CN100 Game of the Week preview: Girls 4A Joliet Central Sectional - Oswego vs. Neuqua Valley

Girls 4A Joliet Central Sectional Final – Oswego vs. Neuqua Valley

Game Date/Time: Thursday, Feb. 27, 7 p.m.

Broadcast Dates/Times: 7 p.m., Friday, Feb. 28; Noon and 4 p.m., Sunday, March 2; 9 p.m., Monday, March 3, on CN100, The Comcast Network.

Where: Joliet Central High School, 201 E. Jefferson, Joliet.

Records (as of 2/25/14): Neuqua Valley (27-5 overall, 10-0 Upstate Eight River), Oswego (24-7 overall, 14-0 Southwest Prairie).

Key players: Neuqua Valley: Niki Lazar, Sr. G; Bryce Menendez, Jr. F/C; Kai Moon, Soph. G; Malia Smith, Sr. G; Najee Smith, Sr. G; Myia Starks, Soph. G. Oswego: Jordan Campbell, Jr. F; Kelsey Nelson, Jr. C; Siarra O’Neill, Sr. G; Erin Sinnott, Jr. G; Amri Wilder, Jr. G.

Fast Facts: The Class 4A Joliet Central Sectional title is on the line, featuring the top-seeded Wildcats of Neuqua against third-seeded Oswego. Both teams come in scorching hot. Neuqua has won 15 straight games, including putting the finishing touches on an unbeaten romp through the Upstate Eight Valley and a win over Batavia for the overall conference championship. The Wildcats play a frenetic pace with waves of talented guards, led by the Smith sisters. Lazar has had a big season as well. Menendez causes match-up problems with her versatile game and length on the defensive end. The Wildcats’ postseason nemesis, perennial power Bolingbrook, was knocked out by Metea Valley in the regional final. Oswego is similarly hot, winning 19 of its last 21 after dominating the SPC. The Panthers are a team with no senior starters, but it sure feels that way since they have all started for at least two seasons. Wilder is one of the area’s best point guards, and a top-level two-way player. She controls the offense, is a tenacious defender and is a capable scorer as well. Sinnott has broken out this season, becoming one of the conference’s best players. O’Neill is a sharp-shooter on the outside. The Panthers don’t go very deep, which could be an advantage for Neuqua, known for its up-tempo pressure defense.

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