Kane County Preps Basketball Podcast: Boys postseason starts!

Josh and Jake re-hash Geneva-Lake Park girls BB in sectional final and Burlington Central-Sycamore, while look ahead to boys BB postseason.

Episode Transcript

(00:04):
Already, Josh, we are recordingand we are doing a remote podcast this
week off of Skype as we aregetting set for a crazy stretch of basketball.
Obviously the girls state tournament coming uplater on this weekend, and then
we got the boys tournament starting aswell. But before we get started with
all that, how is the weekend? Good weekend? A busy weekend.

(00:27):
We had a lot of basketball thispast weekend or this past week and then
a really great weekend for the SaintCharles North boys swimmy team. Congratulations to
them they won their second straight swimmingstate championship. It was also dual wrestling
this past weekend from just outside ofthe Cane area. Montini One their third

(00:48):
straight state title. Lamaque won theirClass two A titles, So a lot
of championships being awarded. But again, congrats to the Saint Charles North boys
swimmy team for winning their title.And now we turn our attention to basketball.
You mentioned we're getting close to thestate tournament for the girls, and
you know, I know Geneva hadtheir sights on possibly getting back there,

(01:11):
but unfortunately it just wasn't meant tobe. You were there for their sectional
final on Thursday night. Yeah,so, you know, a tough circumstance
obviously heading in. Of course,everybody knew at that point that Lindsay Blackmore
was out for the year. Youknow, it was just the reality.
But that being said, Lake Parkreally grinded it out and got great contributions

(01:34):
from a lot of people outside ofDarian Rodgers. Obviously we've talked a lot
about her before and you know,she had thirty nine points or whatever,
and in both of those meetings leadingup, Shelly had fifteen the other night,
which meant that a lot of othershad to step up. And that's
exactly what happened for Lake Parking.I think Amathorn in fourteen rebounds, Sarah
Balley had i think fourteen or contributionsfrom them, and unfortunately for Geneva they

(01:59):
were just kind of unable to counterum. They probably needed a little bit
more offensively from from Cape Palmer andsome others. You know, Unfortunately some
of those shots weren't falling um.But you know, at the end of
the day, Lake Park able tosurvive get their second sectional state title in
program history. And and of courseyou know Geneva had a great year.

(02:19):
Yeah, well you mentioned this kindof a tough break losing Lindsay blackmore to
that risk injury in the regional finaland would allow to see her queer end
at least on the chord playing.But the unfortunately injuries are just part of
the game. And unfortunately for her, she's going to be playing at the
next level of Colgate, So it'snot like this is the end of her
basketball playing career by any stretch.But um, you know, tough,
tough for Geneva. But you know, even with Lindsay was gonna be a

(02:40):
tough game with lake Park. Theyhad just put two games around the regular
season. Lake Park, he's gota great team. Uh, They a
fantastic player and you mentioned and there'sbeen a few games in their playoffs or
at least a couple games where teamshave tried to take away Rogers. Easier
said than done, but they've donea decent job of it. But other
girls stepping up. So uh,congratulations to lake Park from moving on to

(03:05):
a really historic achievement and they're gonnabe playing again tonight. Um. And
congratulations Adiva Geneva on a really goodseason. Um. And and it's a
really good future too. I meanthey have. They have Kate coming back.
She'll be a senior next year.We've talked a lot about Cassidy already,
who's a freshman this year. Ithink only good things ahead of that
kid. And she's only going toget continue to get better and better.

(03:28):
Those are robo. Uh, she'llbe back. She's a really good player.
So um, Geneva has a hasa very bright future. Um.
And and they did a good season. Uh, I guess kind of moving
on if it's all right, we'llkind of move on. Um. Burlington
Central. Uh, they had theirseason conclude last Tuesday in the sectional semifinal.
I actually got to attend that game. Um, they played Sycamore and

(03:53):
Uh, I'd say what in thatgame? Uh, Sycamore, they were
just on fire shooting the three.That made a ton of them, not
sure how many, but they builtsort of. They built like a fifteen
point lead in the third quarter,and Burrowington Central really came back gangbusters.
Catchmid in our last high school game. She really fantastic last games. She
had twenty nine points and then alot of Wells got hot in the fourth

(04:16):
quarter. She got going. ButI feel like Brown Too Central just kind
of ran out of time a littlebit. There's a few situations where Sycamore
missed a few free throws and gotthe rebound, which were kind of backbreakers
there at the end. But ina game that you know, I thought
it was kind of a toss upgame that it could have gone either way
between Sycamore and Burton. Sycamore cameout on top, and then Sycamore almost

(04:41):
beat Montini in the sectional final thatended up being a six point game and
it was a want possession game inthe last minute. So I kind of
thought that was a sectional that I'mnot sure I figured Montini would come out
of it, but I thought there'sgonna be some really good basketball played,
and there certainly was. But again, catchmid Wow, I can't say enough
about the effort that she had inthat game with twenty nine points, and

(05:03):
she just kind of put them onput them on her back for a while
and just just played a great game. Yeah, you know, and I
think I put out on Twitter.I mean, I've I've covered her from
now for three seasons and um,you know, just her entire career pretty
outstanding. You know, she gota thousand points really early in her junior
year. Uh, and then Iobviously she became the program all time leading

(05:24):
score seven hundred rebounds for her UM, and she Lewis is gonna get a
really good one. UM. Yeah, yeah, Lewis is Lewis is gonna
They're gonna get a very good player. I mean they have They're getting some
good players. I mean Catchmid isa great player. They have Lily Curriers
from Lines Township, she's going toLewis. They have a couple other players

(05:45):
that the name mistakes me, uh, lose me who they are. And
then of course they have Steph hardfrom Geneva, Who's who's there right now?
So Lewis doing a really good jobof mining that that that local talent
um and Catchmid's certainly one of them. Yeah. The good news for for
Burlington is they have one more yearof Wells. You know, again we've
we've talked about this before, butyou know, it's a player. She's

(06:08):
a player that really feels like shewas a senior this year and she's a
junior. So um to get onemore year of her and just everything that
she was able to do can onlymean good things for them, no doubt,
no doubt, bright future for aloan of wells and bright future for
Brington Central even without Catchman. Ithink they're still going to be a team
to watch out for next year.I mentioned Montini able to kind of get

(06:30):
through that that sectional. Um,I've mentioned it, I think on this
podcast before you know the thing aboutmy team. They have a ton of
talent, but they're not a greatshooting team. Um. And then the
numbers kind of bear themselves out.Um. They shoot, they're best shooters,
shoot under thirty percent from three,and they shot really poorly in both
sectional games. But fortunately for them, they play good defense and they rebound

(06:55):
really well. Taddy out of Thomashad a huge sectional seven final games,
twenty three points in that game,just an impressed with sophomore. She has
an offer from from Marquette and TaylorCharles another sophomore. They actually started for
sophomores. So Montini able to getout of a tough sectional and they move
on. They're going to be playinggrays Lake Central tonight at Elga Community College.

(07:18):
I'm heading up there a little bitlater today. So Montini moves on.
A game that I saw on Thursdaythat was probably one of the biggest
surprises in a playoffs so far.Bennett. They came to the season ranked
number one. They finished the regularseason ranked number one. They only had
two losses this year, playing anextremely tough schedule. I think a lot

(07:41):
of people expected them to get onto State and maybe win it this year,
but bowing Brook had other ideas.Bollingbrook played a great game. It
was on Bennett's home floor. Interestinggame in that bowing Brook had three of
their starters pick up at least threethousand a first half. In fact,
the most talented player Treasure Thompson,She's going to LSU. She picked up

(08:03):
her third foul early in the secondquarter, and then she got a technical
for her fourth foul, So basicallyshe was kind of a non factor in
the game. But Jaden Maribel,who's a senior guard going to NIE,
she was just fantastic. She hadshe had a half court shot at the
end of the first quarter, andthen she just made play after play after
play. Scored twenty four points inthe game. It was it was tied

(08:26):
at halftime, and then you couldkind of see Bennett when the game got
in the third quarter and it wasclose, they started to maybe get a
little bit kind of panicked. Theytook some kind of not great shots and
bowling bridges kind of continue to gainconfidence with the lead and make plays and
unfortunately for Bennett, somewhat similar toGeneva with Lindsay Blackmore, Bennett's one of

(08:48):
their best players. Brooks Schrammick,who's going to Wisconsin, and she tweaked
to hamstring in the first half ofthe game and she barely played in the
second half, which was a reallytough break for her and for Bennett.
But but Bolingbrook moves on and justthis stunning fashion they kind of ran away
from the game. Is there wasan eight point game Middley to the fourth
quarter and they ended up winning bythink fourteen. They were up by seventeen

(09:11):
at one point, which was itwas pretty stunny to see to see Bennett
lose going away on their home floorin a sectional final. Yeah, but
that's uh, that's why they callit March Madness, and they that's what
they really do. I mean,it's it's one of those things where every
once in a while you get agame, a lot of times you think
what's gonna A lot of times youthink you know what's gonna happen, and

(09:35):
a lot of games it does turnout that way, but then there's games
like that that really surprise you.And that's what makes this time of year
pretty darn exciting. Um. SoI guess we'll kind of transition to the
boys side. Um, their playoffsstart this week, and I guess we
got to start with the goings onup in Elgin where Bolts and Saint Charles
schools will be there. Yeah,so we'll start with, you know,

(09:58):
seeing Charles North. I guess,um, you know Bennett obviously coming in
uh last Friday taking care of business, which you know has happened the last
couple of different times. Um.But obviously North is probably pretty pleased to
at least show up in the regionalfinal. I know they gotta to get
through the regional semis first against SouthAlgin. Um, but I expect them

(10:22):
to be in the regional final alongwith Saint Charles Zasus. I mean they
can get through Streamwood, who theysaw earlier this year. Um. I
just think it's they're too talented tobe ducking out this early. So I'm
expecting a third meeting. Yeah,and boy that there will be a lot
of excitement about that one. Imean North beat him earlier in the year,
and then Saint Charles US had thatlong winning streak and carried a ton

(10:46):
of momentum into the second meeting,but North was able to beat him again.
North is obviously yet the upper hand, and and let's be honest,
I mean North kind of probably camein the season with higher expectations, I
mean, with with kind of Linkycoming back and Luke Shepherds and all and
all that, and East is kindof a team that just has just a
ton of different guys, I mean, just just talent up and down a

(11:07):
roster and then sort of playing Iguess maybe kind of a new style this
year, which is really really affectedopponents this year. But uh, but
I mean I think everybody's looking forwardto that third meaning and uh, I
mean until Saint Charles North loses thatgame, I would consider them the favorite.
You probably would too, But Imean it's it's a game that could

(11:28):
probably go either way. It reallynot exactly I mean to me, I
mean, obviously we're looking ahead alittle bit, but um, it really
to me, it depends on andwho gets hot and what team is is
sinking their shots because neither team isreally that good at free throws. Um
so you know, I don't knowif necessarily want to get into free throw

(11:48):
battle late and late in the game. Um, but if depending on who
can get hot from three, Ithink that'll obviously give the advantage. You
know, Saint Charles Z East hasa number of guys, Sean Sullivan,
Scott Bread again, Um, evenit's Monkmeyer to some extents can get hot
from three. But North can counterthat, um with with guys like obviously
Colin Nelson, Christian Zerniac is goodfrom outside. Um, and even Connor

(12:11):
Leaky can shoot the three if needbe so. Um. You know,
kind of depends on and who canget hot probably from that standpoint and rebound
plus fouls, you know, that'sthe other part two. Um, you
know if you look at Connor cansometimes get in a little bit of foul
trouble um, and and how thataffect things too. Yeah. Yeah,
just definitely a matchup that I mean, I you know, with all due
respect of the teams that are gonnabe playing on Tuesday night, I think

(12:35):
a lot of people are hoping tosee. So we'll see how that materializes
and and we'll see if that gameactually does come about. Um, let's
talk about some of the other teamsin the king kind of area. They're
going to be in action this week. Geneva is hosting their own regional.
They're gonna be playing in Mattea Valleyon Wednesday night. Um. The other
semifinal in that regional is Wheaton WrenvilleSouth against Downers Grow South. I kind

(12:58):
of expect Wheat and South come outof that that first game, and then
Geneva, Uh, you know,we'll see. Obviously they have a lot
of familiarity with with Whittmartinville South.Um, we talked about it. Geneva's
had some some ups and downs thisyear, which is understandable because they have
a lot of new, very differentcast of characters this year. Um.
But obviously having to region on ourhome floor cannot hurt. Nope, can't

(13:22):
hurt at all. And I like, I like Geneva to probably get through
to the regional final. I justthink they have really solid guard play led
by you know, Nate Valentine.Obviously Josh Preston, we talked about him
a lot as well, but um, they got a nice, nice supporting
cast. Rude Johnson I still thinkis a little underappreciated in some aspects.
Um, Dylan fu Zac has beenplaying really well of late. Um,

(13:43):
so I disliked the way that youknow, Geneva plays, you know,
and even in their losses, it'susually pretty close. And you know,
Kine came down to a couple ofmisfree throws or a rebound late in the
game. So if they can kindof get over some of those small,
small minor challenges, I like themto get through that regional And then obviously
I've seed in Wheaton South a coupleof times, and um, they're just

(14:03):
solid. Um, they like tokind of wear you down. They're gonna
take their time get the shot.They will definitely take their time. Yes,
Yes, they will definitely take theirtime. Yeah. Yeah. I
mean if if they're not if they'renot like loving that shot, they're not
gonna take it. So, um, you know, assuming they can get
their shots to fall as well.Um, you know, they're a good

(14:24):
team, and they took care ofsome pretty solid teams, some South obviously
in the Duque Conference, you know, beating Saint Charles North twice again,
you know, a favorite coming outof this conference, and for for postseason
now, they they obviously took careof them twice. So ye didn't need
to see them beating North twice.There there's no doubt about that. Wheaton
South beating Saint Charles North twice.That shows you what that team is capable

(14:46):
of on a given night to beable to win that game. Um,
Batavia is going to be at theWillibrook Regional. Uh. They play Glenbard
West in the seven ten game onWednesday night. Um, Glenbard East is
a number two seed. They playin the other semifinal, Betavia. Obviously
Jaden Johnson, Um, you knowit's gonna want to you know, maybe

(15:07):
finish off his career. Boy,I'm drawn up playing. He is a
senior, right, yep, yep, He's okay. Well, I feel
like he's been in for a longtime the way you know, he's been
playing obviously in varsity for a while. But uh, but uh, Beatavia
plays Glenbard West. For those whodon't know what, Glenbard West got off
to a great start to the seasonand then they kind of went into conference
and had some struggles, some upsand downs. They are a young team

(15:28):
and unfortunately for them, Braden Huff, who's their leading scoring and best player.
He's a six foot eight sophomore.He had a knee injury about a
month ago and he's out for theyear, which is a tough break for
them. Um, they do haveDilla Phillips, who's a nice senior guard
that's had a good year, andthen they have a lot of other young
players. But you know, obviouslya winnable game for Batavia. I think

(15:48):
that game, that matchup could goeither way, and then whoever gets out
of that probably gets Glenbard East ina regional final. Glenbardist has two really
good senior guards, Dround Hall andd On Cookum. They've had a really
good year. They won't know whatthey did not when they upstated gwen Part
South did, but they did havea good year. So kind of wild
card I feel in that regional iswillow Brook. They didn't have a great

(16:11):
year, but they do have Everettstubble Field, a third who's probably the
most talented player in that regional.He's just kid, averages over twenty points
a game, just a excellent player. So you know, I think but
Tab's got a shot to maybe getout of the regional. We'll see what
happens. I think as long asJayden Johnson is on the floor. He's
gonna do everything possible to make thathappen. I mean, people know about

(16:33):
his scoring, and it happens alot. Obviously thirty three points. He
had twenty two points I think inhis final game. But he's a lot
more than just a score us.He's gotten, you know, better and
better on defense each season. I'veseen him a really talented passer. Obviously
he's going to command a lot ofattention, but I really think that this
is this is he's going to doeverything in his power to help kind of

(16:56):
will everybody else around him. Andthey had a pretty solid team too.
I mean, other guys like TylerCooper, Luke Farhrenbacher, Devin Cheney can
get hot, especially with some rebounds. Um, they're talented, but it
kind of depends on exactly how farJayden can kind of take things. And
I think he'll do everything in hispower to do that. Yeah, no
doubt. Um, I guess we'lltransition to Class three A where Burrington Central

(17:21):
um they host the regional. BurningtonCentral had a eight game winning streak snap
last Friday in her season finale regularSCY finale against Huntley, but they certainly
are playing good basketball going into theplayoffs. They're a team that has reached
the sectional final two years in arow. And I don't believe they've ever
won a sectional championship before, butthey happen in the sectional final two years
in a row. They do havethe home court advantage in their regional.

(17:44):
UM. They also have Sycamore there, which I got a chance to see
last Friday against plain They're they're they'rea good teams. Plain O beat them
to win an Interstate eight conference title. But UM, I like Burlington Central
chances, especially playing in their playingon our home court in regionals, and
then we'll see what happens after that. Yeah, it helps obviously to have
the two seniors Jake lenz Chow andJosh Hudgens, you know, playing the

(18:07):
way they do a little bit ofa twin Towers in some respect, so
ivious, and you know they bothaverage over ten points a game. I
think both are actually thirteen or fourteen. UM. Zach Schmidt is a really
underrated guard as well. UM EddieWallas brings good defense off the bench.
UM, they got a good shotand I know, you know Burlington has
been falling short and in that sectional. UM in that Sectional finals as they

(18:30):
bid. But um, you know, this could be this could be the
year that they break through. Obviously, they got a lot of basketball to
play, but um, you know, when they're playing really good hoops down
the stretch. Obviously, the eightgame win streak I think speaks to,
um, you know, the typeof you know, playoff basketball they can
play. I mean a lot ofthese teams have been in playoff mode for
the last several weeks already. Um, you know, so at this stage,
you know, from a mental standpoint, nothing really changes. Um,

(18:52):
it's just uh you know, it'sit's as they say, in one game
at a time, And I knowit's cliche, but it's true. Yeah,
one game at a time. BruntonCentrals, I gotta think playing at
Fox Valley has to help them outbecause their battle tested, playing in that
in a tough league, night in, night out, but still able to
finish off the season. Well.Um, but uh you know, we'll
see uh Kaylan is down to thatPlano regional and they will be seeing a

(19:17):
familiar face. In the first gamethere, they'll be playing Planet, which
is a conference rival. If I'mnot mistaken, Plane, I'll beat him
twice during the regular season. Iknow they beat him a second game,
Kaylin. They finished the season well, beating Morris in the last game.
But I do think beating Planet onPlanos home four won't be easy because Plane
I saw him last Friday. They'replaying great basketball. They've won nine of

(19:38):
their last eleven games. Griffin CrossI've talked about, Wow, the kid
is just so athletic six foot eight. You can be a little inconsistent,
but he makes so many plays.Robbie Taylor a good post player, Mason
accidentally or a good shooter. ButKaylin, I think that game with Plan
on Wednesday can go either way.But Planet will be a tough team to

(20:00):
beat. And then uh, whoevergets out of there, Uh, we'll
probably face Hampshire in the regional final. Um. Hampshire is a two seed
plans the four calin seven. Soa tough road for calin But it's some
teams that they're probably would have familiarwith. Sure, And if I remember
right too, I mean in thein the one game that I saw against
against Plane all you know, earlierin the season, I think one of

(20:21):
the things that really hurt them waswas rebounding, especially late in the game.
So you know, how do theyobviously plan all having you know,
Griffin Costs, he's six to eightand I think Robbie Taylor's watch six seven.
Um, you know he's like sixsix seven, but he's a salad
six six six seven, right exactly. So you know, with those two
guys obviously in the front court,it's really tough to counter. So you
know, how does how does Camelonum you know counted that from a rebounding

(20:44):
standpoint, and then they just gotto get hot shooting, um, you
know, to kind of keep allthat stuff off balance. So we'll see,
you know, Um, they've hada great year, um, you
know in that first year with ErnieColombe. You know, yeah, definitely
big improvement this year. There's nodoubt about that. No matter how this
week turns out. It's been abig improvement this year for calin basketball exactly.
So, UM, we'll seek outof what happens. But you know,

(21:07):
I like seeing I like having matchupstwo or three times, you know,
because every game will be different andyou know who knows as things shake
up. Yeah, yep, that'sthat's for sure. Before we head on
out of here, UM, I'llmaybe a touch on outside. It's been

(21:29):
on a roll of late. Theywon the Southwest Prairie West. Sam Schultz
looks like he's completely healthy now fromthat torn minutes to see. Had a
huge game against Plainfield North to quenchthat conference. Then he hit a buzzer
beater to beat West Aurora last week. Um uh. They they start out
with East Aurora on Wednesday night,which won't be easy Easter Roa. It
took second in that up State eight. But if Oswego East does get out

(21:55):
of there, then they'll probably beplaying Bowling Brook in the regional final,
which should be a match the lastyear's sectional final. That was a great
game, the boling Brook one inthe last seconds of that bun but a
sweetweast like planet. They do hostthe regional on their home court, so
that's certainly an advantage, so we'llsee what happens there. And a couple
other things that I'm interested to seeis Morton kind of a team under the

(22:18):
radar, but really good team.I love to play running gun style.
They have a lot of shooters.They host a regional and probably will face
York in the regional final. Andthe kind of the big question is the
status of Nate Shocky. He's beenout for the last few weeks with Mono.
There was talk that he could beback for regionals, and I would
certainly be a boost for York andthey're gonna need them. I mean,

(22:41):
it's it's hard for me to imaginethem beating York or it's hard for imagine
it's hard for me to imagine Yorkbeating Morton on Morton's home floor without Nate
Shocky. But we'll see what happensthere. And then then briefly touching on
smaller schools, I'm gonna be makinga rather lengthy trip to down by Ottawa
this week. Yorkville Christian one am. They are going They're going to

(23:04):
be in a sectional this week downthere. Um, Yorkville Christian. People
don't know they have Jaden shut He'sa six foot five sophomore guard. You're
gonna be hearing about him for sure, because he already has an offer from
UIC And I was showing us someinterest, and some other big ten schools
are showing some interests. So definitelya kid to watch, but a team

(23:26):
I'm gonna be watching this week.Yeah, and I got to see them.
I want to say against Marmie andthis goes back in like January and
yeah he did. Yeah, yeah, they they they like two to three
a little bit. They definitely liketo do that. I think they hit
like three hundred and six threees duringa regular season, which is they apparently
it's like top five and I sayhistory. I mean, it's just kind

(23:48):
of crazy. I mean he Jadashot hit seventeen three in one game earlier
this year, which kind of tellsyou all you need to know. Well.
And the other thing too, isit don't really take guys off the
floor. I mean, the startare pretty much playing the whole way other
than a couple of you know,blows here and there, depending on foul
trouble and stuff, at least whatI saw, you know, No,
no, they they that is definitelythe case. It's definitely a concern that

(24:11):
I have with them is they playfive guys, and they will play five
guys until the game's over. Imean, they they really don't have a
bench, um what. But let'sbe honest, it's a very small school.
I mean, there's less than onehundred kids in at school, so
it's not like they're drawing on areally really large talent base uh and a
lot of students. So um.But they definitely, they definitely roll with

(24:33):
those five starters. But fortunately forthem, those five starters are pretty good.
Yep. Always bodes well. Josh, really quickly, anything else on
any areas stuff that we need totouch on. No, just a lot
of good uh good boys basketball thisweek. Please give us a follow if
you haven't done so already. I'mat j WELG ninety six. He's at
Jake Bartleson. You can foul ourKent County Preps Twitter is. There's also

(24:57):
if you like a little Kendall Countyflavor, it's at KCM Preps. We
have launched in the last couple ofweeks are Kane and Kennell County Newsletter,
which is f R E free thatyou can sign up for. It's in
your inbox every Monday at noon.Jake had a nice feature today talking to

(25:18):
Tom pool On about the late SaintCharles coach Ron Johnston. So a lot
of good stuff there. Yeah,and then real quickly, Josh, I'll
add two. In the coming weeks, we will be having both girls and
boys basketball Players of the Year.In addition to all area teams, all
that decisions and whatnot still have tobe decided and whatnot, but make sure
that you are subscribed to get thatin the next couple of weeks. Yep.

(25:42):
Well I think that's about it,but times he's a basketball alrighty,
Safe travels and we will see wellnext week.