Joe Henricksen, who runs the City/Suburban Hoops Report, breaks down the Naperville Central-Bolingbrook matchup, which he calls one of the five best sectional semifinal games. Henricksen writes:
"Drew Crawford continues to make a strong case for Hoops Report Player of the Year. Bolingbrook, though, is one team that has the size and athletes to throw at Crawford. What is unique about Naperville Central is each player knows their role and accepts it. The Redhawks, who have received consistent production from the perimeter from Dave Mallett (10 ppg), keep the game close and put the game in Crawford's hands in the fourth quarter. However, Central is the only team in the Oswego East sectional semifinals who has not even played a team ranked in the Top 25 this season. Bolingbrook is awfully balanced and should be able to use their length and athleticism to extend out to Central's perimeter shooters and make things difficult for the Redhawks."
One Benet player wondered about Central's schedule, and pointed out how the Redhawks needed a late push in December to earn a one-point victory over Notre Dame, which finished third in the East Suburban Catholic Conference and lost five league games.
Central isn't the team now that it was then. And now's not the time to worry about signature victories. With Crawford, Central feels like it can play with anyone.
Who wins this game? Central or The Brook?
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