Illinois Boys Basketball Top 5
(Last week's rankings in parentheses; records through Wednesday.)
1. Mt. Carmel (1) 22-4
Having failed in their bid for a Catholic League title, the Caravan took out their frustrations on Fenwick last Friday. Mt. Carmel won by 20 despite getting only four points from Tracy Abrams. The next night, the Caravan topped St. Patrick, although a rally was required. Mt. Carmel remains the class of the area, but its long-term prognosis might not be as promising as before. Maybe that target it's been wearing most of the year is getting heavy.
2. T.F. North (2) 17-6
A week ago, the Meteors' late-season performance was being questioned. T.F. North simply hadn't looked very impressive, but that changed in a big way last Friday when the Meteors roughed up a decent Oak Forest squad. Point guard Deandre Lowery emerged as a key factor as North's offense ran smoothly most of the evening. If he continues to lead effectively, the Meteors' chances for a lengthy playoff run improve dramatically.
3. Thornton (3) 19-5
The Wildcats are closing in on a perfect record within the SWSC Red. Both Lincoln-Way West and Bradley-Bourbonnais were crushed in recent outings, which gave Thornton's reserves lots of court time. The only possible drawback is that games like those are hardly good primers for the postseason, but the 'Cats also have won their share of nail-biters, so they might be OK. If center Kendall Love comes to play, Thornton will be dangerous.
4. Crete-Monee (4) 17-7
Can the Warriors close the deal on a Southland Athletic Conference title tonight? If Crete-Monee defeats Bloom Twp., it's guaranteed at least a share of its first league championship in 25 years. More importantly, the title would offer tangible evidence of what the Warriors can accomplish when everyone is in sync. Still, given the high preseason expectations attached to the program, it should be considered only a small step, not a giant leap.
5. Homewood-Flossmoor (5) 17-8
The Vikings had their hands full with SWSC Blue foe Sandburg on Tuesday, but sophomore center Tim Williams' 20 points and seven rebounds gave H-F the juice it needed to win by five. The most significant part of the victory is that it came without junior Julian Lewis in the lineup. Lewis, who suffered an injury last Friday, should be back by playoff time, but beating a quality opponent without him has to boost the Vikings' confidence level.
