Path to Peoria loaded with potholes

So how is Simeon handling its consecutive losses to Young and Benet? The defeats dashed the Wolverines' hopes of a national championship.

"Everything is fine," Simeon coach Robert Smith said. "We just had a tough week. Maybe a lot of us, coaches and players, got too confident after winning so many games in a row."

Benet and Simeon could meet again in a Class 4A state semifinal. But both teams will have to get past many tough teams just to advance to Peoria. All the action starts Monday.

Here is a look at sectionals in the Chicago area:

EAST AURORA: Benet may have to play a road game against the host Tomcats in the sectional semifinals. East Aurora senior Ryan Boatright will not go down at home without a massive effort. If Benet survives that game, it will likely face Downers Grove South or Glenbard East in the sectional final. Both teams are talented, seasoned and capable of pulling off the upset.

ARGO: Simeon is the clear favorite, but it could have a tough matchup in the semifinals against a scrappy Bogan squad or Mount Carmel and Illinois recruit Tracy Abrams. Lyons or Curie should be the opponent in the sectional final. The Wolverines destroyed Lyons in the sectional final last season.

YORK: It would be easy to see three teams winning this one: De La Salle, Farragut or Young. Farragut is fuming after blowing a 15-point lead to Brooks in the city tournament. Expect the Admirals to start out strong. They also have the clearest path to the finals. Young has been up and down all season. Depending on which Dolphins squad shows up, it could win the sectional or lose to

St. Ignatius and Illinois recruit Nnanna Egwu in the regional final. Watch for Proviso East. The Pirates are young, but junior point guard Keith Carter, sophomore Sterling Brown and junior Trashaun Carroll have the talent to compete with any team in the state.

THORNWOOD: Like York, this sectional is up for grabs. Crete-Monee, Homewood-Flossmoor and Thornton have shown the ability to play with the area's top teams. The Vikings have junior Tim Williams back, so they could be a tick better than they have been most of the season.

Lockport hasn't played well in February, but the Porters are talented and well-coached and proved they could play with Simeon and Warren at Pontiac in December. Thornwood is peaking at the right time behind junior Darrell Combs. The Thunderbirds will be a tough out in the regional final for Homewood-Flossmoor, assuming they can get by Plainfield Central and high-scoring Derrick Marks.

BARRINGTON: Warren is the favorite by leaps and bounds. Keep an eye on Waukegan. The Bulldogs' big three of Akeem Springs, Aaron Johnson and Denocchio Pierce are fast and skilled. They haven't quite put it together yet, but they are the only squad capable of handling Warren's size and depth.

NEW TRIER: Notre Dame, the top seed, hasn't played well in February. The Dons need Rodney Prior to step up and become a solid threat beside Quinton Chievous. The winner could easily come from the evenly matched second tier of teams: New Trier, Niles North, Glenbrook North, Evanston or Loyola. Don't discount Maine South, St. Patrick and Schaumburg. Every game in this sectional will be a nail-biter.

JACOBS: Elgin has had a terrific second half of the season, led by

junior Kory Brown. South Elgin and Bartlett should challenge, but keep an eye on Rockford Auburn.

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