Hales proving too much for 2A opponents

No. 1: Hales' Class 2A run is looking very similar to Seton's impressive state-title march in 2009, which led to talk of Seton being one of the best small-school state champs in history. Hales, an overwhelming favorite in Peoria this weekend, has made a mockery of the 2A field thus far.

The Spartans have dominated, beating all five tournament foes by double figures with an average victory margin of 27 points, including a 67-35 supersectional romp over Aurora Christian. Class 2A teams simply have a near-impossible task matching up with Hales' combination of size, athleticism, quickness and surplus of Division-I talent in Aaron Armstead, Aaric Armstead and Eddie Alcantera. Plus, there isn't a Class 2A school that has played anywhere near the schedule the Spartans have faced.

No. 2: If there are a couple of things we've learned in the opening two weeks of state tournament play, it's this: Running the table en route to a state championship is nearly impossible (there hasn't been an undefeated big-school state champ since King in 1993); and never underestimate the impact of a red-hot, dominating player who can carry a team (see East Aurora's Ryan Boatright and Niles North's Abdel Nader).

No. 3: Simeon's run to a state title a year ago was an anomaly. Every Illinois big-school state champ since the advent of the sectional complex in IHSA state tournament play headed into March as a No. 1 seed - except Simeon last season.

The Wolverines, who were a No. 4 sectional seed last year, were hardly categorized as a Cinderella story. And garnering a top seed is hardly a guarantee for success in March. In the last three years in Class 4A and 3A, of the 28 No. 1 sectional seeds in the Chicago area, 19 of the 28 won sectional titles. In those three years there have been three No. 1 seeds that have lost in regional play-Richards (2009), Hillcrest (2008) and Batavia (2008).

Joe Henricksen has published the City Suburban Hoops Report for 16 years. He blogs for Yourseason.com at blogs.suntimes.comhoopsreport.

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