IL HS Hoops (Games of the Week)

BENTON - We highschool hoops fans were already spoiled with some great games in week one. The next two weeks will be no different as we have some matchups on the schedule that should prove to be worthy of watching, regardless of who you root for. I've made a list of what I believe should be the best game to watch this week per class, both girls and boys. This should be a fun week of basketball as we start ramping things up to get ready for Holiday tournaments.

Boys

1A: 1A #8 Mt. Sterling Brown County (0-0) at 1A #6 Lanark Eastland (0-0) 12/2

• Both teams just starting their seasons this week. I've got this one circled as the potential game of the week amongst these four boys games. There's been a lot of hype about this Brown County ball club. Time to find out what they're all about.

2A: 2A #12 Bismarck-Henning (3-0) at 2A #1 Tolono Unity (0-0) 12/2

• This one has the potential to be a fun matchup. We will get to see Tolono hit the floor for the first time this week. They will have a tough one in 3-0 Bismarck-Henning who I've got just a couple notches from cracking our Top 10.

3A: 3A #10 Mount Vernon (2-0) vs #13 4A Alton (1-1) 12/6

• Intriguing matchup at Chagnon Gym on Saturday as the Rams host the 4A Alton Redbirds. Alton hasn't cracked our 4A Top 10 but is close at #13. It will be a tough hill for the Redbirds to climb on the road as Mt. Vernon is 2-0 with impressive wins over 3A Triad and 4A Collinsville.

4A: 4A #9 Chicago Simeon (3-0) vs 3A #9 Chicago Morgan Park (2-1) 12/4

• This one also has the potential to be the game of the week. The Simeon Wolverines have started out hot at 3-0 and look to stay undefeated when they host the Mustangs on Thursday. Morgan Park's only loss thus far has come to Memphis Central out of Tennessee.

Girls

1A: 1A #1 Okawville (3-1) vs 1A #12 Carrollton (5-0) 12/6

• Unfortunately not a whole lot to work with in the 1A realm this week. Okawville should cruise in this one but we can't completely count out the 5-0 Lady Hawks who have played some good basketball thus far. A win over the Lady Rockets this week would be monumental.

2A: 2A #7 Stillman Valley (5-0) 12/2 at #2 1A Elgin St. Edward (3-1) 12/2

• The #7 team in 2A, Stillman Valley, will face an extremely tough test on Tuesday when they travel to the 1A #2-seeded St. Edward Green Wave. This one should come down to the wire and has the potential to be our girls game of the week.

3A: 3A #4 Galesburg (5-0) at 3A #9 Sterling (0-1) 12/4

• The Silver Streaks of Galesburg are off to a hot start at 5-0. They will face a tough test on the road as they'll travel to 3A #9 Sterling on Thursday. Sterling's only game thus far was a 59-53 loss to 4A Rock Island.

4A: 4A #3 Benet Academy (4-1) vs 3A #5 St. Ignatius (1-1) 12/6

• The Lady Redwings of Benet Academy lost their first game to 4A #2 Lyons in a 1-point heartbreaker but have rattled off 4-straight wins afterwards. They'll look to keep the momentum going with a tough test at home in 3A #5 St. Ignatius whose loan loss came to 4A #6 Chicago Kenwood.