Jason Ivanitz's observations from this weekend's events:

No. 1: Basketball is more than a game to some

Apparently I picked a bad seat for the Bolingbrook-Vincent (Milwaukee,
Wis.) girls basketball game. From practically the opening tip-off, shouts, complaints and even harassing remarks were made from the Vincent parents who were primarily situated behind the scorer's table in their team's 49-48 loss on Sunday. On three separate occasions, I was stepped on or over during the game by an out of control parent yelling at the referees. Everything boiled over with less than a minute to go where words were exchanged between coaches and people started moving to the floor. I was physically pushed aside by a screaming parent during the event as I was trying to listen to what was being said.

No. 2: Joliet Township needs a new mascot

The name Steelmen (or Steelwomen) is unique and fits in with the history of the city. The mascot however could use some work. Joliet's "Steelman" looks like the Michelin Man, only gray and more of a walking block than a puffy one. When a parent a toddler approached the mascot, the little girl cried in horror and wanted to be taken away. If your mascot is making little kids cry, it is probably time to go back to the drawing board.

City/Suburban Hoops Report guru Joe Henricksen ranks 6-foot-5-inch Neuqua Valley forward Dwayne Evans at No. 15 on his list of the state's top 50 players from the Class of 2010. The scouting report on Evans:

Still trying to shed the dreaded 'tweener label. Perimeter shot extends to the three-point line and has gained consistency, though he's more of a pull-up/spot-up shooter. He's not one to rise up and get his own and must improve his comfort with his handle. Just an old school player who plays with a warrior's demeanor, winner's mentality and high motor. Manages to get a lot done against bigger, more athletic players around the basket.

Not surprisingly, Waukegan's Jereme Richmond, an Illinois recruit, topped the list. A few other names you might recognize: No. 11 Jordan Threloff, DeKalb; No. 23 Tim Rusthoven, Wheaton Academy; No. 31 Antoine Cox, Bolingbrook; No. 38 Jay Harris, Oswego East; and No. 50 DeAndre McCamey, St. Joseph.

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?

There are no surprise teams left in the Oswego East Sectional. The brackets more or less played out true to form, and each program should feel like it has a good chance to make a run to Peoria.

Neuqua Valley holds steady at No. 8 in the Chicago Sun-Times rankings, while Naperville Central rises to No. 18 after an impressive victory over West Aurora. Bolingbrook and Plainfield North entered the list after winning regional titles. Here's what the rest of the week looks like:

CLASS 4A OSWEGO EAST SECTIONAL
Tuesday
No. 1 Neuqua Valley (29-1) vs. No. 5 Plainfield North (26-4), 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday
No. 2 Naperville Central (26-2) vs. No. 3 Bolingbrook (20-6), 7:30 p.m.
Friday
Championship game, 7:30 p.m.

What are your sectional predictions?

Naperville Central celebrated a regional title on its home floor Friday night with a 71-60 victory over No. 7 West Aurora.

Senior swingman Drew Crawford finished with 28 points and 14 rebounds as the No. 2 Redhawks beat West Aurora (20-8) for the third time this season.

Junior center Matt Neufeld added 23 points and 13 rebounds to lead Central (26-2) into the Oswego East Sectional semifinal, where on Wednesday it will meet No. 3 Bolingbrook.

Naperville Central 71, West Aurora 60
WA 16 12 16 16 - 60
NC 16 16 10 29 - 71
West Aurora (20-8)
Cocroft 7 2-3 17, Hughes 0 2-2 2, Blackmond 2 1-2 6, Carey 3 0-0 7, Starks 2 3-5 7, Vaughn 3 0-0 9, Graham 2 4-4 10, Wyeth 1 0-0 2. Totals: 20 12-16 60.
Naperville Central (26-2)
Crawford 9 6-7 28, Linne 1 2-2 4, Mallett 4 3-3 13, Ondik 0 2-2 2, Neufeld 9 5-7 23, Pomeroy 0 1-3 1. Totals: 23 19-24 71.
3-pointers: West Aurora 8 - Vaughn 3, Graham 2, Cocroft, Blackmond, Carey. Naperville Central 6 - Crawford 4, Mallett 2.
Rebounds: West Aurora 16 (Carey 4), Naperville Central 33 (Crawford 14).
Turnovers: West Aurora 8, Naperville Central 10.
Fouled out: Naperville Central - Ondik.

Neuqua Valley destroyed Downers Grove South - a team that beat Naperville Central by five points last month - during a 70-31 victory on Saturday night, an effort that pushed the Wildcats to No. 8 in the Chicago Sun-Times rankings. Guard Rahjan Muhammad led the Wildcats (26-1) with 17 points as they extended their winning streak to 18.

Central, the DuPage Valley Conference champion, remained at No. 20 in the same poll, and look for a common opponent like Downers Grove South to be a reference point come March. Basketball's chattering class continues to talk up Neuqua as a state title contender.

Roy and Harv Schmidt of Illinois Prep Bulls-eye predict that Neuqua will beat either Central or Bolingbrook for the sectional title and then take care of Rockton Hononegah in the DeKalb Super-Sectional to earn a trip to Peoria.

After Saturday's performance in Downers Grove, what are your predictions for the Oswego East Sectional and beyond?