Friday, February 25, 2011
Sports Writer Paul Johnson ranks the top five teams in the region, plus a short list of the next best teams.
1. Benet Academy (27-0): Benet is the talk of the nation after taking down the state’s No. 1 team, Simeon on Saturday. The Redwings soared to No. 6 in the USA Today poll and No. 1 in the Midwest. They’ll take their perfect record into the postseason next week at the Naperville North Regional. 2. Downers Grove South (23-3): The Mustangs quietly will ride into the postseason in Benet’s shadow, not having lost a game since Dec. 18. They’ll ride a 16-game win streak into the West Aurora Regional next week. 3. East Aurora (20-5): The Tomcats have won five straight after a three-game hiccup and still have a non-conference tune-up with Batavia Friday before starting their postseason journey. East Aurora headlines the Bolingbrook Regional next …
41.7099
-88.194399
Neuqua Valley High School
2360 95th St, Naperville, IL
/articles/hoops-these-boys-are-flying-high-25
239530
/locations/3529477
Friday, February 18, 2011
Sports writer Paul Johnson ranks the region's top five boys basketball teams, plus a list of five knocking on the door.
1. Benet Academy (25-0): The game Illinois basketball fans have awaited for all season is finally here, the Redwings’ showdown with No. 1 Simeon Saturday at the UIC Pavilion. Simeon was knocking on the door of a No. 1 national ranking, but was knocked off by Whitney Young this week. Could a Benet win make it the state’s No. 1 team? 2. Downers Grove South (21-3): A 10-day layoff didn’t slow down the Mustangs against Leyden. Friday features a chance for DGS to wrap up the West Suburban Gold as the Mustangs host a tough Proviso East team. DGS beat the Pirates by 12 in January. 3. East Aurora (17-5): The Tomcats rebounded from three straight losses with three straight wins, including Neuqua Valley and cross-town rival West Aurora. They …
41.7099
-88.194399
Neuqua Valley High School
2360 95th St, Naperville, IL
/articles/hoops-these-boys-are-flying-high-23
239530
/locations/3438107
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Sports writer Paul Johnson ranks the region's top five girls basketball teams, plus a list of the five next best.
1. Bolingbrook (22-2): The Raiders continue to steamroll toward Normal, dominating a solid Homewood-Flossmoor team by 50 points and pummeling Plainfield East in the regional opener. Next up, Romeoville in the regional title game Thursday. 2. Benet Academy (22-6): The Redwings survived a tough test from Naperville North in the regional semifinals to set up a regional-title game against Wheaton Warrenville South at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Naperville North. 3. Naperville Central (23-8): The DuPage Valley Conference champions could face Neuqua Valley Friday for the regional title at East Aurora. The Redhawks slipped past Downers Grove North by nine in the regional opener, giving them 13 wins in their last 14 games. 4. Waubonsie Valley (23-4): …
41.768655
-88.155555
Naperville Central High School
440 Aurora Ave, Naperville, IL
/articles/hoops-give-these-girls-a-high-five-29
239787
/locations/3435338
Friday, February 11, 2011
Sports writer Paul Johnson ranks the top five boys basketball teams in the region, plus a list of the five next best.
1. Benet Academy (24-0): The margins of victory keep getting smaller, but the wins keep coming for the Redwings. Last week’s wins clinched their second straight East Suburban Catholic championship. 2. Downers Grove South (20-3): The Mustangs continue to roll, overwhelming Willowbrook and Downers Grove North to make it 13 straight wins. DGS gave up only 46 combined points in the two wins. 3. Neuqua Valley (20-4): The Wildcats recovered from a mid-season lull to win four of their last five games. Avenging their first loss of the year at East Aurora Thursday would give them a great shot at winning the Upstate Eight Valley title. 4. East Aurora (16-5): The Tomcats join the region with this week’s launch of the Montgomery site. UConn-bound Ryan…
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Sports writer Paul Johnson ranks the region's top five girls basketball teams, followed by a list of the next best.
1. Bolingbrook (19-2): The Raiders have been so dominant in 13 games against Illinois opponents that anything short of another Class 4A state title will not do. The average margin of victory thus far in Illinois has been 80-30. Astonishing. 2. Benet Academy (19-6): A non-conference win over Hinsdale Central has given the Redwings 11 wins in their last 12 games as they prepare for Naperville North in regionals next week. 3. Naperville Central (21-8): The Redhawks continue to storm up the rankings after a big win over Wheaton North Monday clinched at least a tie for the DuPage Valley Conference crown with one game to go. 4. Waubonsie Valley (20-4): Warriors have a couple of winnable road games left in the regular season before preparing to …
Friday, February 4, 2011
Sports writer Paul Johnson ranks the top area high school boys basketball teams from 1-5, plus a short list of the next best.
1. Benet (22-0): Redwings keep on overcoming every challenge, but the road to facing Simeon Feb. 19 is no picnic. St. Patrick, Marist and Niles Notre Dame are no guarantees in East Suburban Catholic play. 2. Downers Grove South (18-3): Mustangs’ surge continued with a win over Morton, avenging one of their three losses this season. Oh, and that makes 11 straight wins and counting. 3. Neuqua Valley (19-4): Wildcats bounce back from Waubonsie loss by dominating Bolingbrook. The schedule sets up nicely for a strong regular-season finish as well. 4. Oswego (14-5): Panthers push closer to a Southwest Prairie Conference title with wins over Plainfield East and South. A chance for a second win over both Oswego East and Plainfield Central await …
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Sports writer Paul Johnson ranks the area's top high school girls basketball teams 1-5, followed by a short list of the next best.
1. Bolingbrook (17-2): Raiders dominate Sandburg and receive their inevitable Class 4A Romeoville Sectional top seed. 2. Benet Academy (18-6): The Redwings are on the rise after their upset of Loyola gave them 10 wins in their last 11 games. Tuesday’s Hinsdale Central game was postponed. 3. Waubonsie Valley (18-4): The Warriors were dominated by Upstate Eight Valley champion Bartlett in Round 2 of their season series, but can get back on track Thursday against Neuqua. 4. Naperville Central (19-8): The Redhawks earned at least a share of the Sweet 16 Tournament title after wins over New Trier and Schaumburg Saturday; have won 9 of 10 overall. 5. Minooka (18-4): Indians upended by Lockport after winning 14 of 15. Minooka still has a …
Friday, January 28, 2011
Sports writer Paul Johnson ranks to the top area boys basketball teams from 1-5, plus a short list of the next best.
1. Benet Academy (21-0): Redwings welcome Dave Sobolewski back from a back strain in style, dominating Glenbard East at the Sears Centre. Benet is in prime position for the No. 1 seed at the Class 4A East Aurora Sectional. 2. Downers Grove South (16-3): The Mustangs are the talk of the suburbs after beating Proviso East in Maywood by 12 points and running their winning streak to nine with a win over Addison Trail. 3. Neuqua Valley (18-4): The Wildcats hang on to third in the rankings despite losing to rival Waubonsie Valley Saturday. Neuqua heads to Bolingbrook Saturday before returning to Upstate Eight Valley play against Lake Park next week. 4. Hinsdale South (13-6): The Hornets reach the top five for the first time all year, but a trip …
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Sports writer Paul Johnson ranks to the top area girls basketball teams from 1-5, plus a short list of the next best.
1. Bolingbrook (16-2): Raiders notched their 55th straight conference win by blowing out Lincoln-Way Central Tuesday. Bolingbrook has won nine straight overall since dropping a pair of games in Phoenix in December. 2. Waubonsie Valley (18-3): Warriors have won five of their last six and have a chance to avenge an earlier loss to Bartlett tonight at home. They fell 68-64 in Bartlett on Nov. 30. 3. Benet Academy (16-6): Redwings have now won eight of their past nine games, including a convincing win over reeling Downers Grove South Tuesday. 4. Minooka (17-3): Indians are in command in the Southwest Prairie after surviving a tough challenge against Plainfield North Tuesday. Minooka controls its own destiny in the conference race at 10-0. 5. …
Friday, January 21, 2011
Sports writer Paul Johnson ranks the top area boys basketball teams from 1-5, plus a short list of the next best.
1. Benet (19-0): Redwings surviving without Dave Sobolewski (back injury). Benet hopes to have the star point guard back for Saturday’s showdown at the Sears Centre against Glenbard East. 2. Downers Grove South (14-3): Mustangs are on a roll, winning seven straight games and nine of their last 10. Showdown at Proviso East looms Friday. 3. Neuqua Valley (17-3): After 14-0 start, Wildcats have hit a rough patch, going 3-3 since. Neuqua split four games at the Rockton Hononegah Tournament over the weekend. 4. Plainfield Central (13-4): Wildcats rebound from Oswego East loss that snapped a seven-game winning streak with a win over Minooka. Central hosts Plainfield North Friday. 5. Plainfield North (13-5): Tigers hoping to right the ship after …
Chris Walker
2:47 pm on Thursday, February 17, 2011
The only better Paul in basketball is named Paul Mokeski. more ›