duncan: Oak Park Advances to Joliet

STATE SEMIFINALS
Guru:
Oak Park d. Crystal Lake South
Normal West d. St. Laurence
Duncan:
Oak Park d. Lake Park
Lincoln-Way North d. Normal West

THIRD PLACE
Guru: St. Laurence d. Crystal Lake South
Duncan: Normal West d. Lake Park

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Guru: Normal West d. Oak Park
Duncan: Lincoln-Way North d. Oak Park

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