Joe Henricksen’s City/Suburban Hoops Report

Updated: January 26, 2012 6:12PM

City

For all the talk of the Class 4A Argo Sectional this March, which will have a prohibitive favorite in Simeon no matter how strong it is or how much hyperbole is thrown its way, there has been little talk about how deep and competitive the Glenbard South Sectional will be in Class 3A. Marshall and Orr, a pair of hot teams, are in position to battle for the No. 1 seed in the city-dominated sectional. However, St. Joseph is getting better, while Crane, Farragut and Riverside-Brookfield help make this, by far, the best 3A sectional in the state.

South

There is a reason Marian Catholic is enjoying its best season since winning 22 games and a regional title in 2006. His name is Tyler Ulis. The 5-8 dynamo, who is the Hoops Report’s No. 6 ranked prospect in the talented Class of 2014, is a creative and electric talent with the ball in his hands and fresh off a 36-point, six-assist performance in a win last Sunday. Coach Mike Taylor’s surprising Spartans (11-6) head into a Saturday showdown with St. Viator. The two are tied with 3-0 records in the East Suburban Catholic Conference.

West

After winning 21 or more games for 11 straight seasons, going a remarkable 293-43 with seven sectional titles and five trips to Peoria from 1996-2006, it’s been a respectable 79-57 without a regional or conference championship for West Aurora the past five seasons. Gordie Kerkman’s Blackhawks, however, are adding to the legendary coach’s 728 career victories this season. With senior forward Juwan Starks as the catalyst, West Aurora (14-3), which trails Naperville North by one game in the DuPage Valley, is through the toughest part of its schedule and in position to end that title-less run.North

This year’s North Chicago team, with high-scoring senior Aaron Simpson and Zion-Benton transfer JaVairius Amos-Mays, is better than last year’s 17-15 team that finished fourth in the state in Class 3A. But the Warhawks must find a way to close out games against quality teams. Last week the Warhawks blew a five-point lead in the final seconds of regulation before falling to Curie in overtime. In a loss to Normal, they were outscored by 16 points in the fourth quarter and lost 64-59. And the Warhawks had a 10-point lead on Warren before ultimately losing 67-64.

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