IHSA boys basketball: Class 3A, 4A super-sectional previews
Trips to Champaign are on the line in the super-sectionals of the IHSA boys basketball tournament.
Marquee Sports Network will air a pair of games from the Class 3A and 4A slates Monday night, and here’s a look ahead at the two matchups before the action gets underway.
Class 3A: St. Ignatius (23-11) vs. Grayslake Central (29-5)
NOW Arena, Hoffman Estates, 6 p.m.
St. Ignatius is looking to win its second straight super-sectional after last season’s run to the Class 3A semifinals.
The No. 2-seeded Wolfpack opened this year’s tournament with three straight convincing wins in the Chicago (De La Salle) sectional, beating Elmwood Park, Perspectives/IIT-MSA and Westinghouse.
They knocked off No. 4-seeded Fenwick last week to make it back-to-back sectional championships.
The Pack defeats Fenwick 50-43 to win their 2nd straight IHSA Sectional Championship! Next is the Super-Sectional on Monday at 6p at NOW Arena! Richard Barron led the Pack with 26. @michaelsobrien @joehoopsreport @scottybscout @HSBBALLjg @ILL_HS_Hoops @Tim_OBrien10 @NestoHoops pic.twitter.com/yfSl4WV57U
— Saint Ignatius Boys Basketball (@SICPBB) March 4, 2023
Grayslake Central, meanwhile, has not only made school history with its current run, but also avenged last year’s season-ending loss.
Lake Forest handed Grayslake Central a 21-point loss in the 2022 sectional semifinals. They beat the Rams by the same margin in January.
The two met again last week in the sectional championship, and No. 2-seeded Grayslake Central knocked off No. 1-seeded Lake Forest 46-43 for the first sectional title in school history.
Before the win over Lake Forest, Grayslake Central beat Northside, Lakes and St. Viator.
Players to watch
St. Ignatius: Richard Barron — The senior and George Mason commit has scored 19+ points in Ignatius’ four postseason wins thus far, including 26 in the sectional championship game.
The Pack defeats Fenwick 50-43 to win their 2nd straight IHSA Sectional Championship! Next is the Super-Sectional on Monday at 6p at NOW Arena! Richard Barron led the Pack with 26. @michaelsobrien @joehoopsreport @scottybscout @HSBBALLjg @ILL_HS_Hoops @Tim_OBrien10 @NestoHoops pic.twitter.com/yfSl4WV57U
— Saint Ignatius Boys Basketball (@SICPBB) March 4, 2023
Grayslake Central: Sam Cooper — The senior has been the Rams’ leading scorer in each win of the tournament run.
Class 4A: Libertyville (29-5) vs. New Trier (31-4)
NOW Arena, Hoffman Estates, 8 p.m.
Here we have two teams whose runs to the super-sectional have included dramatic finishes.
Libertyville’s season last year ended in crushing fashion with an overtime loss to Barrington in the sectional championship. This time around, the No. 1-seeded Wildcats beat Barrington in the sectional semifinals on a buzzer-beating three from Aidyn Boone.
@aboone_2023 with the game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer for @LHSwildcatBball. Wildcats win 50-47! What a game. @suntimes_preps @PrepHoopsIL @ILL_HS_Hoops @chilandprephoop @NBCSPreps @KallioSports pic.twitter.com/DUGmR5h0hT
— GridIrons (@grid_irons) March 1, 2023
Libertyville, which previously beat Zion-Benton and Warren, knocked off Prospect in the sectional championship to secure their first super-sectional appearance since 1994.
New Trier, the top seed in its sectional, has played consecutive thrillers after opening the tournament with wins over Elk Grove and Niles North.
First, in the sectional semifinal vs. Glenbrook South, Evan Kanellos hit a game-winning layup at the buzzer.
Trevians with the buzzer beating screen by @FiegenJake, pass by @loganfeller2024 and shot by @evankanellos1 to defeat GBS 42-40. @ntboosterclub @AthleticsNTHS @NewTriersFinest @TriShip pic.twitter.com/hdfhjgEVXI
— NT Boys Hoops (@NewTrierBBB) March 1, 2023
Then, in the sectional championship against Glenbrook North, Kanellos put the Trevians ahead with a free throw in the closing seconds. New Trier survived a last-second shot attempt by Glenbrook North to win its first sectional championship since 2013.
And @NewTrierBBB’s March Madness continues: They led GBN for only 5.1 seconds, but it was the last 5.1 seconds. This drive led to the go-ahead FT. pic.twitter.com/P9P3CDflWM
— Jeremy Mullman (@jeremymullman) March 4, 2023
Wow. 47-46 last second victory over a tough GBN squad. #SectionalChamps – Let’s go!!! @NewTrierBBB knows how to #FinishStrong – congrats guys, keep it going! pic.twitter.com/SMPsZ4B5rG
— Jim Davis (@NTStrength) March 4, 2023
Players to watch
Libertyville: Aidyn Boone — Boone’s buzzer beater against Barrington was part of a big game, and he dropped 18 more points against Prospect.
CATS (28-5) WIN 50-47 vs. Barrington! Aidyn Boone @aboone_2023 game high 26pts and hit the winning shot at the end of regulation. CATS advance to the Sectional Finals this Friday night 7pm @ Barrington HS vs. the winner of Stevenson/Prospect. #together pic.twitter.com/WWhefrlpKB
— 🏀LHS Basketball🏀 (@LHSwildcatBball) March 1, 2023
New Trier: Jake Fiegen — Fiegen, a Cornell commit who eclipsed 1,000 career points this season, scored 19 points in the sectional championship game — 12 in the fourth quarter.