Previewing and predicting this weekend's top high school basketball games

This is the time of the season where Friday night conference clashes are followed up by a return to Saturday shootouts. That’s the case this weekend as there are plenty of quality games to choose from across the area. Here are previews and predictions for seven of the best.

Last week’s record: 3-4
Season record: 19-7

No. 17 Palatine (20-3) at No. 20 Fremd (18-2), Friday

A rivalry rematch that means something. Both are ranked and tied for the top spot in the Mid-Suburban League West with identical 6-1 records. Throw some sectional seeding implications in and this is a big one in Palatine.

The versatile Jordan Williams, who is headed to Illinois State next year, and Rafael Pinto remain the trusted and productive 1-2 senior punch to lead the Vikings.

Palatine won the matchup back in December by 16 points, limiting Fremd to just 37 points. It was too much Tony Balanganayi. The Palatine big man went for 27 points in the first go-around. There is still no answer for Fremd when it comes to matching up with Balanganayi.

The pick: Palatine 48, Fremd 44

No. 12 St. Ignatius (19-4) at St. Laurence (19-4), Friday

Both of these teams could use a pick-me-up win to right the ship. St. Laurence has dropped two of its last three. St. Ignatius has lost two in a row.

St. Ignatius was bound for a hiccup. That came in a Sunday loss to rival Loyola. But to follow it up with a loss to Joliet Catholic — and giving up 70-plus points for the second straight game — was an eye-opener.

There is plenty of youth in this one, including a pair of players who have had breakout seasons: St. Laurence junior Markese Peoples and St. Ignatius sophomore Amir Tucker.

But it’s senior veteran Chris Bolte who St. Ignatius leans on to get the road win.

The pick: St. Ignatius 61, St. Laurence 56

New Trier (17-6) at No. 23 Glenbrook North (17-5), Friday

There is a slight role reversal here. When the season began, no one would have forecasted Glenbrook North to be ranked and New Trier to be unranked for this late January matchup.

While New Trier has found its footing since losing star guard Christopher Kirkpatrick to injury, winning four straight, Glenbrook North has quietly ripped off seven straight wins since the holidays and climbed into the rankings.

It hasn’t exactly been a complete metamorphosis. But GBN, with just one returning starter heading into the season, has been one of the area’s nice surprises. Coach Quin Hayes has done an outstanding job with this young team.

Junior point guard Nate Fridman is the catalyst. A pair of sophomores, 6-3 Mason Markman and guard Charlie Lappin, have provided a significant boost. Plus, Abel Poothurail has been a senior to lean on with his defense and added scoring.

New Trier, however, has looked pretty solid of late as it awaits the hopeful return of its leading scorer. There are still weapons with shooter Danny Houlihan and freshman big man Denym Wallace, while guard Max Vogel has really stepped up in Kirkpatrick’s absence.

This is a pretty quick turnaround since GBN took care of New Trier, minus Kirkpatrick, just two weeks ago in a 67-64 squeaker. New Trier gets the rematch as it’s now more accustomed to playing without Kirkpatrick.

The pick: New Trier 63, Glenbrook North 58

No. 14 Loyola (18-5) vs. No. 7 Homewood-Flossmoor (19-3) at Evanston, Saturday

Both teams have put together rock solid regular seasons up to this point and meet at this year’s War on the Shore. And it’s a great matchup for both teams in getting a different look stylistically.

It’s been a whirlwind of a week for Loyola. The Ramblers lost to local rival Evanston at the buzzer last Tuesday and then bounced back to win the Jesuit Cup matchup with St. Ignatius on Sunday.

The trio of Trey Williams, Jack Golden and Luke Alvarez grab most of the attention — they all average between 10-12 points a game for Loyola. But don’t underestimate the impact of 6-4 Brody Munson-Johnson.

H-F, led by sophomore point guard Darrius Hawkins, is looking to bounce back from a Tuesday loss to Lockport.

The pick: Loyola 50, Homewood-Flossmoor 46

No. 9 Bolingbrook (16-6) at No. 10 Evanston (19-3), Saturday

The War on the Shore finale could be the most entertaining game of the weekend.

The entertainment value starts with 6-4 sophomore Brady Pettigrew of Bolingbrook, one of the lone high-major prospects in the state. Pettigrew is a player who can turn heads in an event like this. Senior guard TJ Williams (16 ppg) has played his best basketball of the season of late, and big man Elijah Anderson continues to play his role well.

Evanston sophomore Ben Ojala has evolved into a known commodity. But from Dion Lane to Timi Ogunsanya to Tate Schroeder, Evanston’s individual pieces keep getting better and better.

Both teams have been missing key players with Bolingbrook’s Trey Brost and Evanston’s Vito Rocca out with injuries. Brost is close to returning and would be just what the Raiders need.

The pick: Bolingbrook 68, Evanston 64

No. 21 Hersey (16-4) vs. No. 6 Neuqua Valley (22-1) at Glenbrook South, Saturday

Fresh off a signature win over Bolingbrook last weekend, red-hot Neuqua Valley faces another ranked team. The Wildcats, who have won 19 straight, feature the best 1-2 scoring tandem in the state. Sophomore Cole Kelly and Illinois commit Mason Martin both put up over 20 points a game.

Yes, Kelly and Martin do gobble up the headlines, but the supporting cast continues to grow nicely around them.

Charlie Pomis is in the midst of putting together another rock solid, all-around season. The 6-3 senior is averaging 18.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists a game.

The pick: Neuqua Valley 70, Hersey 60

No. 4 Kankakee (17-1) vs. No. 13 Mount Carmel (15-7) at Oak Lawn, Sunday

Kankakee was expected to get its biggest tests of the season last weekend at the Quincy Shootout. But both games were canceled. So the Kays are in need of a high-quality opponent. A Sunday showcase at Oak Lawn with a ranked team out of the Catholic League will do.

How does Mount Carmel slow down Kankakee star Lincoln Williams? The 6-6 senior has made a POY push while averaging 26.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, two assists and two steals a game. If that’s not difficult enough, there is also EJ Hazelett to contend with. The 6-6 Indiana State recruit is putting up 16 points, eight rebounds and three assists.

Mount Carmel is young and scary. The Caravan have built up some confidence with wins over Glenbard East, Loyola, Lincoln Park and St. Laurence. But they’ve come back to earth of late with losses to H-F and DePaul.

Kankakee’s experience, along with that terrific Williams-Hazelett combo, proves to be too much.

The pick: Kankakee 66, Mount Carmel 59